Guizhou: Zhaoxing Dong Village, Mar 2025

By Beatrice Wong
May 5, 2025
7:30 pm
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To the east of Guiyang lies Zhaoxing Dong Village 肇兴侗寨 which is the largest Dong ethnic village in China with over 1,200 households. The Dong people 侗族 live by streams and are known for their roofed bridges, “Wind and Rain Bridges” 風雨橋, that are built without nails. Also well-known are their drum towers which serve as meeting points, timekeepers, and symbols of Dong culture. Zhaoxing Dong Village is divided into 5 sections with each section having its own drum tower and Wind and Rain Bridge. The 5 sections are called “Tuan” by locats, and represent benevolence “Ren Tuan”, justice “Yi Tuan”, courtesy “Li Tuan”, wisdom “Zhi Tuan”, and faith “Xin Tuan”. Every morning there is the Grand Song of Dong People and other cultural performance to welcome visitors. I stayed at the modern BE’IN Castles in the Air Hotel (碧隱BE’IN|空中樓閣) overlooking the historical village.

My room at BE’IN Castles in the Air Hotel (碧隱BE’IN|空中樓閣)

I specifically chose this room at BE’IN Castles in the Air Hotel (碧隱BE’IN|空中樓閣) with a balcony

There is a viewing platform on the roof of the hotel.

From the hotel, there is a series of stairs leading down to the main thoroughfare of the town. Before wandering around town, I headed to the Hillside viewing platform 寨后山坡观景台 just outside the entrance to the village which is an absolute must. Here you can see all 5 drum towers poking out from the dense stilted houses and the rice terraces of Tang’an beyond.

Zhaoxing Dong Village 肇兴侗寨 from the hillside viewing platform.

Zhaoxing Dong Village 肇兴侗寨 from the hillside viewing platform.

Zhaoxing Dong Village 肇兴侗寨 from the hillside viewing platform.

Zhaoxing Dong Village 肇兴侗寨

I went up the viewing platform again after dark when Zhaoxing Dong Village 肇兴侗寨 is all lit up.

Main entrance to Zhaoxing Dong Village 肇兴侗寨

Zhaoxing Dong Village 肇兴侗寨

Zhaoxing Dong Village 肇兴侗寨

Zhaoxing Dong Village 肇兴侗寨

Zhaoxing Dong Village 肇兴侗寨

Zhaoxing Dong Village 肇兴侗寨

The first drum tower you will come across after entering the village is Xin Tuan (faith) drum tower being the highest at 25.0 meters.

Xin Tuan (faith) drum tower

Xin Tuan (faith) drum tower

Almost next to Xin Tuan is the Zhi Tuan (wisdom) drum tower, which is also the drum tower our hotel overlooks.

Li Tuan (courtesy) is the oldest drum tower, dating back to the 17th century.

Li Tuan (courtesy) drum tower

Dotted around the village are Dong Embroidery and Batik Workshops where artisans demonstrate the traditional dyeing techniques and ethnic embroidery patterns.

Dong Embroidery and Batik Workshops

Yi Tuan (justice) drum tower and its wind and rain bridge.

It was a very cold day and the locals like to gather around the fire under the drum towers.

Yi Tuan (justice) drum tower

Wedding celebration at Yi Tuan (justice) drum tower where all the neighbors are invited to partake in the festivities. There were fireworks and fire crackers going off well into the night.