Longji Rice Terraces, China
The Chinese consider Longji Rice Terraces one of the most beautiful villages in the country. The locals call it “The Verandas of the Dragon Spine”. These terraces are located in a colorful village in Ping An and came after many years of work. They were built around the 12th Century and were built on the mountain slopes at an altitude of 1100 meters. The construction of the mountain was painful, however, it was the only solution for the inhabitants of that time to care for their families and survive.
Pariangan, Indonesia
The active volcano Merapi dominates the village of West Sumatra and is one of the country’s largest natural treasures. Pariangan is considered the oldest village of the Minangkabau tribe. If you are a curious traveler you will learn a lot about the culture and customs of indigenous peoples. Sightseeing includes a gorgeous 19th Century mosque and a 300-year-old building built of wicker. The fishing village of Cua Van, Vietnam.
Built on Ha Long Bay, this floating fishing village is one of the largest in the world. It is accessible only by boats and of course fishing is the main source of income for the inhabitants. All the houses are built on rafts, while there is a school among them.
Giethoorn, the Netherlands
One of the most beautiful and colorful villages in the Netherlands is called Giethoorn or Holland Venice. The second name comes from the location of the village. The residents are served by motor boats or by bicycles when they want to enjoy their walk on the wooden bridges joining the houses scattered over fifty small islands.
Bibury, England
A fantastic village if you are looking for inspiration with a history of almost 1000 years. Its old architecture, the exquisite nature and the lack of vehicles around will make you travel in time. Indeed, Bridget Jones’s Diary was shot at Bibury.
Kampung Pelangi
The formerly dense village of Kampung Pelangi, Indonesia, today is a colorful village that thousands of tourists visit it every year, when they decide to live the Komodo island resort they spend their vacation and get to this great village. The village of Kampung Pelangi is located in Semarang, Indonesia, and is like painting. Each of the 223 houses of the village has its own color transforming the once dull village into a painting. The project was funded by the government to attract tourists to the remote village. Both locals and tourists are fully impressed by the result. Its purpose was achieved since the completion of the painting of the houses; the village is a tourist attraction that strengthens its local market.
Reine Lofoten, Norway
A small village with only 350 inhabitants, small houses and magnificent landscapes, Reine is located around the Norwegian fjords and was founded in 1743. This idyllic village hosts thousands of inhabitants every year that admire the natural beauty.
San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy
San Gimignano was founded in the 3rd Century BC. It was originally a very small village until the 10th Century AD. The main attraction is the amazing tower-houses. Unfortunately, only 14 of these are saved today, out of a total of 72. San Gimignano encompasses the breeze of the Medieval Age and turns it into the heart of Tuscany and Italy.
Rainbow Village, Taichung, Taiwan
On the outskirts of Taichung City, there was a military base that was eventually abandoned by almost all its inhabitants. The authorities decided to demolish the houses, but an 86-year-old war veteran painted the walls of houses with different characters and plans to “save” his home. Today, it is one of the most touristic parts of Taiwan.
Marsaxlokk, Malta
What better than a colorful fishing village in Malta? There are almost no storms in the harbor, so the houses built with yellow sandstone are positioned so close to the water — they only divide one car traffic and a sidewalk. The population of Marsaxlokk is about 3000 inhabitants and most of them are fishermen like their ancestors.
Alberobello, Italy
Alberobello is famous for its 1400 trullo buildings that have been recognized by UNESCO as a historical heritage monument. Trullos are limestone farmhouses and are a unique example of drywall construction. Their name comes from the Latin word ‘Trulla’, meaning dome.
