Sceneries of "diaolou" at Kaiping, southern China's Guangdong Province [Photo: sina.com]

A poster of film Let the Bullets Fly [Photo: sina.com]

The famous western-style defense fortresses of Kaiping in southern China's Guangdong Province will be featured in director Jiang Wen's soon-to-be-released film "Let the Bullets Fly", Sina.com reports.

The movie is about a gang of bandits from western China in the early 20th century and contains elements of suspense and black humor. The story takes place during the warlord period with Chow Yun-fat playing a bully living in a mansion that combines Ming Dynasty and western architecture. The mansion is based on the "diaolou," or multistory defense fortresses found in Kaiping, part of the larger city of Jiangmen nestled in south China's Pearl River Delta.

Kaiping is known as one of the hometowns for overseas Chinese who have returned to the mainland and as a cultural and architectural center.

Built of stone, brick or concrete, the "diaolou" and villages of Kaiping represent a complex and confident fusion between Chinese and western architectural styles.

The complex in Kaiping was built by the returned overseas Chinese, followed by some local residents between 1911 and 1937. Currently there are 1,833 such buildings in Kaiping.

Kaiping's "diaolou" were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 2007 and are the only such site in Guangdong Province. Spread throughout Kaiping, the buildings' magical fusion of East and West has attracted hoards of visitors from home and abroad since they were first built.

Because the "diaolou" are witnesses to Kaiping's politics, economic and cultural development, they are considered a living museum that displays the coexistence of eastern and western styles. Greek, Roman and Gothic architecture are all easily found in the complex of buildings.

Recommended trip planner for Kaiping "diaolou":

Jinjiangli Ruishilou Building – Maxianglong Diaolou Complex – Chikan Ancient Town – Zilicun Village Diaolou Complex – Sanmenli Yinglonglou Building

This route goes along the national highway 325 and covers all the highlights of the Kaiping "diaolou" on the World Heritage Site list.