# Dong Village and Mapang Drum Tower (侗寨、马胖鼓楼)

Northern Guangxi, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region · South China, China · Guidebook rating: 4/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dong-village-and-mapang-drum-tower
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Getting there:** Many Dong villages surround Sanjiang County town, and a motorbike taxi can take you to any of them. It is best to charter a car to Mapang Drum Tower. Don't forget to try Dong food. Dong cuisine is known for its sour flavour, with sour fish and sour meat as signature dishes, and for glutinous rice, which is the staple food. Youcha (打油茶), oil tea, is a favourite Dong drink said to refresh the mind, ward off cold and warm the stomach.
- **Good for:** Architecture, Old Towns & Villages, Ethnic Culture, Waterfront, Nature

## About Dong Village and Mapang Drum Tower

Dong villages have a distinctive structure, usually nestled between mountains and water. Houses are built from Chinese fir, packed closely together, and in many villages the homes connect into one continuous block, so you can walk through the village without being exposed to sun or rain. Seen from a distance, the villages rise and fall in a spectacular cascade.
Almost every Dong village has a drum tower, usually at its centre, where villagers gather to discuss community affairs. The drum tower at Mapang Village (马胖寨), 25 km north of Sanjiang County town, is the largest and most representative in the Dong region. Built in 1939 by a Dong craftsman, it is highly prized for its beauty and is a nationally protected cultural relic.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 2455. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
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