Jinjiangli Village
Jinjiangli Village
4.5
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4.5
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Danzelho
Singapore, Singapore195 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
We made our way to Jin Jiang Li Diaolou (锦江里碉楼) Village without a clue of the direction and solely relying on the kind assistance from the locals. The bus driver was kind enough to prompt us when it was time to alight. We were then asked to tag along with a lady who was also alighting at the same stop. The lady was also very gracious as she offered to walk with us for half the journey and shared with us some information of the area. I reckon there is no deny that rural people are always much more hospitable as compare to city dwellers. People don’t really care about what you wear, what you do for a living, and they are genuinely just interested in you.
Having the knowledge of mandarin chinese or cantonese will go a long way, as most local people do not speak english. However the locals are usually helpful and will try their best to assist you. Upon alighting from the bus on the main road, there is a huge signboard pointing towards the general direction of the village. Even without the assistance from the local lady, i am sure finding the way is rather easy, as there are not many buildings within the surrounding and you can see the watch towers even from far.
The diaolou were typical buildings of traditional Chinese society, at a time of general public instability. The other reasons of constructing such towers in their homeland is also to reflect that they have succeeded overseas, and to display their prestige and wealth. Many of this towers reflect different styles of the countries which they have went, and display a flamboyant fusion of western and chinese architectural, and decorative forms that resembles styles such as Roman, Baroque and Indochina. During the early 20th century, bandits roam the country side looting and robbing from the villages therefore the towers are built with defensive purpose in mind. The towers are divided to 3 types, night watch tower, communal tower and dwelling tower. The towers are heavily fortified with reinforced concrete walls, metal doors and windows. Each level of the tower can also be sealed off to prevent intruders from entering and to protect the occupant.
Jingjiangli Diaolou village is located in Xian Gang town (蚬冈镇), furthest away from the rest of the UNESCO inscribed Diaolou clusters. A peaceful village in the inner land along a flowing river, surrounded by local farmland. There are only 3 dialous standing among the traditional old houses in the village, however what stands out was Ruishilou (瑞石楼). It was the highest diaolou in Kaiping, was built in 1923 by Huang Bixiu, a rich merchant at a cost of HKD$30,000 who, together with his two sons, owned a medicine shop and a bank in Hong Kong. There are a total of nine storey in Ruishilou, covering 92 square meters on each level, and erected with reinforced concrete structure and metal windows. Every storey is designed differently, and the windows comes in different shapes and configuration. The interior of the diaolou is decorated in traditional Guangdong manner and the exterior is designed in western fashion. The top floor has three pavilions, highlighting a strong sense of Western architectural style, which incorporated Roman Byzantine dome roof giving the whole structure a unique twist of beauty.
Jinjianli Village is the furthest away from the rest of the diaolou cluster, therefore it offers you a truly authentic experience without any other tourists around. A small, peaceful and quiet village, where people still go about with their daily routine.
lastdiscovery(dot)wordpress(dot)com
Having the knowledge of mandarin chinese or cantonese will go a long way, as most local people do not speak english. However the locals are usually helpful and will try their best to assist you. Upon alighting from the bus on the main road, there is a huge signboard pointing towards the general direction of the village. Even without the assistance from the local lady, i am sure finding the way is rather easy, as there are not many buildings within the surrounding and you can see the watch towers even from far.
The diaolou were typical buildings of traditional Chinese society, at a time of general public instability. The other reasons of constructing such towers in their homeland is also to reflect that they have succeeded overseas, and to display their prestige and wealth. Many of this towers reflect different styles of the countries which they have went, and display a flamboyant fusion of western and chinese architectural, and decorative forms that resembles styles such as Roman, Baroque and Indochina. During the early 20th century, bandits roam the country side looting and robbing from the villages therefore the towers are built with defensive purpose in mind. The towers are divided to 3 types, night watch tower, communal tower and dwelling tower. The towers are heavily fortified with reinforced concrete walls, metal doors and windows. Each level of the tower can also be sealed off to prevent intruders from entering and to protect the occupant.
Jingjiangli Diaolou village is located in Xian Gang town (蚬冈镇), furthest away from the rest of the UNESCO inscribed Diaolou clusters. A peaceful village in the inner land along a flowing river, surrounded by local farmland. There are only 3 dialous standing among the traditional old houses in the village, however what stands out was Ruishilou (瑞石楼). It was the highest diaolou in Kaiping, was built in 1923 by Huang Bixiu, a rich merchant at a cost of HKD$30,000 who, together with his two sons, owned a medicine shop and a bank in Hong Kong. There are a total of nine storey in Ruishilou, covering 92 square meters on each level, and erected with reinforced concrete structure and metal windows. Every storey is designed differently, and the windows comes in different shapes and configuration. The interior of the diaolou is decorated in traditional Guangdong manner and the exterior is designed in western fashion. The top floor has three pavilions, highlighting a strong sense of Western architectural style, which incorporated Roman Byzantine dome roof giving the whole structure a unique twist of beauty.
