Kaiping Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
Chikan Ancient Town Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
Without leaving Guangzhou, there is an ancient town with arcade buildings in Dongguan within 2 hours!!!
I never thought that there would be such a secluded ancient town built by the water two hours drive from Dongguan, with retro arcade streets, clan ancestral halls, trams shuttling through the streets, and swaying boats in the Tanjiang River...
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This place full of cultural heritage is perfect for relaxing and enjoying a slow life on weekends and holidays.
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✅Recommended check-in points
1⃣️Tram
Take a tram at the 'Chikan Town Station', which will take you through the retro arcades in 30 minutes, creating a full atmosphere.
2⃣️Rowing boat
Take a rowing boat on the Tanjiang River, passing by every household, and experience the charm of the Nanling water town.
3⃣️Workshop Street
The retro arcade buildings on both sides, plus the plaques and graffiti at the door, wait for a tram, and every shot is a great scene.
4⃣️Peace Square
Go to the market, watch performances, visit the church, feed pigeons, full of life.
5⃣️Chizi Square
There are dragon boat races in the afternoon, and you can watch the national tide lion dance and fountain light show performances in the evening, which are full of fun.
6⃣️Dongdi Road, Xidi Road
A super photogenic riverside road, with arcade buildings on one side and rowing boats on the river on the other, it's simply too beautiful.
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✅What to do in the ancient town?
🔸Kayaking
🔸National tide lion dance
🔸Cantonese opera performance
🔸Wing Chun performance
🔸River lantern blessing
🔸Dragon boat race
🔸Chikan fire dragon dance
🔸Music fountain light show
🔸Tram, rowing boat
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✅About accommodation
If you want to experience a slow life, it is recommended to stay in the ancient town, which also includes 2 tickets and breakfast, free shuttle bus, free parking and free reservation for morning tea guests, which is a good deal.
I stayed at the Meitang Hotel, the exterior is retro arcade style, the interior is American retro style, very comfortable, the roof is also equipped with an outdoor romantic swimming pool, which is very photogenic.
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✅About food
In the morning, you must experience Chikan Cantonese morning tea, a whole street of food, full of life, various desserts, mixed noodles, rice, etc., for morning tea you can try shrimp dumplings, chicken feet are very good.
For lunch and dinner, you can choose Nanyuan Restaurant for Hunan cuisine, or Xinglong Beef Hot Pot.
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🚧Address: Chikan Overseas Chinese Ancient Town, Kaiping, Jiangmen
⏰Time: Open all day
🚅Transportation: Take the high-speed train from Dongguan Humen Station to Kaiping South Station for 1.5 hours, and then take a taxi for 20 minutes to arrive.
GEORGE JIMENEZ
Speaking of Chikan, the feelings for it originated from letting the bullet fly this movie. The ancient city of Chikan, without the tranquility of Lijiang, without the beauty of the phoenix, without the warmth of Wuzhen, has its unique depth. It can be an ancient town with stories. There is no affair, no drunken dreams, but it has a unique overseas Chinese culture in Guangdong Province. Whether in the field of architecture or at the spiritual level, it has seen past events in South China. Its cultural history has unlimited connotations. Chikan is built along the Tanjiang River. The south bank is a village, and the north bank is a city. It is a unique arcade building, far more than the huge foreign buildings in Kaiping Old Street. On the east bank of the embankment along the river, the Zhonghua Road, which is parallel to it, is sandwiched between two roads and there is a small road called Two Roads. This is a three-horizon parallel with the river, and there are many vertical roads crossing them. Form the road network of the city. Chikan Town has a quaint taste of Chinese and Western. Therefore, it is called "the fifth ancient town in China". Old tree, old building. Slate paved road, square column window, square ruler, solid wood bed. The lengthy and deep tone of the gray, the architectural style of the combination of Chinese and Western, the tower building built along the river, there is no gorgeous, no publicity, and there is no way to talk about the amazing word. For hundreds of years, silently watching the other side of the river,
Hehe_Hexiaoxi.
