Situated in Guangdong Province in the Pearl River Delta, the small city of Kaiping is famous for its castle-like towers. It has played a significant role in China’s history and there are now many relics to see.
The world famous diaolou buildings are entirely unique as they blend eastern and western architectural styles. In fact, the buildings are so special that in 2007 the Kaiping diaolou and their villages were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
However, this is the only thing of any real interest in Kaiping, and there is no need to spend a great deal of time here. It is possible to visit on a daytrip, perhaps pausing in Kaiping for a few hours to explore and then continue by bus to one of the nearby cities
Getting There & Away
Kaiping is best reached from Guangzhou, where there is an international airport. It is possible to take a bus straight from Guangzhou’s bus station to Kaiping (2 hours) as well as from Zhuhai (3 hours) and Shenzhen (3 hours).
Things to Do
Kaiping Attractions
- Ruishi Diaolou
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Built in the early 1920s, this intriguing multi-story towered building features a byzantine style roof and a roman dome.
- Fangshi Denglou
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This five-story denglou features a large searchlight, leading it to be nicknamed the light tower.
- Bianchouzhu Lou
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The leaning tower was built in 1903 and has level floors.
- Li Garden
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Commissioned by xie weili, this diaolou was built in 1936.