One of the largest Dong minority villages in China, Zhaoxing in remote southeast Guizhou is a cluster of wooden stilt houses, covered 'wind-and-rain' bridges and soaring drum towers, ringed by terraced hills.
History & culture
The Dong people built Zhaoxing over centuries without nails, organising the village into five clans, each with its own drum tower — the tall pagoda-like structures that are the social and ceremonial heart of Dong life.
What to see & do
- ◆The five clan drum towers
- ◆Wind-and-rain covered bridges over the stream
- ◆Evening Dong 'grand song' polyphonic singing
- ◆Terraced rice fields on the surrounding slopes
- ◆Nearby Tang'an village hilltop views
What to eat
- ●Dong sour fish and sour-soup hotpot
- ●Sticky rice steamed in bamboo
- ●Preserved pork and rice-wine
Getting there
Congjiang high-speed rail station (on the Guiyang–Guangzhou line) is about 30–40 min away by bus or taxi; the village is walkable once there.
Avoid the pitfalls
- It's deep in the mountains — build in travel time and don't expect big-city amenities.
- Respect performances and ceremonies; ask before photographing residents.
- Evenings get cool and damp in the hills even in warm months — bring a layer.
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