Dong Ethnic Stilt Houses

Dong Ethnic Stilt Houses

The scenic area features large stilt-style dwellings, all originating from the "Ganlan" wooden structure architecture of the Baiyue people, commonly known as stilt houses. These wooden stilt houses in the scenic area represent the living culture of the Dong ethnic group.

The Dong people's stilt houses are built entirely from fir wood, and along with wind-rain bridges and drum towers, they are representative of the Dong ethnic group's wooden architectural art. These houses typically have three floors, though some have two or four. On the second and third floors, the outer pillars extend several feet outward to serve as corridors or to enlarge the living space, resulting in stilted pillars all around the building—hence the name “stilt house.” In terms of craftsmanship, a combination of mortise-and-tenon and beam-raising techniques is used. Pillars are interconnected with beams of varying sizes, forming a sturdy structure without the use of a single iron nail. Due to the humid climate in the Dong region year-round, the ground floor of stilt houses is uninhabited and used for raising poultry and livestock or storing farming tools. People live on the second and third floors. The front half of the second floor is an open corridor, bright and spacious with ample sunlight, serving as a space for the family to rest or engage in handicrafts. The rear half is the inner room, featuring a fireplace where the family ancestors’ spirit tablets are usually placed. It also serves as the warmest spot in winter for the whole family to gather and is commonly used for cooking. The third floor is even more ventilated and dry, functioning not only as living quarters but also with small compartments for storing grain and other items. The Dong people take pride in aesthetics and often decorate their houses, inlaying floral patterns made of wooden lattices on doors, windows, and eaves. Some are even carved with flowers and birds or painted with colorful designs, combining beauty with practicality.

Dong stilt houses are generally built one per household. When brothers grow up and separate, they build new stilt houses. Interestingly, some brothers build their houses connected to each other for mutual convenience, resulting in shared corridors. This setup makes communication and family gatherings very convenient, leading to the saying, “Dong houses reach high into the clouds; you can walk through the entire village without ever stepping down.”

The construction of stilt houses is regarded by the Dong people as fundamental to “everlasting prosperity and success in all endeavors,” so great importance is attached to the building process. Every step—from selecting the site, breaking ground, felling trees, marking the layout, erecting pillars, installing beams, opening the door, to moving in—is steeped in ritual and custom. For instance, before constructing a stilt house, the village’s “geomancer” is invited to set up a compass, determine the orientation, assess feng shui, and divine good or bad omens. The groundbreaking must be done on an auspicious day, and ceremonies to worship the earth god and ancestors must be performed before construction can begin.

Source: Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County Tourism Bureau

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