The ethnic population of the Dong people is about 2.5 million.  They live in the border area of Guizhou and Hunan provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwestern China and north Hubei Province in central China. Drum towers are found wherever the Dong live.  Indeed, the towers are the most distinguishing symbol of their culture, which is why experts have chosen to call the ethnic Dong culture the "drum tower culture."

This drum tower built in November 2005 by Dong people in Congjiang county is the tallest of its kind in Asia. The 29-storied drum tower is 46.8 meters in height.(Photo by Wang Haitao/China's Ethnic Groups)

A drum tower with colorful paintings in Shangpinlin village, Congjiang county, Guizhou province (Photo by Wang Haitao/China's Ethnic Groups)