Passing through the village gate and stepping onto the ancient post road paved with bluestone slabs, it felt as if time had flown back in time. The village is devoid of bustling commercial streets or bustling tourists, only quaint stilt houses and the simple homes of the Dong people.
The path paved with bluestone and cobblestones is a popular photo-op in Yutou Dong Village. After a drizzle, the slippery bluestone path stretches through the village, like a crystal-clear stream.
Small fish ponds connect to each other along the roadside, each containing a small pavilion. At first, I thought they were architectural models, but later I learned they were "shade pavilions" designed to provide shade for the fish.
Walking up the mountain along the bluestone path, I arrived at Yutou Dong Village's most unique structure, the Yashang Drum Tower (also known as the Cliff Drum Tower). Built in 1777, the drum tower is perched on a steep hillside.
The Drum Tower follows the slope, half built on the hillside and half suspended in mid-air by 17 pearwood pillars. The six pillars, of varying lengths, provide optimal load-bearing support, ensuring the tower's sturdiness over two centuries. The tower's arching eaves, with their quaint, ancient form, combine both uniqueness and precariousness.
Inside the Yashang Drum Tower is a unique sculpture depicting a "monkey holding a melon," said to be the only such sculpture among drum towers. "Melon" means strong in the Dong language, suggesting that the monkeys contribute to the tower's stability.
Halfway up the hill, there's a small wooden cabin, within which lies the Qianlong Ancient Well. Built in 1791, the 56th year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, the water remains sweet and delicious, suitable for drinking directly.
The village's high number of longevity is said to be closely linked to the quality of the well's water. I scooped up a handful of the well water and tasted it; it was indeed refreshing and refreshing.