Diaolou and Villages

The history of Zili Village can be traced back to the 17th year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1837). It is composed of three natural villages: Anheli, Yong'anli, and He'anli. In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the three villages were collectively called Zili Village, meaning "self-reliance." The residents of Zili Village are all surnamed Fang. The first impression of entering Zili Village is that it is magnificent. Several villas lined up at the entrance of the village stand like steel warriors. Unlike the villages usually seen, the architectural style here is a combination of Chinese and Western styles, with traditional brick houses, cement and steel watchtowers, and villas. The square watchtowers look very firm and stable. The windows are made of iron and painted rust red. The rows of neat red squares have become decorations on the walls. When the iron windows are closed, they fit the wall very smoothly and seamlessly. The escape window looks no different from the others at first glance, but upon closer inspection, you can find the removable fence, and there is always a strong hemp rope by the window for the owner to use in times of crisis. The watchtower does not cover a large area, often only a few dozen square meters, but it has many floors and is high. Each floor is equipped with a kitchen, bedroom, living room, and even an entertainment room. When you come to the top floor of Mingshi Building, the view becomes wider. The contrast of height, color, and texture makes this fortress in the field a unique landscape.