Dong culture awaits you. Today we explore Tongdao Dong Autonomous County. This gem sits in western Hunan province. Many travelers visit the Dong or Kam people in eastern Guizhou. They often miss this less-visited area. It is full of lush green mountains.
Tongdao borders Guizhou and Guangxi. It lies in the southwestern corner of Hunan. Tongdao is the least populous county-level division of Huaihua. Jingzhou County borders it to the northwest. Suining and Chengbu Counties are to the northeast. Longsheng and Sanjiang Counties of Guangxi lie to the southeast and south. Liping County of Guizhou is to the west.
The county covers 2,239 square kilometers. In 2015, it had a registered population of 242,100. The permanent resident population was 212,300. Shuangjiang Town is the county seat.
Two Miao subgroups live in Tongdao County. These are Hua Miao and Cao Miao. Despite being classified as ethnic Miao, Cao Miao speaks a Kam-Sui language.
The Dong people are known for unique architecture. Their villages feature distinctive designs. They adapted Chinese structures to their cultural context.
Look for Rain and Wind Bridges. These are local bridges with unique designs. Drum Towers are another local architectural highlight. Visit Zhongbu village. Explore Pingtan village. Discover Huangdu village. Experience Hengling. These sites are in the Pingtan River valley. A road connects them all, making travel easy.
Tongdao County has a long history. Wanfoshan area was inhabited in the Neolithic Age. Relics have been found there. Tongdao held martial importance. It was a strategic place southwest of Lizhou. Zhuge Liang paused in Tongdao during his southern conquest. Shi Dakai occupied Tongdao during the Taiping Regime.
The Communist Party of China also has history here. Deng Xiaoping, Zhang Yiyun, and Li Mingrui led the Second Red Army through Tongdao. They headed to Jiangxi Central Revolutionary Base. The “Tongdao Meeting” occurred here. It helped save the Chinese revolution. Gongchrng Ancient School is now a revolutionary education base.
Tongdao County has rich resources. It is a key forestry county in China. Forests cover 72.23% of the area. There are 2,521 tree species here. This is 2/5 of all subtropical plant species in China. Sixty species are nationally protected rare plants.
The area has excellent natural landscapes. Wanfoshan Danxia landform is called a “natural Great Wall”. Primitive forests thrive in Hongmenchong. Subtropical ravine rain forests grow in Enke. Waterfalls dot Xianxiang Town. Dong villages nestle near hills and rivers. Their stilted wooden houses create beautiful scenes. The Dong Cultural Corridor features drum towers, village gates, and covered bridges.
As you explore Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, remember its history. Appreciate its culture. Enjoy its natural beauty. Tongdao offers a unique glimpse into the heart of Dong culture.