With a history of 653 years, the old Dong minority village in Yutou, 9km southwest of Tongdao county, was first founded in 1368 during the reign of Emperor Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644). The old village underwent a conflagration in 1644 during the reign of Emperor Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty(1616-1911), and after its restoration, seven communities came into being on both sides along the Yutou stream.
In the old village, Huilong Bridge, Yashang Drum Tower and Longshi Drum Tower were built in 1777 (namely, the forty-second year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty). And in the reign of Emperor Daoguang and Guangxu, Tianniu Drum Tower, Lusheng Tower, Longmen(dragon gate) were constructed, and besides, the ancient post road and street were renovated. On June 21, 2001, the old village was listed as the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council.
In 2007, the old village was recognized as the first batch of Chinese landscape villages, with an area of about 18.29 hectares and with 176 households and 758 people. It is a well-preserved ancient residential complex in China, which can be called a “Physical Museum”of Dong folk houses.
The dwellings in the old Dong village in Yutou are mainly hanging buildings (Diaojiaolou in Pinyin), which are situated either along hillsides or in valleys, forming a unique layout with the style of “mountain ridge” and “valley”, and skillfully integrated with the external environment, forming a special style of the Dong village. Up to now, a large number of buildings built prior to the middle of the Qing Dynasty have been preserved, such as the famous sixteen-kilometer-long Post Road, Longmen (dragon gate), Changshoujing (longevity well) and Sasuitan(Sasui-God-worshiping alter). The old village is abundant in festival activities, such as Weiye activity, Jisa Festival, Naochunniu (buffalo-playing activity), Qiangyutang (fish-catching activity in ponds) and garden shows like “Duoga”, “Duige” ,“Dage”, “Xingge”, “Duoye”, etc., all of which fully reflect the life style and folk culture of the Dong people.
(Translated by Yang Sigui)