Chikan Overseas Chinese Ancient Town's winter parent-child tour | Learn while playing
| Learn while playing.❄️ Winter is the more comfortable tourism season in Guangdong. A holiday🏖️ with kids👶 is perfect! It allows moms and dads to truly 'free their hands'👐.
Chikan Overseas Chinese Ancient Town has a history of over 370 years since its port was opened🏘️, with 683 existing century-old arcade buildings. The rich historical and cultural atmosphere allows every visitor, big and small👨👩👧👦, to fully touch history and perceive culture📖.
1️⃣ In the ancient town, you absolutely must not miss the tram🚌 tour experience! A family can sit on the retro tram, accompanied by the crisp bell ringing as they tour the ancient town, instantly traveling back to the Republic of China era🚏! Children can go up to the semi-open second floor of the tram and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the ancient town from a high vantage point.
2️⃣ The slow experience of rowing a ferry🛶 is, of course, something to explore! You can enjoy a leisurely afternoon with your family, 🛶 boating on the lake, chatting, and relaxing!🏞️
3️⃣ Take your children to Peace Square to experience the joy of feeding pigeons🕊️! Buy a pack of grains🌾 as bait, get up close with peace pigeons🕊️, watch them pecking, and listen to the 'flap flap' sound of their wings beating, an interesting interactive experience that can also engage the children's sensory and motor skills🧏🏻
4️⃣ Feel the charm of Cantonese elegance at Peace Square🎤. Kaiping has long been known as the hometown of artistic culture, and the famous Cantonese opera performer Red Line Girl was also born here. Together with the children, immerse in the culture of opera🎶, watch the long sleeves flutter, and listen to the melodious opera~🎶
5️⃣ The tie-dye and weaving experience at the ancient town's Guangzhou Silk Factory🪡🧵. Create unique works with your children and share parent-child time📖
6️⃣ In the evening, head to the riverside of Chizi Square to watch the dragon boat🐉 races, a competition about speed and passion🚣. Watch the lion dance on plum blossom poles, with the lions leaping over the poles, looking up and jumping vigorously.
Kaiping, as a world-renowned hometown of famous chefs, gathers special delicacies from all over🥗🥘🍜🍲🍛🧆🥙
PAYTON NEAL
Chikan Ancient Town | Travel through ancient and modern times in a small town
I remember going to Chikan when I was a child. At that time, its more famous promotional theme was the filming location of 'Let the Bullets Fly'. In my memory, the arcade streets by a bend of the river in the ancient town were packed with small vendors selling local specialties, creating a lively market scene full of the flavor of life and human warmth.
The Chikan of today has changed dramatically. Although the timing of my visit wasn't great and the weather wasn't very nice, the highly restored architectural design style that reflects the art of overseas Chinese sentiment is still very eye-catching. It's worth mentioning that the night view is absolutely beautiful, and I suggest staying overnight in the town.
Recommended activities:
【Tram】It's interesting, but a bit pricey
【Various 🆓 performances】Follow 'Chikan Overseas Chinese Ancient Town' on WeChat to check the times of various performances on the day, such as lion dances, Cantonese opera, and light fountains, all of which are worth seeing
WanderlustVoyage
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Kaiping Diaolou Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
Kaiping Diaolou
Kaiping Diaolou is a building left by overseas Chinese in the 1920s and 1930s. It combines living and defensive functions and is a precious world heritage.
The main features of Kaiping Diaolou include:
- Mixed style: The architectural style is wild with delicacy, mixed with Chinese and Western styles, which is a major feature of Kaiping Diaolou.
- Combination of local and Western: After two anti-bandit operations, the Kaiping area has been relatively stable, and the appearance of cottage-style buildings is also a combination of local and Western.
- Decorations reflect the changes in the times: The decorations of the buildings reflect the changes in the times and also declare the new thoughts and interests of the building owners.
wren_8496
Architectural landmarks you can't miss in Kaiping
#MyTripVlog #chinatravel #tripblazers #china #unescoworldheritage #chinatravel #urbanexplorer #kaiping #guangdong
Kaiping Diaolou and Villages is located in Kaiping, Jiangmen Guangdong China. It's a UNEsCO World Heritage Site.
