Visiting the diaolou gives a strange and fascinating impression. We feel the pride, fear and hope of those who built them, between success abroad and the need for security at home.

The calm that reigns today contrasts sharply with their past defensive function, reinforcing the feeling of a place full of memory. This memory is perpetuated with the descendants of these families. In fact, some still live in these houses.

The Chinese government is participating in the renovation of these historical monuments, the most emblematic of which are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

In Kaiping, most Dialous are spread across Zili Village, Majianglong Group of Villages, Sanmenli Village, Jinjiangli Village, Liyuan Garden, and Chican Old Town.

The area that is now Kaiping originally belonged to the Yue and Han people who came from the central plains of China, mixed with the indigenous population. They grew rice and fished. From the mid-sixteenth century, many villagers began trading on the nearby coast, sailing in wooden junks to Southeast Asia.

In the early 19th century, these poor peasants began to travel to America, attracted by the lure of the gold rush. By the end of the nineteenth century, the Chinese community had begun to accumulate large savings, and after World War I, with rapid economic expansion in many countries, the fortunes of overseas Chinese grew steadily.

However, what they were convinced they had not obtained was social recognition of their contribution to the expansion of the countries in which they had chosen to live.

Take a train from Guangzhounan (Guangzhou South Station) directly to Kaiping (kaipingnan). From there, take a Didi or taxi (price to be negotiated) to reach and visit the Liyuan Garden.

If you wish, a combo ticket also allows you to visit the Jinjiangli site, with a private bus included for the connection between the two sites.

For the return, a Didi or taxi will take you to Kaiping Station.

This is much simpler and less expensive than the route given by chatgpt through Jiangmen.

The ceiling of this walkway is really beautiful. I wanted to show you some parts