Around Kaiping – 40 km
With the weather still bitterly cold and dressed in warm clothing, I
headed off into the countryside, first, to the pretty village of Zili,
where most of the towers were.
The story goes: In the mid-19th century things weren't going too well
in the region. Slavery was outlawed in most Western countries,
creating a need for cheap labour. Many people in the area were
recruited and good pay and working conditions were promised.
However, workers were made to work as labourers under terrible
conditions. Of the millions of Chinese workers who left many died,
and only a few became wealthy and returned. They brought with
them wealth and exotic ideas. The towers were built to protect their
families from bandits, flooding and Japanese troops.