There are 3 important buildings in the village. The communal towers were built by several families and used as temporary refuge, residential towers built by individual rich families and used as fortified residences, and watch towers.
Transportation Take Tangkou - Magang Special Line from Kaiping downtown area and get off at Zilicun.
From Shenzhen : Take a long distance bus or provincial bus from Louhu CoCh Station to Kaiping directly. The bus schedules are 10:50, 14:55, 16:25 and 19:50. Ticket Fare: ¥130
Place name:
Yangkuo World Heritage Corridor
Tangkou Liyuan Kaiping Jingmen Guangdong
mytripvlog
chinatravel
Nman UnliTravel
Kaiping is nicknamed 'the home of overseas Chinese' as huge numbers of emigrants left this area beginning in the late nineteenth century. Many settled abroad and Taishanese, the local language, is still spoken around the world. Others returned home with both wealth and inspiration. They imported what were then new western inventions like flush toilets and radios and built houses in their home villages inspired by the architecture they'd seen in Europe and the Americas.
The most distinctive of their buildings are diaolou, fortified towers crowned with ostentatious baroque or neoclassical penthouses. They served both as residences and defence against bandits. They can be found in various places, but especially in Kaiping, where they are recognised as a Unesco world heritage site. Many are scattered singly or in pairs throughout the countryside but there are a few diaolou clusters where you can see many in a small area and even climb up a few of them, as well as seeing the Republic of China period furnishings inside. The surroundings are very rural, not much changed a century after these eccentric towers were raised.
Kaiping is an easy day- or weekend-trip from Guangzhou. From Kaiping Railway Station it's easiest to get a taxi to one of the diaolou clusters.
Be sure to taste the local speciality baozaifan, rice cooked in a clay pot until the bottom gets crusty, served with various toppings.
#leaveyourmark #urbanexplorer #lightthecity #kaiping #taishan #jiangmen #guangdong #diaolou #architecture #historicallandmarks #unesco
leaveyourmark
urbanexplorer
Stevebeck
Kaiping 开平,this is how does Guangdong small provincial city looks like. Mostly people arrive here to take buses and immediately transfer to Dialou scenic spots located in several villages around Kaiping city.
Kaiping at a glance is very calm place where life is slow and peaceful existence. Good is typical Guangdong food but offered for lowest price.
#holidayvacation#wintergetaway#staycation#tripinspired
holidayvacation
wintergetaway
MaxS
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Watchtower Group of Zili Village Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
Kaiping Diaolou and Chikan Ancient Town Day Tour
First stop: Morning tea in Goose City: The tea is delicious, the dim sum is tasty, the environment is beautiful, the service is enthusiastic, and the key point is that it's not expensive.
Second stop: Pioneer Bookstore Granary, a great place for photos;
Third stop: Li Garden, the combination of Chinese and Western architecture and decoration is breathtaking;
Fourth stop: Self-reliance Village Diaolou: The beauty of history, well worth the trip;
Fifth stop: Chikan Ancient Town: The main attraction is the architecture, another great place for photos.
The schedule is tight, yet the visit is satisfying; it's convenient for self-driving with easy parking.
orinthea_4659
World Cultural Heritage - Kaiping Diaolou
Kaiping Diaolou and villages are located in Kaiping City, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province. They are multi-storey tower-style buildings that integrate defense, living, and Chinese and Western architectural art. The Diaolou was built in the mid-16th century in the late Ming Dynasty. The early Diaolou was mainly traditional Chinese residential buildings, built by overseas Chinese.
From the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, a large number of Chinese workers who traveled to the United States and Canada built Diaolou after accumulating some industries. They also brought back the architectural styles of other countries, incorporating elements of Western architecture such as ancient Roman and Greek columns, Byzantine dome roofs, mountain flowers, and Baroque architectural styles, and the architectural styles of the Byzantine and Gothic periods in the Middle Ages in Europe. The architectural shape is mostly upper and lower simple, which is a combination of Chinese and Western architectural art.
