Photos

Zhaoxing is a village in the mountainous region of South-Eastern Guizhou province, close to the Guanxi province. The sleepy, wooden village is most famous for hosting five drumtowers. The five drumtowers were originally made by each of five different clans of the Dong minority, which inhabit the village. The drumtowers were used to gather people, e.g. for meetings, combats and other communal activities. Even today, the towers and the squares around them function as places for social gatherings. Also the Dong opera is played on scenes next to the towers. The towers are between 7 and 13 levels high and stand on 12 pillars - one for each month. Also of architectural interest are the wooden bridges in the village, which cross the Duliu river. Residents still meet to chat on the roofed bridges, where they can also seek refuge from the rain.
Dong culture is strong in Zhaoxing and its adjacent region. The Dong people live from farming rice on terrasses and also catch fish in the river.
Even as the local administration in Liping county has begun promoting tourism in Zhaoxing, the place is still very quiet and relaxed, perhaps because its a long busride to get there. The surrounding area is beautiful with small, wooden villages, steep mountains and riceterasses. One can easily spend days here, walking around Zhaoxing's small streets, watching the daily activities of the locals.

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This pic is from a hill close to the city. With foggy weather, the light was difficult. I have enhanced contrast and colours.