Diaolou, Historic watchtowers in Kaiping, China
The diaolou structures are concrete multi-story towers, ranging from three to nine floors, scattered throughout the villages of Kaiping County in Guangdong Province.
During the late Qing Dynasty and early 20th century, returning Chinese emigrants funded these fortified buildings to protect local inhabitants from floods and regional conflicts.
The architectural design of diaolou combines Chinese traditional elements with Western influences, reflecting the global connections of overseas Chinese communities in the 1920s.
Visitors can reach Kaiping from Guangzhou via regular bus services departing from Tian He station, followed by local transportation to access the scattered tower sites.
The Ruishui Diaolou, constructed in 1921, stands as the tallest among the remaining 1,800 towers, featuring nine levels of mixed architectural styles.
GPS coordinates: 22.28556,112.56583
Latest update: March 25, 2025 11:55
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