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Cross-border Trip - Tangkou Community Project, Jiangmen, Guangdong Kaiping "diaolou" (defensive watch towers), The Nanhai No.1 Boat at Hailing Island, Yangjiang


  • kaiping, guangdong China (map)

A lot has been happening in the region of Kaiping and Yangjiang since the previous tour arranged to this area specially for the RASHK in January 2017:

  • The Hong Kong to Zhuhai bridge has been opened.

  • The High Speed railway now connects West Kowloon to Guangzhou, Kaiping and Yangjiang. 

  • The Maritime Silk Road Museum housing the famous Southern Song Dynasty shipwreck of the Nanhai No. 1 boat has been fully revamped and re-opened with far superior displays and viewing opportunities.

At Tangkou, the revitalization of two factories into an Inn, hostel, open restaurant, library, cycling centre and community centre is now open and thriving. Tangkou, in Kaiping, is home to 500 “diaolou” or fortified watchtowers, five granaries constructed at the time of the Great Leap Forward, and some delightful villages set among rice paddy and the natural beauty that characterizes the area.

On the morning of 6th December we shall cross the HK- Zhuhai bridge and be met by private transport to Tangkou. After two days exploring this area and its culture including its temples, diaolou, mansions, farming, paintings and architecture we shall travel to Hailing Island to stay in a comfortable hotel on the “Ten mile Silver Beach” beside the Maritime Silk Road Museum.

The Nanhai No. 1 boat was a wooden merchant ship, 30 m long and 10 m wide, from the Southern Song dynasty. It sank and was rediscovered by an English diving company during their search for another wreck. It was raised in 2007 and is now housed in this huge purpose - built museum. Together with its cargo of some 60,000 items of ceramics, silver and gold, it is now conserved and displayed in this unusual museum. We can see conservation work in progress. After visiting the museum we shall return to Kowloon West by High Speed train, arriving at around 9pm on 9th December.

This visit follows up on the lecture given by RASHK Members Rocky Dang, the Founder of the Tangkou Community Project, and Peter Stuckey on Kaiping, Diaolou and the Tangkou Community Project (see the March and May 2019 Newsletters). We realise some Members may be more familiar with the subject matter than others and that some will have visited the Kaiping area and its UNESCO recognized diaolou villages before. We are deliberately keeping this trip as flexible as possible to best suit the Members who come on the trip and are introducing some lesser known sites, opening some doors that were previously off-limits. You will need travel documentation enabling you to visit Mainland China.

Cost and Booking

Estimated cost: HK$ 3,800 per pax on a twin share basis.

Single supplement HK$ 800.

Non- members surcharge: HK$300.

Numbers are limited. First come, first served. Tour price includes transport, accommodation, all meals, entrance fees. Tour price does not include for visa, travel insurance or beverages. It is a requirement of the RASHK that all Participants must have their own travel insurance.

For bookings and enquiries please contact Rocky Dang at rockydang@yahoo.com or tel. 9182 3483 or Peter Stuckey at peterstuckey@yahoo.com.hk or tel. 9232 4284.