Mission
The Tangkou Community Project, also known as the TK-SPACE is located in the rural outskirts of the city of Kaiping, Guangdong Province, China. This area is the ancestral home of many overseas Chinese. TK-SPACE is a privately operated business model aiming for sustainable community work and conservation of the local areas that can be enjoyed by all.
The TK-SPACE provides a platform for local visitors and international guests to explore the community and discover ways of life of typical rural people living in southern China. It also supports visiting groups and facilitates community activities among the local people and encourages interaction between the locals and visitors from nearby or further afield, including overseas Chinese and international visitors.
Environment
Tangkou town is especially blessed being in the vicinity of many traditional villages with historical buildings including mansions, defensive watchtower structures known as Diaolou, and the National Granary where rice was stored before distribution.
Tangkou is set in beautiful countryside, among the rice paddies, lotus ponds and woodlands on the Guangdong Greenway (cycle and hiking track). It is, or is near, the hometown of many overseas Chinese and is close to the four Kaiping UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Education
The Project is currently based in three revitalized buildings – an old post office and two factories. They are formed as the Tangkou Community Centre which aims to serve the community in a sustainable way. The Centre, which is the heart of the TK-SPACE is equipped with quality accommodation, a hostel, a library and study facilities, barrier free kitchen, restaurant, lounge and cycle store.
The Centre provides a communal space for people from all over the world, particularly young people and students, to exercise their talents. They can be engaged in rural activities, cultural and heritage appreciation and conservation, community sustainability and others activities including scholarly or recreational.
Sustainability
The Centre also acts as a space for young people and adults alike to take classes or attend conferences, or just to relax over a meal or a drink after a field trip. In order to foster a sense of entrepreneurship among the villagers, the Tangkou Community Centre also offers space for villagers and farmers to sell their hand crafted artwork and locally grown products.
Additionally, the Centre creates opportunities for local people in Kaiping to take up part-time jobs. Some of our staff have been involved in related work for several years including the Cangdong Project at the nearby village of Cangdong and were delighted when their conservation and restoration work was recognised with a UNESCO Award of Merit for Conservation in 2015.