The Kaiping Diaolou Cultural Tourism Area is mainly composed of Liyuan, Zili Village Diaolou Group and Majianglong Diaolou Group. At its peak, there were more than 3,000, and in the 21st century, there were more than 1,800 well-preserved Diaolou in Kaiping, scattered in various villages. In 2007, Kaiping Diaolou and villages were included in the 'World Heritage List'.
Kaiping Diaolou can be divided into green brick buildings, mud buildings, stone buildings, and reinforced concrete buildings according to building materials; according to location and function, they can be divided into watchtowers, public buildings, and residential buildings. The watchtower is also known as the lantern tower or the watchtower. It is generally funded by the whole village and is located at the entrance of the village or outside the mountain. It is used for lookout and sentry. The Fang's Lighthouse and the South Gate North Gate Tower are the most representative.
The public building is a Diaolou built by the whole village or several villagers. For example, the Yinglong Building in Sanmenli Village and the Tianlu Building in Majianglong Village have simple Diaolou shapes, few external decorations, and strong defense. When an accident occurs, the villagers hide in the building, so the public building is generally located in the middle or side of the village. The residential building is funded by the owner alone, with complete living facilities, beautiful appearance, both living and defense functions, mostly 4-5 floors, the most numerous, built behind the village.
Among the many types of Diaolou, residential buildings are the most numerous and common. The scenic area also preserves the watchtowers represented by Fang's Lighthouse and the public buildings represented by Yinglong Building. Most of the existing Diaolou buildings are made of reinforced concrete. The indoor space is mostly narrow, and in order to save expenses, the floors are mostly covered with wooden boards; there are windows opening downwards on the surrounding walls, equipped with iron windows; on the roof, in order to accurately warn, there are protruding square or round corner castles, equipped with shooting holes.
In the Diaolou, the gate is the only way in and out. The door panel is made of heavy steel plate. There are usually three or four locks inside the door. There is an iron gate outside the door. Above the door, there is a small hole, which is very strong.
The Kaiping Diaolou Group is a classic work of integrating Chinese and Western architecture. We contemporary people appreciate them, they are very artistic, and they shine with the surrounding rural landscape, witnessing the prosperity and prosperity of the local area for hundreds of years.
isolde_3750
The representative of Lingnan style architecture - Zili Village
The Diaolou in Kaiping, Jiangmen is a unique scenic spot, these Diaolou are the masterpieces of Lingnan architecture. Like the nearby Tulou, the existing Diaolou are precious historical relics that have been preserved. There are several scenic spots in the Diaolou of Kaiping, the most representative of which is the Diaolou of Zili Village. The combination of Diaolou architecture and the beautiful natural scenery around it is a beautiful picture.
TastyTreatsTantalizer
There are many famous villages in the south of the Yangtze River, and there are not so many famous villages in Guangdong. This view is actually a little one-sided. If you go to Kaiping Country, you will find many strange villages, such as Zili Village.
Zili Village is located in Tangkou Town, Kaiping. It was famous at the end of the 20th century. Tourists went on sightseeing in the early 21st century, but what really made it famous was Jiang Wens blockbuster movie Let the Bullets Fly. Because Zili Village used to be one of the main locations.
Into Zili Village, the most striking thing is that all the buildings in the village are like bunkers, and the locals call this building a "tower". Some of the towers in Zili Village are funded by the villagers, and some are built by overseas Chinese. Because the Kaiping terrain is low, the old buildings suffer from shackles, and the buildings in the towers are waterproof and thieves-proof.
The Mingshi Building in the village was built in 1925. The owner Fang Runwen is an American overseas Chinese. He had run a restaurant in his early years and later made a grocery store. Ming Runwen, who was built by Fang Runwen, is the main location of Let the Bullets Fly. The middle and lower structures are relatively simple, the upper part is complex and gorgeous, the columns are Romanesque, and the six-storey frontal flowers are baroque. The building is currently a national key cultural relic. Protected units are also listed on the World Heritage List.
Because it is located in Lingnan, there is no cold in winter. Zili Village can see green all year round. The green seedlings and golden rice ears in the busy season are the most beautiful, and there are rapeseed in spring.
