Have you ever seen a tower that looks like a mix between a Chinese building and a Western castle? 🏯🏰
In Guangdong Province in southern China, there are over 1,800 magical towers called the Kaiping Diaolou (pronounced “Kai-ping Dee-ow-low”). These towers are super special because they are a blend of Eastern and Western architecture!
What are the Kaiping Diaolou?
The Kaiping Diaolou are tall, fortified towers made of stone, bricks, or concrete. They were built over 100 years ago to protect villagers from bandits and floods. Imagine living in a tower that looks like a castle! Some of them even have decorations from different countries, showing how the people who built them were influenced by the world.
Why are they important?
These towers are so unique that they are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means they are protected because they are important to the history and culture of the world! They show how Chinese families who moved overseas (like to America or Europe) stayed connected to their homeland by sending money back to build these amazing structures.
Lights, Camera, Action! 🎬
The Kaiping Diaolou have been featured in movies like “Let the Bullets Fly,” making them famous beyond China. Wouldn’t it be cool to visit a place that’s been in the movies?
Visit and Explore!
Today, you can visit these towers and explore the villages around them. It’s like stepping into a time machine and seeing how people lived a century ago. So next time you’re looking for an adventure, maybe the Kaiping Diaolou will be on your list!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
