FORTIFIED HOUSES

Most of the Diaolou fortified houses are located in the district of Kaiping (Jiangmen) in the centre of Guangdong. Built under the Qing (1644-1911) and peaking at the beginning of the th century, diaolou offer an astonishing blend of Chinese and Western architecture. As a home of affluent families, these community towers played both a residential and defence role, their watch towers alerting the village to the approach of robbers and looters.

Among the most famous are Ruishi Lou (瑞石楼, behind the village of Jinjiangli, Xianggang), built in 1921 and the highest of all, nine floors. The Fangshi Denglou (方氏灯楼) built in 1920 and high of five floors, and Bianchouzhu Lou (斜塔, or «the leaning tower»), built in 1903 in the village of Nanxing and seven floors, are also among the best known.