Jinjianli Village is the furthest away from the rest of the diaolou cluster, therefore it offers you a truly authentic experience without any other tourists around. A small, peaceful and quiet village, where people still go about with their daily routine.
lastdiscovery(dot)wordpress(dot)com
Written 12 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EastmeetsWestAB
London, UK2,376 contributions
Mar 2018 • Friends
We have visited various diaolou in Kaiping area. This is the most beautiful dialou. It is worth a visit. There are plenty of photo opportunities !!! If you have a 360 camera, bring it with you.
The tallest dialou in here is privately owned. So you will need to pay additional entry fee to get in. There is someone there to explain to u briefly about this place and what to expect in each floors. He will also show you photos that can be taken.
Not a lot of tourist. So you can take your time and walk around. Worth every bit. Would come back again.
There is a car park for cars.
The tallest dialou in here is privately owned. So you will need to pay additional entry fee to get in. There is someone there to explain to u briefly about this place and what to expect in each floors. He will also show you photos that can be taken.
Not a lot of tourist. So you can take your time and walk around. Worth every bit. Would come back again.
There is a car park for cars.
Written 11 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DjangoDjango
Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany565 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
The village itself is not as beautiful as Zili village, But the surroundings of this village was our favorite of the Three villages we visited (Zili,Maxianglong, and this one)
We really enjoyed cycling to here and the village is about 10 to 15 km from the village of Chikan, where we rented our bikes.
From Chikan there are some easy roadsigns who will lead you to the village you can't miss it.
When we were there, we had a lot less visitor's as in the village of Zili which made it really nice to stroll around and enjoy the scenery.
This village is one of the 7 sights on the combo ticket for 180 Yuan.
We really enjoyed cycling to here and the village is about 10 to 15 km from the village of Chikan, where we rented our bikes.
From Chikan there are some easy roadsigns who will lead you to the village you can't miss it.
When we were there, we had a lot less visitor's as in the village of Zili which made it really nice to stroll around and enjoy the scenery.
This village is one of the 7 sights on the combo ticket for 180 Yuan.
Written 14 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fali K
India671 contributions
Dec 2018 • Friends
This is away from the Zili Village area and so is an easy skip for people.
Such a big mistake!
This is absolutely gorgeous - attached to a small village which you can walk around in.
The setting is very peaceful, the diaolous are really so soulful and different from the other diaolos that we saw.
I am super glad that we were able to come to this area of Kaiping - definitely a big highlight. Perhaps more satisfying than Zili village area :)
There is an entry fee of 50 RMB
I did not see water, food or any other amenities here. Toilets are available
You can spend a couple of hours walking around here.
The diaolous are unlocked at around 10 AM which is when you can explore them.
Pretty great views, very beautiful from the outside.
Some of the other dialou are privately run and you need to ask for them to be opened.
Do walk around the village as well.
And don't skip this at all!
Such a big mistake!
This is absolutely gorgeous - attached to a small village which you can walk around in.
The setting is very peaceful, the diaolous are really so soulful and different from the other diaolos that we saw.
I am super glad that we were able to come to this area of Kaiping - definitely a big highlight. Perhaps more satisfying than Zili village area :)
There is an entry fee of 50 RMB
I did not see water, food or any other amenities here. Toilets are available
You can spend a couple of hours walking around here.
The diaolous are unlocked at around 10 AM which is when you can explore them.
Pretty great views, very beautiful from the outside.
Some of the other dialou are privately run and you need to ask for them to be opened.
Do walk around the village as well.
And don't skip this at all!
Written 14 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3lgdz
Manila, Philippines1,462 contributions
Dec 2016 • Family
Jinjiangli Village 錦江里村, 20 km south of Kaiping, is a village full of Huang 黃people, with around 66 houses, so they say. There are comparatively fewer tourists here compared to Zili - few even make it out here at all. We visit this village as part of a private tour from Guangzhou. The three diaolou are at the back of the village, after you walk by rows of houses, with fat chickens, rows of vegetables and elderly women passing away the time.
The grandest diaolou here is the privately run Ruishi Lou 瑞石樓 which is Kaiping’s tallest diaolou with nine storeys, topped off with a Byzantine-style roof and Roman dome. It’s called Kaiping’s first diaolou (開平第一樓). Well, I'd agree with that statement - it's actually the prettiest looking diaolou from the outside. It has a separate admission fee, since it’s privately run – you can bargain it with the caretaker of the diaolou. The caretaker explains the history and significance of the diaolou as well as the clan who owns it, albeit in Cantonese. Afterward, you're free to explore. The first floor has a living room for entertaining visitors. It also has an altar for venerating ancestors. A smaller living room serves for a hangout place for chatting with friends and family.
