Kaiping City in South China’s Guangdong Province is known for its castle-like watchtowers known as Diaolou. Some of the towers date back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and were originally built as a defense against bandit raids or to safeguard against regular flooding. Others were constructed in the early 20th century by Chinese emigres who returned from overseas with newfound riches, and they became symbols of wealth and status. The unique fusion of Chinese and Western architecture was a major factor in UNESCO's 2007 decision to grant World Heritage Site designation to the structures. There are 1,833 centuries-old watchtowers that dot the rice fields around the city of Kaiping. (Photo/CTPphoto)
