Sanjiang Duoga Drum Tower

　　The Duoga Drum Tower is situated south of Duoga Square on Jiangfeng Street in the county town. It was constructed in 1992 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County. The Duoga Drum Tower features a four-cornered, nine-story, multi-eaved, pyramidal roof design, with the main structure standing 16.99 meters tall and covering a floor area of 249 square meters. The first and second floors serve as activity spaces, with the second floor featuring a wooden railing balcony that can accommodate over a hundred spectators. Together with the adjacent Duoga Square, it serves as an ideal venue for open-air events, lusheng (bamboo mouth organ) competitions, and Dong ethnic group’s “hundred-family feast.”

　　 The Duoga Drum Tower is designed as a single-pillar structure, with a central pillar connected via horizontal beams to four secondary pillars at the rectangle’s corners. Each secondary pillar then branches out to three tertiary pillars through additional beams. This drum tower boasts a unique design and stands as a classic example of single-pillar drum towers. The entire structure is interconnected by beams and brackets, forming a unified whole. The eaves are adorned with white-painted panels featuring colorful paintings or molded patterns of birds, animals, flowers, phoenixes, and dragons. The upturned eave corners resemble wings, while the rooftop is decorated with a string of iron pots and gourds, giving the tower an antique charm and a distinctive style that combines traditional architectural elegance with the unique artistry of Dong wooden construction.

　　 The Duoga Drum Tower is the masterful work of Master Shi Yinxiu from Baxie Village, Dutong Township in our county. The government invested 90,000 yuan in its construction, with the majority of the remaining funds generously donated by people from all walks of life who contributed enthusiastically to the project.

　　 The drum tower is the most distinctive type of architecture in Dong villages, serving as the village’s activity hub—a public space for community meetings, welcoming ceremonies, and song and dance entertainment. A long leather drum is housed inside the tower, and when an event is called, the drum is beaten to gather people, hence the name “drum tower.” The drum tower is regarded as the soul of a Dong village and symbolizes unity, happiness, and prosperity.

　　Source: Tourism Bureau of Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County