Jinjiangli Village
Guangdong · China
Jinjiangli Village Diaolou Cluster, surrounded by mountains, with crisscross paths on the farmland and river flowing through away before it, lies in the Xian Gang Township, Kaiping City. Water buffaloes and geese appearing on the riverside from time to time, the granite-paved road leading from the pier to the village, and women carrying water coming and going, that is a pastoral life painting of Jinjiangli Village. 3 diaolou stand among traditional old houses, which gives you a sense of beauty of harmony in combination of western and Chinese traditional style. Ruishilou and Shengfenglou are 2 out of the 3 diaolou that forms the most beautiful diaolou cluster in Kaiping.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Jinjiangli Village
Welcome to the village of Jinjiangli, a place of immense historical and architectural significance within the Kaiping World Heritage site. While it may appear as a quiet rural settlement, Jinjiangli is renowned globally for…
Listen in the app2Ruishi Lou: The Architectural Zenith
Before us stands the incomparable Ruishi Lou, a twenty-five-meter tall architectural marvel that represents the zenith of the Diaolou tradition. Built in 1923 by Huang Bixiu, a returning overseas Chinese who had made his fortune…
Listen in the app3Shengfeng Lou: A Journey Through the Levels
Our next stop is Shengfeng Lou, another of Jinjiangli's significant towers. While perhaps less ornate than Ruishi Lou, Shengfeng Lou offers a fascinating look at the internal structure and defensive features of a large-scale…
Listen in the app4The Village Layout: Tradition and Adaptation
Beyond the individual towers, the layout of Jinjiangli itself is worthy of scholarly attention. The village was established in the fourteenth century and originally designed in 'strict accordance with Feng Shui principles.' This…
Listen in the app5The Materials of Modernity: Concrete and Imported Glass
A key factor in the architectural 'wonder' of Jinjiangli is the use of modern materials that were revolutionary for rural China at the time. Most of the towers here, including Ruishi Lou, were built with reinforced concrete. …
Listen in the app6Village Life and the Ancestor's Legacy
While the towers often dominate our attention, it is important to remember that they were the center of a vibrant and resilient community. The top floors of many towers were 'reserved for the worship of the ancestors,' a practice…
Listen in the app7The Rural Context: Rice, Bamboo, and the Changing Seasons
To fully appreciate Jinjiangli, one must consider its wider rural context. The village is surrounded by a landscape of 'rivers, rice farms, and bamboo,' which provides a striking contrast to the 'cool, unusual buildings' that…
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our journey through Jinjiangli, I hope you have been inspired by the 'extraordinary' sights and stories of this unique village. From the soaring heights of Ruishi Lou to the sturdy resilience of Shengfeng Lou,…
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What is Jinjiangli Village?
Jinjiangli Village is a place in Guangdong · China with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Guangdong · China |
|---|---|
| Type | Nature |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 22.2581, 112.5260 |
| Last updated |
