Dong Village Tales Part 1 | Napping Under the Drum Tower in Zhaoxing

Zhaoxing Dong Village had been on my travel wishlist for ages
This year's travel plans arrived unusually late
When my urban CPU was nearly fried
I plunged headfirst into the green waves of Southeast Guizhou

Prioritizing rice terrace views and tranquility
I chose to stay at Tang'an Dong Village in the mountains
Spent 4 days and 3 nights exploring both mountain and valley
Even continuous rain couldn't dampen my enthusiasm for capturing beauty

The drum tower is the village's heartbeat
Like dark brown giants steadily holding up the sky
Having witnessed the bustle of Thousand Household Miao Village
Zhaoxing's level of commercialization feels just right

Beyond the shops on main streets
My greatest joy became
Wandering alleys and sheltering under drum towers
"Wasting" time freely, observing the verb called "living"

Old wooden houses bear time's carvings
Grandmothers knead indigo into flowing water
Time spreads tranquil ripples across rinsing fabrics
Elders still farm in the terraced fields
Watching rice-paddy fish surface becomes pure delight
Sipping terrace-side coffee, I'd sit for entire days
Here, time feels like steamed glutinous rice
Stretched long and sticky, trapping every urge to rush

📅 Itinerary
Day1: Shenzhen🚄Guangzhou🚄Congjiang - Direct transfer to Tang'an
Day2: Zhaoxing Dong Village
Day3: Tang'an Dong Village
Day4: Return trip
🏨 Stay Recommendation: Dongyunju in Tang'an
🍴 Food Rec: Zhaoxing - Liao Pangzi - Crispy Pork Rice Noodles
📌 Pro Tips:
1. Stay in Zhaoxing for convenience; choose Tang'an for serenity
2. Mountain transfer requires 3 rides: free shuttle→10¥ bus→3¥ shuttle (7km winding road, prepare for motion sickness)
3. Sunscreen & bug spray essential - hotter downhill
4. Zhaoxing viewpoint is outside village gates (walkable)

*Next chapter: Stories from cloud-kissed Tang'an

📍 Congjiang County, Qiandongnan, Guizhou