Historic Village Sights

1. Chìkǎn

   • Kāipíng, China
   • Sights › Historic village

   The charming old town of Chìkǎn , 10km southwest of Kāipíng, has an array of quaint old buildings called qílóu (骑楼) straddling the Tánjiāng River (潭江). Distinctive for their pillars and enclosed balconies, they were built by overseas Cantonese merchants in the 1920s, and are reminiscent of bygone Canton. You can get there by bus 4 from opposite Chángshā bus station or bus 6 from Yìcí bus station. A taxi costs around Y26 one way.

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2. A Map

   Qībǎo

   • Shànghǎi, China
   • Sights › Historic village

   When you tire of Shànghǎi's incessant quest for modernity, this tiny town is only a hop, skip and metro ride away. An ancient settlement that prospered during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it is littered with traditional historic architecture, threaded by small, busy alleyways and cut by a picturesque canal. If you can somehow blot out the crowds, Qībǎo brings you the flavours of old China along with huge doses of entertainment.

   There are nine official sights included in the through ticket, though you can also skip the ticket and just pay Y5 per sight as you go. The best of the bunch include the Cotton Textile Mill, the Shadow Puppet Museum (performances from 1pm to 3pm…

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3. Zìlì

   • Kāipíng, China
   • Sights › Historic village

   The must-see attraction in Kāipíng is the village of Zìlì, 11km west of Kāipíng, which boasts the largest collection of diāolóu. Fifteen towers rise beautifully amid the paddy fields but only three towers, built in the 1920s, are open to the public. The tallest, Míngshí Lóu (铭石楼), the shorter Yèshēng Jūlú (叶生居庐) and the poetically named Yúnhuàn Lóu (云幻楼; literally Mist and Mirage) were once the most prosperous homes of the Fang clan, who made a bundle in Malaya and Chicago. On top of the buildings are four towers known as 'swallow nests', each with embrasures, cobblestones and a water cannon, which was used against bandits.

   Next to the…

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4. Porcupine Township

   • Maldon, Australia
   • Sights › Historic village

   A quaint theme village recreating the years leading up to the gold rush (1835 to 1853) with a collection of some 40 original slab buildings, including miners' huts, a dance hall and a resident ghost. There are no costumed characters here but kids will enjoy a carriage ride and possibly some panning.

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