Yutou Ancient Dong Village, Huaihua, Hunan | "Little Potala Palace"

| "Little Potala Palace." As the best-preserved Dong village in Tongdao, Yutou Ancient Dong Village was built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, boasting over 600 years of history. It still retains a large number of ancient buildings from before the mid-Qing Dynasty. Located in a valley, the Dong people built their stilt houses along the mountain, extending from the valley to the slopes in a well-arranged manner. This unique "ridge-type" and "valley-type" dwelling, both in layout and craftsmanship, carries rich Dong historical and cultural elements. It is not only known as the "Potala Palace of Dong Villages" but also regarded as a "living museum" of Dong dwellings. Tickets: From CNY 35 Opening hours: 8:00–17:30 🚘 Transportation: Rent a car from Huaihua or Guilin and drive to Tongdao. The entire journey is on the expressway and takes just over two hours. ✅ Address: Yutou Dong Village, Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, Hunan 🌟 Highlights ✅ Experience Dong clothing ✅ The covered bridge outside the village ✅ Take photos with the drum tower and drum tower square ✅ Enjoy a fireside gathering with Dong uncles and aunts (Dong lifestyle) ✅ Take photos with Dong grandmothers ✅ Capture the beauty of the village and the Dong girls Yutou Ancient Dong Village has a history of over 600 years. The stilt houses and the layout of the village are well-preserved. Importantly, there are almost no tourists, making it a great place to take photos and have fun. A true hidden gem of a Dong village. 🛏️ Accommodation: Next to the central drum tower in Yutou Dong Village, there are guesthouses like Yutou Dongjia Inn. Near the village entrance, there are homestays like Dongxiang Mijin and Dongting Jinshe. 🍜 Food: Huaihua has many specialties! Zhijiang duck, cured meat, blood tofu, Huaihua pickles, dry noodles, pickled fish, pickled meat, pickled vegetables, and Dong's homemade rice wine are all available to take home.