Cangdong Ancient Village
Location: Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province
Cangdong Ancient Village (Photo: Monica)
Kaiping City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its unique diaolou culture and the influence of overseas Chinese culture.
The diaolous were built at the beginning of the 19th century, mostly by overseas Chinese. These immigrants saved money and returned to their homeland to build the unique Chinese homes using knowledge they gained about Western architecture. At that time, the area was infested with thieves and bandits, so the buildings were designed to be difficult to infiltrate.
There are many villages that have diaolous in Kaiping — Cangdong Ancient Village is among the most popular ones.
The village contains architectural typologies dating to the Ming Dynasty, which the project selected for conservation, including two ancestral halls, a defensive watchtower and Furen Temple.
By designing an outreach program targeting young people, the project helped raise awareness about local heritage among the next generation.
The best way to visit the village is by bicycle.
Transport: Take a coach from Shenzhen to Kaiping and rent a bicycle there.
Cangdong Ancient Village (Photo: Monica)
Cangdong Ancient Village (Photo: Monica)
Cangdong Ancient Village (Photo: Monica)
