Dong Villages

The name "Dong Villages" is misleading because there are probably thousands of these spread around the country. There is a detailed list of nominated villages shared across Guizhou, Guangxi and Hunan. You will see the different styles of buildings, especially the roofs, from the railway station already. Stunning, especially at night. I also respect how the architecture of the Dong people has been retained and spread unto the land to let you think you have entered their territory - not something simply to "please" the minority which would be easy to think looking at the government's checkered past and present. Nevertheless, one of the criterion is the traditional architecture and I have to stay it is marvelous to not only see the old drum towers and roofed bridges but building tourism offices and hotels in the same style. I think this alone merits an inscription.

So my first exposure was the village of Zhaoxing which is not be inscribed. It has surely become too commercial and overgrown with modern influence to be considered. It is still nice and has enough to make you think you get the picture (5 drum towers, many bridges etc) but the best part is you can make it a base to explore the nearby 2 villages that are nominated: Tang'an and Xiage. Tang'an has a regular shuttle bus for just 20 yuan, where as for Xiage, the less impressive one, you have to hire a driver or walk (I don't recommend it if you …