CANTONTRAVEL GUIDE

UNESCO village cluster · Xiangang

Jinjiangli and Ruishi Lou

Come to Jinjiangli for Ruishi Lou’s tall arcades, domes and defensive details. Give the village its own half day with transport arranged; tower interiors are not guaranteed.

Start with location, transport, tickets and hours—then decide if it fits your plan.

Ruishi Lou in Jinjiangli with its arcaded upper floors
On-location view
Ruishi Lou in Jinjiangli with its arcaded upper floors
Ruishi Lou in Jinjiangli with its arcaded upper floorsChingyu Fong · Xiaohongshu
The diaolou towers of Jinjiangli seen from the village
The diaolou towers of Jinjiangli seen from the villageChingyu Fong · Xiaohongshu
The brick entrance gate marked Jinjiangli
The brick entrance gate marked JinjiangliChingyu Fong · Xiaohongshu

02 · At a glance

At a glance

  • 01

    Ruishi Lou’s vertical silhouette

  • 02

    Village cluster in the fields

  • 03

    Hybrid architectural ornament

03 · About this place

About this place

UNESCO includes Jinjiangli among the four village groups that make up the Kaiping Diaolou and Villages World Heritage property.

Ruishi Lou combines a nine-floor reinforced-concrete home with elaborate upper arcades and domed pavilions.

Ruishi Lou in Jinjiangli with its arcaded upper floors
Ruishi Lou in Jinjiangli with its arcaded upper floorsChingyu Fong · Xiaohongshu

04 · What to see

What to see

Ruishi Lou

Look up through three different roof levels

Ruishi Lou was built in 1923–1925 for Huang Bixiu, who did business in Hong Kong while his family lived here. The reinforced-concrete tower rises nine floors and about 28 metres above the village. Its height served household security as well as display.

From outside, follow the façade upwards: decorated windows on the lower floors give way to an arcaded sixth floor with Ionic columns, then corner domed pavilions and a curved ornamental gable. The uppermost structures make the tower’s outline very different from a plain defensive block.

Ruishi Lou in Jinjiangli with its arcaded upper floors
Ruishi Lou in Jinjiangli with its arcaded upper floorsChingyu Fong · Xiaohongshu

House and defence

See what the decoration surrounds

Look for small defensive openings as well as decorative windows. Western-looking columns and domes sit above a building made for a local household; this mixture is easier to notice if you compare the tower with the lower village homes.

An exterior visit can be worthwhile for architecture enthusiasts even when the interior is unavailable. Anyone coming mainly to see rooms or climb should confirm access first. Arrange the return vehicle before leaving Tangkou or central Kaiping; Jinjiangli is in Xiangang and is a separate rural journey.

The diaolou towers of Jinjiangli seen from the village
The diaolou towers of Jinjiangli seen from the villageChingyu Fong · Xiaohongshu

05 · Visit tips

How a visit usually unfolds

A practical visit order and pace—not a full-day itinerary.

  1. 01

    From Kaiping South railway station, use its signed bus or licensed-taxi area; the station is not beside the villages. For a two-site visit, book a licensed car with the exact gates, waiting time and return destination agreed. We have not verified a current through-shuttle timetable linking the villages.

  2. 02

    Use 锦江里碉楼群 in Xiangang as the destination. Walk the village lanes towards Ruishi Lou and the neighbouring Shengfeng Lou and Jinjiang Lou, then return to the agreed village pickup point. Allow around 1–1.5 hours for the outdoor visit as our planning estimate.

  3. 03

    Jinjiangli is not one of the three core visitor sites named in the municipal Zili–Liyuan–Majianglong directory. Check its own admission and any separate tower-interior charge; we have not confirmed current entry to Ruishi Lou and do not recommend travelling solely for an interior visit.

  4. 04

    Check which buildings are included and open at the ticket desk before entering. Published heritage status does not guarantee every tower interior is accessible. Keep the same driver or agree a return pickup; do not rely on finding an empty car in the village late in the day.

Practical notes

  • Agree on a pickup location and return time with your driver before walking into the village. Do not rely on finding a taxi at the gate afterwards.
  • If climbing Ruishi Lou is your main reason for coming, confirm interior access before travelling out from Kaiping.

Nearby

  • Majianglong is closer than Tangkou. Add it only after checking the drive and allowing another village visit before your return.
  • A meal or rest stop should be planned before the long return.

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