Travel back in time and discover Kaiping Xian'gang Ancient Town
Travel back in time and discover Kaiping Xian'gang Ancient Town
In the southwest of Kaiping, Guangdong, lies a simple and quiet town—Xian'gang Ancient Town. Like a pearl forgotten by time, it exudes a unique charm, waiting for travelers to explore.
Basic Information
Xian'gang Ancient Town is located in the southwest of Kaiping City, 26 km away from Kaiping city center, with convenient transportation. The climate here is pleasant, with an average annual temperature of 7–18°C, so even those who are afraid of the cold can easily adapt 👌.
Attraction Introduction
- Ruishi Building: Known as the "King of Watchtowers," it is the most artistically valuable and tallest building among the Kaiping Watchtowers. It is located in the Jinjiangli Watchtower complex, surrounded by mountains and ancient village houses, showing a strong harmony between Chinese and Western styles. The building is exquisite and full of historical charm. Standing under the building, you can almost travel back to that turbulent era.
- Zhongjian Building: With a history of more than 100 years, it is located opposite Xian'gang Market and is open to the public for free. The building is well preserved. Here, you can take photos with the word "Xian'gang." With few people and beautiful scenery, it is a paradise for photography enthusiasts.
- Leaning Building: Built in 1903, the watchtower is tilted due to the sinking of the foundation. It has stood still for a century, with a tilt angle of 15 degrees. The center line of the building deviates by more than 2 meters, exceeding the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. It is known as the "Oriental Leaning Tower of Pisa" in Kaiping. The unique tilted shape makes people marvel at the magic of architecture and the vicissitudes of time.
- Xian'gang Centennial Ancient Market: Built in the Kangxi period, the shops in the market are set along the long embankment of the Xian'gang River, retaining the flavor of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The arcade is a combination of Chinese and Western styles, with prominent lines. The original shop signs are still visible. Walking through it, you feel like you are in a market town in the early years of the Republic of China, full of historical atmosphere.
Local Food
- Claypot Rice: In Xian'gang, you must try the local claypot rice. It is made with firewood, and the aroma of rice and meat are perfectly integrated. There is also a layer of golden and crispy rice crust at the bottom. Take a bite and you will feel extremely happy. I recommend Wenji Claypot Rice. Although there may be a lot of people and you may have to wait for 1 hour, it is all worth it for this delicious food.
- Luk Congee: This is a special breakfast in Xian'gang! In Xian'gang Market, you can buy your own ingredients such as preserved eggs, pork offal, and roasted bones, and then take them to the congee stall for processing. The congee base is dense, and the ingredients are fresh and cost-effective. Remember to go early, as the congee stall will close at 9 o'clock.
- Pitaya Wine and Dried Pitaya Flowers: Local specialty agricultural products and processed foods. Pitaya wine has a mellow taste, and dried pitaya flowers can be used to make soup, which is delicious and nutritious.
Surrounding Scenery
- Jinjiang Village: The three watchtowers of Ruishi Building, Shengfeng Building, and Jinjiang Building, surrounded by bamboo forests, are arranged in a row, sitting behind the village, guarding the village. The tall buildings exposed at the end of the forest have become a beautiful landscape of the village. It is a typical overseas Chinese village in Kaiping, full of the charm of the overseas Chinese hometown.
- Niuguotang Ancient Camphor Tree Park: The park has ancient camphor tree groups, Fengshui forests, pastoral landscapes, and bamboo forests. It is an ecological science, historical culture, and rural landscape corridor. There are 13 ancient trees over 100 years old in the park, 12 of which are camphor trees and one is a maple tree, all of which are third-class protected ancient trees. The houses in the village are well-arranged, with exquisite carvings, as well as distinctive buildings such as water towers and watchtowers (Shucan Building), adding unique charm to the park.
- Rudong Longhou Village, Baihe Town: Not far from Xian'gang Ancient Town, there are antique watchtower buildings with the characteristics of overseas Chinese hometowns, and a sea of flowers in front of the village. Shuttle through the agricultural culture exhibition hall in the village, push stone mills, recognize hundreds of vegetables, and touch the temperature of the land; talk to simple villagers in the rural vegetable garden with birds and flowers, and feel the worldly fireworks of the characteristic overseas Chinese village.
Precautions
1. When visiting the watchtowers, pay attention to protecting cultural relics and do not touch or damage them at will.
2. Remember to go to the market early to taste Luk Congee, so as not to miss the delicious food.
3. Tourists who drive by themselves should pay attention to the narrow roads in the ancient town and pay attention to safety when parking.