Mapang Drum Tower

Mapang Drum Tower

The Mapang Drum Tower is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Mapang Scenic Area

The Mapang Drum Tower is located on the west bank of the He River in Mapang Village, Bajiang Township, about 28 kilometers from the county seat of Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County. Originally built in the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928), the wood used for constructing the tower was soaked in a traditional folk preservative solution that turned it brownish-black, protecting it from insects and giving it a natural color. The Mapang Drum Tower is grand and sturdy, standing 13 meters tall with an eave width of 13 meters. It features nine tiers of upturned eaves that overlap and taper upwards, forming a pagoda-like shape. The white eave boards are adorned with colorful patterns, and the eave tips are designed as upward-curving bird motifs. At the center of the roof is a sculpture of two birds within a floral design. Inside the tower, four large wooden pillars are so thick that they require two people to encircle them. The main hall inside the drum tower spans 132 square meters, and its wooden panel walls are decorated with exquisite paintings of the Dong village scenery. The interior includes railings, benches, resting platforms, and a central hearth. Like the wind-and-rain bridges, the entire structure employs mortise-and-tenon joinery without a single iron nail. Holes are drilled into the columns of various sizes, and wooden tenons are used to connect them. Long and short wooden pieces are slanted and vertically inserted, creating a tight and sturdy construction. With its beautiful form, majestic presence, and typical Dong ethnic architectural style, it stands as an outstanding representation of Dong drum towers and is a Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. Not far away, by a small stream, two more drum towers stand within the village, complementing each other and together forming the Mapang Drum Tower Cluster.

Buyang Village is a major tea-producing village in Sanjiang County, where rows of neatly planted tea trees cover the mountainsides. The pleasant climate and fragrant tea leaves create a delightful atmosphere, especially on Xianren Mountain, where the rows of tea trees resemble celestial ladders ascending into the clouds. Strolling through the tea plantation, the lush greenery refreshes the mind and spirit, offering a fairyland-like experience that captivates and enchants visitors.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units