Zhaoxing Dong Village

Chinese Name: 肇兴侗寨
Add: 黔东南苗族侗族自治州黎平县肇兴镇
Ticket: CNY
Attractions Level:
Opening Time: All Day
Tel: (+0086) 0855-6161216

Zhaoxing Dong Village

Zhaoxing Dong Village has a group of Drum Towers that have been recorded in the Guinness Book of Records, and the drum towers have different characteristics. Zhaoxing, formerly known as “Zhaodong”, is a long and narrow valley from east to west. Two streams merge into a small river and pass through the village. There are six Fengyu bridges across the river. The bridge house got its name from the wind and rain.

There are five Drum Towers in Zhaoxing Dong Village, which are distributed in five groups in the village, which are “Rentuan Drum Tower”, “Yituan Drum Tower”, “Lituan Drum Tower”, “Zhituan Drum Tower” and “Xintuan Drum Tower”. Known as the hometown of drum tower culture and art. The Drum Tower is the symbol of the Dong village. It looks like a pagoda from the outside, with a majestic momentum. It is very eye-catching before entering the village. There is usually a drum hanging on the Drum Tower. In the past, when the stockade was invaded by foreign enemies, caught fire or discussed matters, they would go up to the tower and beat the drum to gather the villagers, hence the name of the Drum Tower. The Drum Tower is the meeting place for gatherings in the village, making agreements, and dealing with problems. It is also a place for the people in the village to rest after work and dinner. Grand festivals such as the Spring Festival, the Tiankuang Festival on June 6th of the lunar calendar and the Lusheng Festival on August 15th are held in the Drum Tower.

Rentuan Drum Tower is the shortest drum tower in the village, next to it is the Fengyu Bridge, and behind it is the stage. It is a place where Zhaoxing Drum Tower, stage and Fengyu Bridge can all be displayed on the same platform. There is also a stage behind the Yituan Drum Tower, and in front of the stage is a large platform. This platform is an open space in Zhaoxing, so many Dong song performances will be held here. There is a Sasui altar behind the Lituan Drum Tower. Climb up to the sun valley next to the Sasui Altar, and you will see the Drum Tower from another angle. The Zhituan Drum Tower is a Xieshan-style Drum Tower in Zhaoxing. The Zhituan Drum Tower is located downstream along the river and is the Xintuan Drum Tower. The Xintuan Drum Tower is close to the main street.

The houses in the village are stilted buildings with stilts, row upon row, well-proportioned, all built with Chinese fir, and covered with small green tiles on the hard hilltop, which is simple and practical. The commanding height of the entire village where you can see the panorama is the viewing point of Zhaoxing Middle School, where you can clearly see the whole picture of the entire Zhaoxing Dong Village. The other is the hillside opposite the newly built sixth Fengyu Bridge downstream of Mengmaohua Bridge, where you can also see the panorama of Zhaoxing. In the evening, you can enjoy town bars and open-air performances here, and feel the customs of the Dong people.

Now that Zhaoxing has been developed, all kinds of service facilities are already very complete, so you don’t have to worry about meals and accommodation, but it is recommended to book in advance during the peak tourist season. The section from the concrete bridge next to Yituan Drum Tower to Rentuan Drum Tower is not only a key protected area in Zhaoxing, but also a beautiful landscape of stilted buildings, and it is also a place where shopping in Zhaoxing is concentrated.