Why go
From the mid-19th century, villagers from the Kaiping region emigrated to the Americas and Southeast Asia. When they returned with fortunes, they built fortified towers — partly for defence against bandits and floods, partly to display their success. The results are an exuberant collision of styles: Chinese tiled roofs above Greek porticos and Gothic arches, all on a defensive concrete blockhouse.
Over 1,800 towers survive, built between roughly 1840 and 1935. UNESCO inscribed four village clusters — including Zili and Jinjiangli — as World Heritage in 2007, recognising them as a unique record of migrant identity.
- Zili Village — the most photogenic cluster of diaolou
- Jinjiangli village with its three riverside towers
- Li Garden — a Chinese-Western garden estate
- The mix of architectural styles — Baroque corners, Greek columns, Chinese tiles
Where to go
Start at Zili Village, the most visited cluster. Fifteen well-preserved towers rise from the rice fields; several are open inside — climb to the top of Mingshi Lou for the classic view of towers against green paddies.
Continue to Jinjiangli, where three towers stand by the river — a quieter, more atmospheric site. Then drive to Li Garden, the country estate of a Chinese-American businessman, a five-storey tower integrated into a Chinese garden with European pavilions.
The best photography is in the morning, when the mist over the fields softens the towers. Evening light catches the whitewashed walls.
Practical notes
The villages are spread over a wide area; a private car or hired driver for the day is the most practical way to see them. Allow a full day. Cantonese food in Kaiping town is excellent — try the local clam porridge.
Getting there
- Bus from Guangzhou to Kaiping (2 hours)
- Local bus or taxi between village clusters
- Built
- 1840–1935
- Surviving towers
- Over 1,800
- UNESCO
- World Heritage since 2007
