Autumn in the Dong villages of Tongdao

In the golden autumn season, the townships of Tongdao Dong autonomous county in Huaihua, Hunan province, come alive with magnificent landscapes. Surrounded by mountains, rice paddies ripple like waves and fill the air with the fragrance of ripe grain, promising a bountiful harvest.

At the foot of the mountain lie many Dong villages, scattered or clustered. Unique structures, including drum towers, village gates, bridges and buildings on stilts are arranged harmoniously. New dwellings built amid the older ones show the results of rural vitalization efforts.