Not in Guizhou, Yet Home to a Millennium-Old Ancient Village: Closer to Guangzhou and Shenzhen Than Yangshuo, Ticket Under 200 RMB

Not in Guizhou, but with an ancient thousand-year-old village; not in Yunnan, but with the most beautiful terraced fields; not in Guilin, but with scenery as stunning as the landscape paintings of Guilin. The beautiful and enchanting Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, once an isolated and untouched hidden realm, is now hailed as the 'Shangri-La of the Dong people.' When mentioning Guangxi, many first think of Guilin, whose landscapes are said to be the finest under heaven—picturesque and captivating. Mentioning Sanjiang, however, may be less familiar. It is a strategic crossroads where Guangxi, Guizhou, and Hunan provinces meet. By high-speed rail, it takes only 3.5 hours from Guangzhou, with a ticket under 200 RMB; 2 hours from Guiyang; and just 20 minutes from Guilin. Thanks to the opening of high-speed rail and highways, this place has gradually gained fame, unveiling its mystery: Sanjiang County, Liuzhou City, Guangxi—the Dong City of China. Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County has the largest Dong population among the seven Dong autonomous counties nationwide, and the area is rich in Dong ethnic culture. It features world-class architectural wonders: the Sanjiang Drum Tower (the world's tallest), the Sanjiang Wind and Rain Bridge (the world's longest), and the Dong Village Bird's Nest (the world's largest single timber structure). The Sanjiang Dong Village Scenic Area, also known as Sanjiang Grand Dong Village, is hailed by visitors from all over as the 'land of world bridge towers and the hall of Dong ethnic customs.' The wooden bridges, drum towers, and large houses are exceptionally well-crafted, and the Dong population is dense, preserving an authentic ethnic culture. Every evening, the 'Zuo Mei' performance staged at the Tongxiang Bird's Nest is spectacular and full of charm. The entire scenic area includes the wooden Dong Village Bird's Nest, Sanjiang Drum Tower, Sanjiang Wind and Rain Bridge, as well as the Dong Ethnic Historical and Cultural Stele Corridor, Moon Street, Sanjiang Stone City, and Duoye Square. The Sanjiang Drum Tower is the symbol and soul of the Dong villages. Made entirely of wood, it is assembled with mortise and tenon joints without a single nail. It can have from a few to dozens of stories, usually in odd numbers, and takes the shape of a square, hexagon, or octagon. Generally over ten meters high, the tallest can reach tens of meters. Resembling a pagoda, it is majestic and imposing, with flying eaves and multiple tiers, rigorous structure, exquisite craftsmanship, elaborate decoration, and simple colors. It is known as the 'world's first drum tower.' The eaves curve upward gracefully, with delicate carvings and colorful painted eaves that contrast sharply with the massive, rough body of the tower. Inside, the four large fir pillars each exceed 70 centimeters in diameter and are over a century old—a unique feat in the history of drum tower construction. Climbing to the observation platform of the drum tower offers a panoramic view of all of Sanjiang. The Sanjiang Wind and Rain Bridge combines modern reinforced concrete technology with Dong woodworking techniques, and its scale and length are truly impressive. Walking across the bridge evokes a sense of history. In Chengyang, there is a bridge where the characters appear different when viewed from different directions. The Tongxiang Bird's Nest is exquisitely designed, resembling the Beijing Bird's Nest but made of wood—a stunning sight. The nightly 'Zuo Mei' performance here is also brilliant, presenting Dong ethnic customs through romantic love stories and colorful ethnic dances—a must-see. Sanjiang Grand Dong Village is a place for experiencing pure Dong folk culture, a dreamlike spiritual home for people worldwide, a renowned summer resort, and an emerging leisure destination that literati call the 'poetic homeland.' A giant painting slowly unfolds: within it are Dong villages nestled against mountains and rivers, perfectly arranged; exquisite and poetic wind and rain bridges; melodious grand songs and majestic reed-pipe music; and sweetly intoxicating bitter wine... This painting is Sanjiang County.