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Kaiping Watchtowers Travel Guide
South China

Kaiping Watchtowers Travel Guide

Zili Village · Ma Jianglong · Liyuan · Chikan

Kaiping Diaolou is an overseas Chinese architectural site listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007: more than three thousand tower houses blending Chinese and Western styles are scattered among the rice fields, with Siliu Village, Majianglong, and Liyuan as the three core locations. One to two days.

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Destination Details

Key facts
Best seasonOct–Apr
Suggested stay1–2 days
Key highlightsZili Village · Ma Jianglong · Liyuan · Chikan Ancient Town
TrafficFrom Guangzhou South Railway Station to Kaiping South by high-speed rail takes 1 hour, then change to a chartered car.
Admission ticketThe joint ticket includes Zili Village, Ma Jianglong, Liyuan, and Chikan.

The Kaiping Diaolou are the most tangible evidence in Chinese diaspora history: from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, those who went abroad sent back not only the money they earned but also architectural styles from overseas, building multi-story towers in the rice fields that served both as residences and as defense against bandits.

Main Highlights

Zili Village

Fifteen diaolou stand between rice fields and ponds, making it the most photogenic spot in Kaiping.

Majianglong

The diaolou are hidden behind bamboo forests and are known as one of "the most beautiful villages in the world."

Liyuan

The private garden of overseas Chinese Xie Weili in the United States, featuring a group of villas combining Chinese and Western styles.

Chikan Ancient Town

The old street with covered walkways in the hometown of overseas Chinese, serving as a filming location for many movies and TV shows.

Recommended Stay and Route

  • Recommended stay: 1–2 days.
  • Connecting with other nearby destinations in the same area makes the route more efficient. You can refer to the "Extended Routes" and "Province" sections below.

Local Tips

  • Since the attractions are scattered, renting a car for a day is most convenient.
  • The rice fields look best during planting and harvest seasons (April–May / September–October).
  • Combining with Guangzhou and Chaozhou, a 4–6 day trip in Guangdong is the most reasonable.

Province

This entry belongs to Guangdong (2 ready-made routes), where you can compare all travel options within the province from the province page.