The shapes of the wotxi-house villages in the northern Gaungxi hilly areas were in thousands of postures which originated from the distribution pattern of folk houses, such as crossing the stream, beside the foothills, or around a valley. The wood-house village usually has a village gate (the Dong nationality's wood-house village often has storm-tossed bridges besides village gate) while some wood-house villages might have several gates.
The Longji thirteen villages of Multinational Autonomous County of one hundred km away from Guilin city and 1000 meters above sea level, is known as symbol of the world terraced fields, where the terraced fields are both imposing and winding. The Zhuang nationality had to face the adverse circumstances, for instance, the Ping'an Village is a village situated at the highest sea level among the thirteen villages. The largest terraced field here does not exceed one mu (1mu=0.0667 hectares).
Upon the Ping'an Village, all families without exception are linked by a twist and precipitous mountain road. The wood buildings of the same color with slope roofs are braced on the ground of the slopes. Some timber buildings are five to six meters above the ground, among which spread plots of terraced fields. A cluster of timber houses should be built in line with the topography while the village should be adjacent to farming land so as to be convenient to intensive cultivations. Due to the historical changes, among many villages of the Dong Autonomous County of Sanjiang, there are cases that several villages are often adjacent to each other or even link with each other. The three villages of Linxi can be cited as a good example. Among the three villages the Huangchao Village is one occupying a commanding height. Entering the village through slope flights of steps people should pass through a village gate in a shape of pavilion. The plane of the village is rectangular. The village gate, drum tower, water pool and small drum tower are built in proper sequence. They are neatly arranged.
The Yan Village is a timber-building village situated at a riverside and near a brook. To enter the village from the storm-tossed bridge one should pass the wandering footpath to the village gate. The height mark is slightly higher than the river channel, which has given rise to a distinctive village gate of the Yan Village its entrance is at the bridge gallery of the drum tower. Ascending from the footpath along the river channel, and one can enter into the village. The small storm-tossed bridge in front of the Yan Village is naturally connected the Liang Village which also has an independent village gate and drum tower. The three villages are dispersed on the three points in different styles.
The Zuolong Village of the Dulong Township is surrounded by waters in three directions while another direction faces a mountain slope. The appearance of the village is just like a sleeping dragon. This is only a small village composed of forty-odd families. Because of the narrow footpath and the scattered wood houses even the animals should climb the steps, but there are still the drum tower, family temples and village gates among clusters of wood houses. |
