Zhaoxing Dong Village

Background

Zhaoxing Dong Village lies in Liping County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou, in a basin ringed by mountains, and is known as the "No. 1 Dong Village". According to the Guizhou government, it has over 1,000 households and nearly 6,000 residents. In 2005 Chinese National Geography named Zhaoxing one of China's six most beautiful villages and towns. The village is divided into five sections, each with its own drum tower, wind-and-rain (flower) bridge and opera stage. The drum towers are multi-storey wooden structures built without a single iron nail and are usually the tallest buildings in a Dong village; the five drum towers are Zhaoxing's most famous sight. The Dong Grand Song is the Dong people's polyphonic folk choral tradition.

Local customs

• Walk along the small river through the village to see the five drum towers and wind-and-rain bridges
• watch a Dong Grand Song performance in the evening
• step among the wooden houses to admire the woodwork
• stroll the paths along the terraced fields
• if you come during a festival, watch lusheng music and dancing.

Travel tips

• The village has mostly stone and wooden floors, so wear non-slip shoes
• tickets and performance arrangements follow the scenic area's official information
• mountain roads are slippery in the rainy season, so watch the weather
• accommodation is mostly in wooden guesthouses, so confirm the room type in advance.
• Go to Liping town first, then take a bus to Zhaoxing
• you can also come from the Guiyang or Guilin direction and change at Kaili or Congjiang, with exact schedules following local information. Any season works: spring and autumn are mild, the terraces are green in summer, and festivals bring the most singing and dancing — and the most visitors.