Top 10 folk houses in China

Kaiping Diaolou (Watchtower Houses in Kaiping)

[Photo/Xinhua]

Kaiping Diaolou are fortified multi-storey towers mainly located in Kaiping city of Guangdong province. They feature a unique architectural style, which combines an elegant Western style with the earthy countryside in southern China. The number of Diaolou is more than 3,000. Now there are 1,800 units scattered over 15 counties. They were first built in late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and were booming in early 1920s with the development of overseas Chinese. Diaolou served as the filming site of the famous movie "Let the Bullets Fly." Due to abundant numbers and varied architecture styles, it is known as the Museum of Watchtower Houses.

Travel tips:

- Hours: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

- Admission: 180 yuan/person

- How to get there:

Bus: take a bus from Guangdong Provincial Bus Station to Kaiping;

Take a bus from Zhongshan Balu Bus Station to Kaiping;

Self-driving: driving through Kaiyang Highway and State way 325, the travel time is over one hour;