WUXIPENG.
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Liyuan Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
There is such a place, in the depths of a vast farmland and green bamboo forest, a truss-like tower suddenly stands in the middle of it, in the sunset, silently telling stories about prosperity, vicissitudes and struggles. This place is Kaiping. Although the ancient buildings here are particularly broken, there are wonderful and unpredictable charms that are faintly presented. They prove the lifestyle of the overseas Chinese and form a place full of exotic pastoral customs. The idyllic nature. The landscape, combined with the exquisite craftsmanship of man-made architecture, attracts more and more people to find all kinds of imaginations.
Liyuan is a private garden. It was built ten years by Mr. Xie Weili, a Chinese-American overseas Chinese. It was initially built in the 25th year of the Republic of China (1936).
timetrees.
Visited Liyuan on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, taking advantage of the off-peak hours
After coming out from Jinjiang Li, I went to have some eel rice first, and it was already three o'clock in the afternoon when I entered Liyuan. The parking lot didn't seem very crowded, so I figured there wouldn't be too many people inside the garden either.
🌟 Highlights:
Liyuan is located in Genghua Village, Tangkou Town, Kaiping City, Jiangmen. It is a private garden of Xie Weili, an overseas Chinese from Tangkou Town who lived in America. The name 'Liyuan' implies the idea of 'establishing trees and cultivating people.'
Construction of Kaiping Liyuan began in 1926 and was preliminarily completed in 1936. Covering an area of about 19,600 square meters, it combines traditional gardening, Western architecture, and the characteristics of Jiangnan water towns. Its unique architectural style stands out in Chinese gardens, making it one of the more complete gardens in China that integrates Chinese and Western elements.
👍 Most recommended:
Liyuan is indeed impressive! It's quite large, with a reasonable layout of residences, gardens, and water systems. The two villas named 'Panli' and 'Panwen' are the most magnificent and spectacular. Their rooftops are built in the ancient Chinese 'double-eave' style, covered with green glazed tiles, cleverly creating a practical insulation layer. The interior floors and stairs are paved with colorful Italian stone, which, after many years, still shine brilliantly and are breathtaking. Plus, the love story of Mr. Xie Weili and his four wives is indeed worth the visit.
⏳ Recommended visiting time:
2 hours
💰 Average cost per person:
Adult ticket is 100 yuan, and there is also the option of a combo ticket.
📝 Tips:
You can enter the 'Panli' and 'Panwen' villas, although they are exquisite, the stairs are quite steep, and the practicality of the buildings is slightly inferior to that of the Ming Stone Building.
🚉 Transportation strategy:
We drove there, which was quite convenient. Small cars are not limited by time, 10 yuan. There is a shuttle bus between the scenic spots🚌, which I saw during the Spring Festival, but I'm not sure if it's available normally.
cygnaria_2538
The gem in the Diaolou
The Diaolou in Kaiping, Jiangmen, Guangdong are very famous and each has its own characteristics. For example, the Diaolou in Liyuan can be said to be the gem among the Diaolou. This set of buildings was built by overseas Chinese who returned to the country in the early last century, and there was already a concept of overall planning, so the Diaolou group and gardens here belong to a whole. The buildings in Liyuan are relatively well preserved and have great ornamental value. You must visit here when you come to Jiangmen.
TastyTreatsTantalizer
Liyuan is an independent garden. It is a villa garden built by Mr. Xie Weili, a Chinese-American overseas Chinese. It is a garden that has been built for ten years. In my impression, such a large garden should be appreciated by the emperor, but here... its built by people themselves. ... rich.
Liyuan Garden is divided into three parts: large garden, small garden and villa area. They are separated by artificial river or wall, and are connected by bridge pavilion and cloister. There is a garden in the garden and there is a scene in the scenery. There are six villas and a tower in the villa area, including the Chinese and Western buildings. The interior and decoration are rich in luxury and elegance. Relying on the Grand View Garden depicted in "Dream of Red Mansions", it is an eclectic mix of classical architecture of Chinese gardens, and integrates the architectural features of villas in Europe and America at that time, achieving the combination of Chinese and Western cultures, and thus has the reputation of "small view garden". The place to enter the gate is the Kaiping Diaolou Group Museum. In this museum, we can see the history of almost all the towers in Kaiping and the history of the formation of the park. It is still worth seeing.
