Fortified multi-storey towers made of reinforced concrete. These tall, free-standing structures were constructed as protection against bandits and acted as watchtowers, residences and communal towers. Located in an area from which many Chinese emigrated and later returned to, the towers feature an interesting fusion of eastern and western architectural elements and decoration, some bearing something of a resemblance to European castles. Around 1,833 of these structures remain in Kaiping, and you'll head to the cluster which dot the rice paddies around Zili Village. Here, you'll explore the six-storey Mingshi Lou and the five-storey Yunhuan Lou, both built in the early 1920s.
Chikan ancient town was established during the Qing Dynasty. The highlights here are the wonderful old buildings which flank the Tanjiang River. Built in the 1920s by overseas Cantonese merchants, these buildings are characterized by their pillars and enclosed balconies, as well as their intriguing mix of Chinese and Western architectural styles.