The ancient stone watchtowers dotting the landscape around western Sichuan's Danba County were built by the Qiang people. The Qiang have lived for centuries in the region, primarily in small mountain communities protected by stockades and, in many cases, towers. The towers originally served as storage silos as defensive lookouts that helped guard against ill-intentioned outsiders, especially marauding Gyarong Tibetans.

Today's local population—many of them descendants of the aforementioned Gyarong Tibetans—use the towers for storage, but by and large they stand empty in villages and on mountainsides throughout Danba county.

One of the best routes for exploring the land and viewing ancient towers takes you along the Dadu River from Danba or Zhanggu Town. Trek an hour or so in either direction and you'll come across towers as well as villagers who will allow you to climb some of them.

Riverside Suopo Village is the best-known such village, and its residents are happy to serve as tour guides for a fee. Often, prospective guides will appear as you approach the village, offering to take you up to the towers for 10-20 RMB. You can also stay in guesthouses in many villages.

Photo courtesy of Brian Tan.

Sichuan travel guide | Siguniangshan guide | Chengdu flights
Chengdu hotels  | Danba tours & activities | Tibetan culture in Sichuan