Going forward, there is a micro-carved landscape of the tower. It is very architectural. It has a mottled effect when it is placed outdoors for a long time. A small iron window is very cute. Look carefully at the door. The stairs and the stairs inside are all made, its awesome!
Go further and enter the villa area. There are six villas in the villa area.
weiyishan.
Liyuan Daoxiangxuanlou Boutique Humanities Homestay (Liyuan Scenic Area) Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)
This is the life I aspire to!
🍃✨In this autumn and winter season, roasting milk around the stove with family and friends becomes a heartwarming time. When around the stove, the warm firelight shines on everyone's faces, and the melodious tea aroma permeates the air. Describing the unique taste of roasting milk around the stove with words is a feast on the tip of the tongue😌
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🫖🍵Rock sugar melts in the milk, emitting a strong sweet fragrance, the mellow black tea and the smooth fresh milk blend, as if tasting a cup of soul-warming drink. Red dates, goji berries, fragrant roses and osmanthus add layers and fragrance to this wonderful combination, every bite is a taste bud enjoyment😋
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🏠🏕️The warm atmosphere around the stove is indescribable. Friends and family gather together, laughter and conversation are endless. Amidst the flickering firelight, everyone shares their life moments, feeling that rare warmth.
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🔥🌈The warm feeling of this moment is like a cup of passionate milk tea, slowly warming the heart. Recalling the good times spent with friends and family, it seems to taste the best taste in life. Let this autumn and winter season become a precious memory, stored in the heart, as warm and beautiful as roasting milk around the stove.💖
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🏡B&B recommendation: Liyuan·Daoxiang Diaolou Boutique Cultural B&B
❤️Recommended reason: A boutique B&B transformed from a diaolou with a hundred years of history, fully equipped, with a camping site, tea room, chess and card room, very suitable for company team building, family gatherings👩👩👧👦. The hygiene is also full marks💯The room is spotless, the bathroom is separated from wet and dry, the fully automatic smart toilet, the comfortable big bed and the big bathtub, the big balcony... It is a full score B&B that will recommend to friends🔥❤️✨
Olivia.Simmons^37
Stay in a century-old Diaolou, explore the charm of Kaiping ancient village!
🏡🎈Let me recommend a great homestay to you! This homestay is located in the World Cultural Heritage Site--Kaiping Diaolou Cultural Tourism Zone, and it is also the first Diaolou homestay in Kaiping! This place is really a century-old Diaolou, originally the Daoming School during the Ming Dynasty! The courtyard retains its original house structure and style, allowing you to experience an extraordinary homestay journey! Come and take a look with me✨💫
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🍃Here, you can feel the precipitation of a hundred years of history! The structure of the house is completely preserved, and the courtyard has also painstakingly restored the original carved murals in the house, as if traveling back to the past the moment you step into the homestay. Walking into the Diaolou, filled with the solemn atmosphere of history, what is presented before your eyes is the style of the long years. Whether you like historical culture or seek novel experiences, you absolutely can't miss it here‼️
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🎈And staying here is a different kind of enjoyment! The perfect combination of comfortable guest rooms and ancient buildings allows you to feel the beauty of history in dreamy bedding. Lying on the soft bed, closing your eyes, it seems that you can hear the reading voices of the students in the past. This unique experience will definitely make you linger!❤️
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🍭Here, you can also taste the local special delicacies and feel the local taste! Come and try it, it will definitely make your appetite open!
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💥This century-old Diaolou homestay not only allows you to experience historical culture, but also satisfies your yearning for fantastic and beautiful places. Whether you are a literary youth or a selfie master, this is your best choice for check-in! Pick up the camera, record this beautiful moment, and share it with more people!📸
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🕌The century-old Diaolou homestay not only retains the heritage of history, but also brings you a unique homestay experience! Come and book a room, give yourself a unique travel memory🌈