Photo shows the fortified towers in Xiaya Village, Qangsum Township, Konjo County, Tibet Autonomous Region. (Photo/ Cheng Weiguo)

In Sanyan District, Konjo County, Chamdo, Tibet, local dwellings feature a style of fortified towers.

Tall and magnificent, those buildings form a tower complex, and are special in style among Tibet’s ethnic architectures.

Photo shows the special fortified tower complex. (Photo/ Cheng Weiguo)

It is learned that, the towers in Sanyan have large chambers, with three or four and at most five floors.

The outer walls are made of earth, with no windows.

Walls of each storey have several round or triangular holes, from which people can watch the outside or shoot.

Photo shows the fortified towers in Xiaya Village, Qangsum Township. (Photo/ Chen Weiguo)

A four-storey house can reach a height of over 20m.

Usually, the first floor is used as pen of livestock, the second floor kitchen or bedroom, the third floor scripture hall or granary, and the fourth floor balcony or forage-storage shed.

It takes three to five years to build such a house.

Photo shows the magnificent fortified towers. (Photo/ Chen Weiguo)

The houses in Sanyan District are jointly built, connecting each other and forming a magnificent tower complex.

As the chambers are connected, people can visit each other with convenience.

Photo shows the fortified towers in Jagka Village, Qongsun Township. (Photo/ Chen Weiguo)

In Sanyan District, a fortified tower usually takes several generations to finish construction.

If a wall is damaged, people only need to renovate the damaged wall.

As a result, ancient houses standing hundreds of years are seen everywhere in the village.

Look up at the towers (Photo/ Chen Weiguo)

Prayer flags swing in the wind in front of a tower. (Photo/ Chen Weiguo)

Photo shows the Sanyan fortified towers. (Photo/ Chen Weiguo)