Dong Ethnic Minority

The Dong ethnic minority lives primarily in the border regions between Guizhou, Hunan and Guangxi Provinces. The women are noted for donning copious silver alloy jewelry on special occasions. Tourists like to visit their terraced fields and tribal villages and to experience their ethnic culture.

One special thing about the Dong people is that they have always believed that songs are a way to remember and appreciate their origins. As a result of not having a written language until 1958, their stories have been preserved through the use of songs and passed down from generation to generation.

Dong Architecture

The Dong has made a unique contribution to China’s wooden architecture. They build without the use of nails, and they use whole tree trunks, erect multistory roofs, prepare excellent stone bases, and create noteworthy bridges. These structures reflect traditional Dong life. One such structure is the drum towers. They are pyramidal buildings about seven to thirteen floors tall. Every Dong village has at least one drum tower in the center. It represents the Dong village and plays an important role in their lives.