Zhaoxing Dong Village

Zhaoxing Dong Village Scenic Area is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Centered on Zhaoxing Dong Village, its core area covers 18 square kilometers. Home to over 1,200 households and 5,200 residents, it is one of China's largest Dong villages and known as "the premier Dong village." Its unique ethnic culture attracts visitors from around the world. The village has blue-tiled stilted wooden houses, and it is especially famous for its drum tower clusters—iconic symbols of Dong culture.

Highlights of Zhaoxing Dong Village

Drum Tower Complex

Drum Tower Complex

Zhaoxing Dong Village is known as the "Hometown of Drum Tower Culture and Art," with its fame coming from five drum towers. These towers take their names from Confucian virtues: "Benevolence," "Righteousness," "Courtesy," "Wisdom," and "Trustworthiness." As special buildings of the Dong people, they are multi-eaved wooden pagodas. Built with traditional skills, no nails or rivets are used in their construction. The five towers differ in style and size, and the tallest—the Xintuan Drum Tower—stands 25.9 meters high. They act as community centers where villagers gather to talk, discuss matters, and relax. At the base, there is often a fire pit, and here people chat and sing Dong folk songs, making the area lively. When night falls, the lit drum towers cast beautiful reflections on the terraced fields.

Dong Folk Customs Experience

The Dong people are singing.

Zhaoxing Dong Village keeps many rich ethnic traditions. Visitors can join cultural activities like "Song-Treading Dance" and "Officer-Carrying Ceremony," feeling the Dong people's warmth and joy directly. They may also try traditional crafts such as batik and tie-dye to make their own souvenirs. At the Dong Cultural Exhibition Center, you can learn about the group's history, customs, costumes, and architecture. Tasting local foods—fermented fish, oil tea, and tricolor glutinous rice—gives another tasty look at Dong culture's unique charm.

Wind-Rain Bridge

Wind-Rain Bridge

The Wind-Rain Bridge, also called the Flower Bridge, is another key building in Zhaoxing Dong Village. It not only shelters people from wind and rain and provides resting space but also shows Dong craftsmanship. With covered corridors that have benches and pavilions decorated with detailed carvings and paintings, its decorations display Dong historical tales, myths, and nature themes. When you stroll across it, you can see both its beautiful structure and the streams flowing below, letting you feel the peaceful rhythm of Dong life.

Tang'an Terraced Fields

Tang'an Terraced Fields

Tang'an Terraced Fields lie 5 kilometers from Zhaoxing Dong Village, reachable by shuttle, and form a stunning farm landscape. These large, layered fields blend well with nearby mountains and Dong villages. At dawn, mist covers the terraces like a fairyland; at dusk, golden sunlight turns them into shining stairways. Visitors can walk along field paths to enjoy both the calm beauty and the Dong people's traditional farming culture.

Educational Value

Zhaoxing Dong Village is where "Dayong Songs" and "Liudong Pipa Songs" started, and traditional Dong operas are still staged here. The Dong Grand Choir, named a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009, uses amazing polyphonic singing with no instruments or conductor. These songs copy nature's sounds—birds singing, streams flowing—and their lyrics keep Dong history and daily life alive. Visitors can fully enjoy this "heavenly music," feeling the special charm of Dong musical traditions.

Activities to do at Zhaoxing Dong Village

Hiking the Eight Villages and One Mountain: The "Eight Villages, One Mountain" hike is a famous trail in Zhaoxing. The "Eight Villages" are Zhaoxing Dong Village, Tang'an, Xiage, Upper Xiage, Shangdiping, Dengjiang, Jitang, and Jilun. The "One Mountain" is the sacred Sa Sui Mountain, named after the Dong people's worshiped deity, with lovely scenery. The full route takes two days, going through many ethnic villages for a deep cultural experience. If you have little time, take the shorter path from Zhaoxing to Tang'an via Xiage (about 6km one way, 2-3 hours). Or choose the highlight loop: Zhaoxing-Jilun Village-Dengjiang Village-Jitang Village-Zhaoxing (around 10km, 400m climb, 4 hours with stops).

Long Table Banquet： The Dong people welcome guests with their traditional Long Table Banquet. Guests gather around a narrow low table laden with authentic Dong cuisine - fermented fish, pickled vegetables, and pumpkin. Lucky visitors might taste the special chicken porridge, a delicacy made with free-range chicken that Dong maidens traditionally serve to favored suitors.