Yuping Dong Village Cultural Park

Yuping Dong Village Cultural Park

The Yuping Dong Village Cultural Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Dong Village Cultural Park Scenic Area is located in Yuping County, Tongren City, Guizhou Province, and is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Dong people originated from one of the branches of the ancient Baiyue ethnic group in the western Baiyue region. They migrated southwestward from the Yuan River, a tributary of the Yangtze River, to the border areas of present-day Guizhou, Guangxi, and Hunan provinces, with the widest distribution in Guizhou. The Wind and Rain Bridge is one of the iconic structures of Dong architecture, and the Dong Village Cultural Park also features exquisitely built wind and rain towers. At the center of the square stands another representative Dong structure — the Drum Tower, known as Tianyun Tower. The ancient-looking drum tower towers over the square and is the iconic building of the cultural park. Its four main pillars, along with the twelve surrounding pillars, carry the auspicious meaning of “prosperity in all four seasons and peace year after year.”

The Dong Intangible Cultural Heritage Drum Tower represents the intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship of the Dong Village Cultural Park. Located in the core area of the scenic zone, it comprises 32 Dong intangible cultural heritage architectural structures. The Dong Drum Tower is the most representative building of the Dong people and also a symbol of the Dong cultural system. In traditional Dong villages, it is often said that “the drum tower is built before the village.” The drum tower is constructed first, followed by the establishment of the village, making it extremely important to the Dong people. Upon entering the Dong Village Cultural Park and looking up, you will see the majestic drum tower. The entire structure is joined together using mortise and tenon techniques without a single nail. Each pillar of the drum tower holds its own significance — for example, the four central pillars represent the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter, while the twelve supporting side pillars represent the twelve months of the year. Together, they convey the meanings of seasonal blessings and peace throughout the year.

Harmonizing humanity with nature and connecting past and present, the park offers views of mountains and water, evoking a sense of nostalgia and providing residents with visible mountains, visible waters, and a memorable sense of home. The Yuping Nostalgia Museum is located within the Dong Village Cultural Park. The entire museum follows a traditional Chinese courtyard layout and is a masterpiece of Dong intangible cultural heritage carpentry. It is also a municipal-level nostalgia museum, covering an area of 1,800 square meters. This modern mock-traditional building consists of seven sections: the main hall, side rooms, study, bedroom, kitchen, and others. Visitors to the Nostalgia Museum can not only experience the unique folk culture of the Dong people but also immerse themselves in a strong sense of nostalgia. The museum systematically showcases the local cultural characteristics of the Yuping Dong people, including their historical heritage, farming civilization, dock culture, hearth culture, and wedding culture, making it a miniature museum reflecting the essence of Dong history and culture.

The Yuedong Park Seedling Sightseeing Park, established in 2018, covers an area of approximately 500,000 square meters. It includes a flower viewing and planting area (featuring vast fields of crape myrtle, crabapple blossoms, and red plum gardens, among others). The Yuedong Park Seedling Sightseeing Park enhances the comprehensive functionality of the “Golden Dong Village, Wellness Tianping” concept, provides more spots for visitors to enjoy, and improves the leisure experience for tourists. The revitalized and upgraded Xiaojiekou Boutique Homestay, with its classic traditional charm, was originally an abandoned old elementary school. The Yuedong Park Agricultural-Tourism Integration Project has given this school new life and also offers a new type of accommodation experience.

Scenic Area Address: Tianping Town, Yuping Dong Autonomous County