Diaolou originated in the Ming Dynasty, with more than 3,000 in its heyday, and there are 1833 existing. Kaiping Diaolou is famous for its unique architectural style, rich cultural connotation and profound historical background.
The main building materials of Kaiping Diaolou are blue bricks, cement, sandstone and wood, and their architectural styles are diverse, blending the essence of Chinese and western cultures. Among them, reinforced concrete buildings are the representative works of Kaiping Diaolou, which were mostly built in the 1920s and 1930s, and were designed and built by overseas Chinese with reference to the architectural characteristics of various countries in the world. Blue brick buildings are mainly blue bricks, including blue bricks with mud inside and blue bricks with mud outside.
The main functions of Kaiping Diaolou are defense, residence and viewing. There is usually a watchtower on the top floor of the watchtower, which is used to observe the surrounding environment and find thieves. The ground floor is used for living and storage, and the middle floor is equipped with guest room, living room and kitchen. Some towers are also equipped with basements to avoid floods and enemies.
Characteristics of Kaiping Diaolou
Kaiping Diaolou and Village were listed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 2007, becoming the 35th world heritage in China and the first world cultural heritage in Guangdong. These towers have witnessed the political, economic and cultural development of Kaiping, and are known as living museums of modern architecture and unique art galleries.
Kaiping Diaolou is an important carrier of China traditional culture, which embodies the intelligence of overseas Chinese and the blending of Chinese and Western cultures. They are not only the landmark buildings in Kaiping, Guangdong, but also the treasures of rural architecture in China. In the future, Kaiping Diaolou will continue to exert its unique charm and attract tourists from all over the world to enjoy and learn.
The above contents refer to Baidu Encyclopedia-Kaiping Diaolou.