Author Sun Qiuxia Wang Jian
In Guangdong, in addition to eating delicious food, there are also two world heritage sites that should not be missed.
One is Kaiping Diaolou and the village, and the other is Danxia Mountain.
Kaiping Diaolou: "Foreign Style" Vernacular Architecture
As the main location for the movie "Let the Bullets Fly", Kaiping Diaolou in Jiangmen has gradually become well known.
Diaolou Group of Zili Village, Kaiping, Jiangmen.
Photo by He Junjie, China News Agency
Kaiping Diaolou, which appeared in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, was built in large numbers in the 1920s and 1930s. It is a multi-storey tower-style building integrating defense, housing and architectural art. There are 1833 existing in 15 towns (streets).
The Diaolou Group of Zili Village, Kaiping.
Photo by He Junjie, China News Agency
Why did Kaiping build so many watchtowers?
It is understood that during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, before the county was established in Kaiping, bandits were rampant here, and local people began to build watchtowers to protect themselves.
In addition, due to frequent flood disasters in Kaiping, flood control is also an important function of the Diaolou.
The Diaolou Group of Zili Village, Kaiping.
Photo by Chen Chuhong, China News Agency
In order to highlight the anti-bandit function, the early watchtowers used iron doors and iron windows, and the walls were thick, with gun holes on the walls.
In the 1930s, in addition to retaining the defensive settings such as bullet holes and iron doors and windows, the local villagers increased the doors and windows, and the exterior decoration became more beautiful.
Mingshi Building in Zili Village, Kaiping.
Photo by He Junjie, China News Agency
It is worth mentioning that the combination of Chinese and Western is a major feature that distinguishes Kaiping Diaolou from traditional vernacular architecture in other parts of China.
For example, under the western-style mountain flowers of each tower, there is a Chinese-style plaque inscribed in the niche.
Western architectural elements such as Greek colonnades, ancient Roman columns, cylindrical guard towers of medieval European castles, and Gothic pointed arches can all be found in Kaiping Diaolou.
Mingshi Building in Zili Village, Kaiping.
Photo by Chen Chuhong, China News Agency
Why does Kaiping Diaolou incorporate Western architectural elements?
This is because Kaiping is a well-known hometown of overseas Chinese. A large number of overseas Chinese have appeared in the area in modern times. After returning home, many overseas Chinese living in Europe and the United States not only brought back capital, but also brought back a strong European and American style.
Tourists take pictures on the roof of Mingshi Building.
Photo by Chen Chuhong, China News Agency
On June 28, 2007, Kaiping Diaolou and villages were included in the "World Heritage List" by UNESCO, becoming Guangdong's first world heritage project, and also the first world heritage project of the international "immigrant culture".
In 2020, Kaiping Diaolou Cultural Tourism Zone has successfully established a national 5A-level tourist attraction.
The Diaolou Group of Zili Village, Kaiping.
Photo by He Junjie, China News Agency
The reporter saw in Zili Village that after becoming a World Heritage Site, many residents still live here.
Some of the watchtowers are open to visitors, and they contain the owner's original furnishings.
Interior furnishings of Mingshilou.
Photo by Chen Chuhong, China News Agency
Tan Yijun, director of the Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports of Kaiping City, told reporters: "The integration of culture and tourism is the biggest highlight of our heritage protection. After Kaiping Diaolou became a 5A scenic spot, the software and hardware here have improved. With more and more tourists, local villagers’ Ticket dividends are also increasing. They are more willing to live in the village and help the government protect the towers."
Interior furnishings of Mingshilou.
Photo by Chen Chuhong, China News Agency
Tan Jinhua, director of the Overseas Chinese Culture Research Center in Guangdong, said to reporters: "In terms of heritage protection, we use the method to involve villagers. A family of villagers in Zili Village took out their own towers as a family exhibition hall, and they also established a foundation for protection. Diaolou. There is a descendant of an overseas Chinese in Majianglong Village who is an architect. He published a book on the journey of his ancestors abroad. Some people who have returned from overseas are also actively involved in protecting the houses of their ancestors."
Danxia Mountain: "Nature" Supernatural Craftsmanship
Danxia Mountain is located in Renhua County, Shaoguan City. It is the first world natural heritage site in Guangdong and the naming place of China's "Danxia Landform".
Yunmo Danxia Mountain.
Photo by Jia Ning
In the Danxia Mountain Scenic Area, there are more than 600 rocks such as Yangyuan Stone, Yinyuan Stone, Guanyin Stone, and Sankhao Peak.
Mantis stone.
Photo by Cai Jianhong
Chen Fang, deputy director of the Danxia Mountain Management Committee in Shaoguan City, told reporters that Danxia Mountain has carried out multi-dimensional world natural heritage education. Local villagers, tourists, tourism practitioners, and scenic area managers have participated in multiple parties to understand the value of the heritage site and participate in conservation actions.
Chen Fang said that in the past, tourists liked to listen to legends and stories, but now, tourists still want to know what geological movement Danxia Mountain was formed through?
Why is it red?
What is the value for the protection of the earth?
Chaoyang bath rudder stone.
Photo by Chen Zhifang
"In recent years, tourists to Danxia Mountain have gradually improved their civilized and tourist literacy. The most direct manifestation is the reduction in the amount of rubbish on the cliffs. For example, it used to take four or five days to complete a cleaning job, but now it usually only takes two days." In the scenic area, Captain Zhu Shenghua, who is engaged in the sanitation and cleaning of cliffs, said.
Jinyan Chibi.
Photo by Liu Jiaqing
The reporter learned that Danxia Mountain generally conducts manual cleaning of cliff garbage twice a month. The cleaning area includes the rudder stone of Elder Peak, Hongqiao Yongcui and other areas, and the cliff area that needs to be cleaned each time is thousands or tens of thousands of square meters. The meter varies.
In the eyes of Zhu Shenghua, Danxia Mountain will get better and better because of the changes in the way tourists travel.
While strengthening international exchanges and cooperation, the local area has continued to improve people's livelihood and develop its economy.
Chen Fang recalled that in the past, we were only selling tickets for scenic spots. Now, we are trying our best to "retain" guests so that visitors can learn about geology and geomorphology, understand biodiversity, and experience local customs.
Teapot Peak.
Photo by Liu Jiaqing
Take Duanshi Village at the foot of Yangyuanshi Mountain as an example. It has been rumored that there is a high probability of having a baby boy in the village, and for a while this place has become a treasured land for seeking children.
The local area has seized the opportunity, and various folk-custom experience activities have been carried out one after another. Local characteristic activities such as making moxa, grinding tofu, and rattan weaving have also been loved by tourists.
"The villages in the Danxia Mountain Scenic Area, like other villages in Renhua County where they are located, have undergone a transformation of the village appearance and environmental sanitation. Whether you buy a ticket or not, enter the scenic spot or the village, everything looks like a painting." Chen Fang said.