The second to sixth floors each have their own living rooms, toilets, kitchens, and two bedrooms. The wooden stairs here is a rarity among the other diaolous in Kaiping. The seventh floor has an open-air balcony with a large round space facing the front of the building, the two dragons on each side, as well as the phoenix adorning the front of the building. There’s also an ancestral shrine on the same floor. The eighth floor has views of the architecture on the seventh floor, plus better views of the countryside and the village roofs. The ninth floor seems just like an "attic" to me. You can take a lot of great photographs from the seventh and eighth floors.
The second diaolou, Jinjiang Lou 錦江樓 was a communal five storey diaolou built during 1918 out of reinforced concrete. It’s primarily for defense as well. When compared to the Ruishi Lou and Shengfeng Lou, the exterior and interior of the Jinjiang Lou is simpler and less elaborate, if none at all. Thus, there is no admission fee. Each floor has no designs, no photographs - just a few wooden beds and stools for public use. It frankly looks like a prison. You can get great photos of the Ruishi Lou and Shengfeng Lou from the top floor of the Jinjiang Lou. You can also take framed photos by inserting your camera into the various shaped holes on the walls of the building.
The third diaolou is the Shengfeng Lou 升峰樓 built by a wealthy Chinese migrant to the States. It has seven floors (some say six), and was one of the few diaolou that had a European architect. This diaolou is a bit overshadowed by the Ruishi Lou, but it’s still pretty nonetheless. You can also take framed photos of the other diaolous or scenery using the arches and pillars in the balcony on the fifth floor as a frame. The fifth and sixth floors are perfect for more photographs.
If you only go to the Kaiping Diaolou as a day trip, choose the Zili Village and this lesser visited UNESCO site - the Jinjiangli Village. You will not be disappointed.
The grandest diaolou here is the privately run Ruishi Lou 瑞石樓 which is Kaiping’s tallest diaolou with nine storeys, topped off with a Byzantine-style roof and Roman dome. It’s called Kaiping’s first diaolou (開平第一樓). Well, I'd agree with that statement - it's actually the prettiest looking diaolou from the outside. It has a separate admission fee, since it’s privately run – you can bargain it with the caretaker of the diaolou. The caretaker explains the history and significance of the diaolou as well as the clan who owns it, albeit in Cantonese. Afterward, you're free to explore. The first floor has a living room for entertaining visitors. It also has an altar for venerating ancestors. A smaller living room serves for a hangout place for chatting with friends and family.
The second to sixth floors each have their own living rooms, toilets, kitchens, and two bedrooms. The wooden stairs here is a rarity among the other diaolous in Kaiping. The seventh floor has an open-air balcony with a large round space facing the front of the building, the two dragons on each side, as well as the phoenix adorning the front of the building. There’s also an ancestral shrine on the same floor. The eighth floor has views of the architecture on the seventh floor, plus better views of the countryside and the village roofs. The ninth floor seems just like an "attic" to me. You can take a lot of great photographs from the seventh and eighth floors.
The second diaolou, Jinjiang Lou 錦江樓 was a communal five storey diaolou built during 1918 out of reinforced concrete. It’s primarily for defense as well. When compared to the Ruishi Lou and Shengfeng Lou, the exterior and interior of the Jinjiang Lou is simpler and less elaborate, if none at all. Thus, there is no admission fee. Each floor has no designs, no photographs - just a few wooden beds and stools for public use. It frankly looks like a prison. You can get great photos of the Ruishi Lou and Shengfeng Lou from the top floor of the Jinjiang Lou. You can also take framed photos by inserting your camera into the various shaped holes on the walls of the building.
The third diaolou is the Shengfeng Lou 升峰樓 built by a wealthy Chinese migrant to the States. It has seven floors (some say six), and was one of the few diaolou that had a European architect. This diaolou is a bit overshadowed by the Ruishi Lou, but it’s still pretty nonetheless. You can also take framed photos of the other diaolous or scenery using the arches and pillars in the balcony on the fifth floor as a frame. The fifth and sixth floors are perfect for more photographs.
If you only go to the Kaiping Diaolou as a day trip, choose the Zili Village and this lesser visited UNESCO site - the Jinjiangli Village. You will not be disappointed.
Written 9 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buxster
Guangzhou, China182 contributions
Sept 2019 • Friends
This is a very small village with a few old people left. There are only 3 towers and you are allowed to visit 2 of them. Due to its part of the full ticket we made our way to here. Found no tourist except us and we took our time to have a relaxing and calm visit.
However, The towers are not special to others. In my opinion, if you saw 1 from inside, you saw them all...
Anyway, I recommend it.
However, The towers are not special to others. In my opinion, if you saw 1 from inside, you saw them all...
Anyway, I recommend it.
Written 29 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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