City - Ma'An State - GUANGXI ZHUANG AUTONOMOUS REGION Country - China
About
Located in the Sanjiang Dong Autonomous Prefecture of northern Guangxi province, this area is famous for its minority groups, its wind and rain bridges, and its drum towers, among other things. Ma'An and the surrounding villages are home to the Dong minority group.
The Dong people live in villages of 20-30 households located near streams. There are also larger villages of 700 households. Their houses, built of fir wood, are usually two or three stories high and are rarely very straight (lots of warping occurs over time). The Dong aren't great believers in stone or concrete buildings, as traditional wooden structures can more easily be extended or even shifted as necessary. Fire is a major concern, though, and throughout the year each family takes turns to guard the village from this hazard. Those located on steep slopes or riverbanks stand on stilts; people live on the upper floors, and the ground floor is reserved for domestic animals and firewood. In the old days, landlords and rich peasants lived in big houses with engraved beams and painted columns.
There are narrow paths inside each village and there are fishponds in most villages. One lavish feature of Dong villages are the drum towers. Meetings and celebrations are held in front of these towers, and the Dong people gather there to dance and make merry on New Year's Day.
Even the hotels in this area are simple wood buildings with no insulation and no heat. In winter time it can be (it is!) pretty chilly in your room, at least until you climb into bed and get under the very heavy cotton blankets.
Great shot, full of buildings frame, full of lines and shapes, and with the clothes hunged there, to add the element of a place that people live there, what a place, a really unique village (unique = with the GOOD meanning of the word of course) I think on that village must be ...millions of amazing photos! be well James!
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