Sanbao Dong Village

Chinese Name: 三宝侗寨（San Bao Dong Zhai）
Location: Ba district, Chejiang town, Rongjiang County, Guizhou Province.
Ticket: Free
Estimated tour time: 2-4 hours
Recommended time to visit: Apr to Oct
Nearby attractions: Basha Miao Village, Zhaoxing Dong Village, Jiabang Rice Terrace, etc.

Sanbao Dong Village is located in Chejiang Townshipof Rongjiang County . It lies in the biggest intermountain basin of Southeast Guizhou with Douliujiang Rive , which is the largest river throughout Rongjiang County, passing by, boasting rich natural resources and beautiful scenery. Sanbao means “Three Treasures” in Chinese. Sanbao Dong Villages comprises of Sangbao Dong Village, Zhongbao Dong Village and Xiabao Dong Village, stretching over fifteen kilometers.

Long ago, it is said that there was once a huge lake in Rongjiang County, with three rivers running into it. In each river there lived a dragon and, every so often, the dragons would gather in the lake to play. One year, there was a thunderous monsoon that rained for nine days and nine nights, raising the water level of the rivers and disturbing the three dragons. The thunder became louder and louder, until eventually one deafening crash scared the three dragons so much that they all swam into the South China Sea, leaving behind only three precious treasures. When the Dong people’s ancestors arrived, they found each of the treasures and settled three villages there, as it seemed like an auspicious location. The three villages then came to be known collectively as “Sanbao” or “The Three Treasures”.

As the largest inhabiting region of Dong ethnic people in China, Sanbao Dong Villages of course boast a lot of Drum Towers. Among them, Chezhai Drum Tower  is the most famous. It was built in the three year of the Reign of Emperor Guangxu  of Qing Dynasty (1877), with a history of over 130 years. It is 15 meters high, covering an area of 246 square meters. It is a miracle that the whole drum tower is built without a tiny nail or rivets to be stable and firm and weather over a hundred of years. The Sanbao Drum Tower, which was built in 2001, is over 36 metres tall and holds the Guinness World Record.Besides, there are nine Sama Temple in Sanbao Dong Villages .esides the common characteristics of Dong villages, such as unspoiled natural environment, row upon row of wooden houses in close order, well preserved primitive ways of living.

After entering the village gate inscribed with “Sanbao Dong Village” in Chinese, getting to the bank of Duliujiang River , Sanbao is flanked by stunning banyan trees, many of them over 300 years old, which stretch for over a kilometre along the river’s banks. Most of them were planted during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) and, after hundreds of years of uninterrupted growth, their roots and branches have intertwined lovingly.  A cobbled path winds its way around these banyan trees, dubbed “Flower Street” by the locals.

When mention the delicacy of Sanbao Dong Village, the Preserved Fish in Dong Style should be on the top of the list. Every family make preserved fish by their unique recipe. It is really worth tasting.