In-depth Exploration of UNESCO Tulou Houses & Hakka Life
How amazing and diverse Fujian Tulou? Among thousands of and more earthen buildings in China, 46 of them constructed during 15th-20th centuries have been named Fujian Tulou as the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, which are praised as “a kingdom for the family”, “unique fairytale-like architecture found nowhere else in the world”, etc. with outstanding architectural designs, skills and rich historical culture and artistic value of Hakka people. For people interested in enjoying more days at the peaceful old villages, fond of Chinese culture, enthusiastic about architectures, etc., you are recommended to spend 3 days to explore Fujian Tulou in its two major parts, namely Nanjing and Yongding.
This 3-day in-depth Fujian Tulou tour takes you to have wonderful looks at diverse earthen buildings from outside to inside and the top beautiful Tulou cluster in various scales and layouts, without missing the representative Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster, Chengqilou, etc. and some primitive Tulou villages, including Chuxi Tulou Cluster and Hekeng Tulou Cluster. Also, you will enjoy fun time with traditional Hakka cultural activities such as learning to make delicious glutinous rice cake, etc. to learn more about the culture and life of Hakka people in China! Join to savor the beautiful “Hakka castles”!
Highlights of this tour
Good morning! On this day, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel or the airport/train station in the morning. And then, you will be escorted to see the earthen buildings (Tulou) in Nanjing County with a 3-hour scenic drive.
First, walk up to the viewing platform to have a bird’s eye view of the must-see Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster from the best angle, which is the most famous earthen building cluster known as “Four Dishes and a Soup” with 3 round, 1 oval and 1 rectangular well preserved earthen building looking really like a set of meal on the natural tablecloth of the lush mountain an graceful rice terraces surrounding.
Next, go to discover Yuchang Building that was built during 1308-1338. It is the present oldest Tulou and the largest and highest round Tulou with highest floor height in Nanjing region. Also, it is famous as “Zigzag Building” because it looks about to totter with a maximum inclination of 15 degrees due to weather beats and earthquakes, however, it stands quite still till nowadays. Walk into this Tulou and closely look at the zigzag wooden pillars which have well supported such huge building for over 600 years.
Then, visit Taxia Village. With an “S” shaped stream floating across the entire village, two earthen buildings located just right on the two curves, and multiple big and small Tulou built along the banks, this village is reputed as a “Water Town of Taichi” with rich Tulou flavor. You will not miss Yude Building known as “Apron Building”, Deyuan Hall with outstanding sculptures of birds, beasts and flowers and also the 24 Hakka stone flagpoles beside the semilunar pond. After the walks, learn to make glutinous rice cake under the guidance of local villagers and enjoy your time pounding with a heavy pounder, shaping and tasting!
Then, drive to Hekeng Tulou Cluster to walk up to the peak of Lion Hill and catch the amazing panorama of Hekeng Tulou Cluster. With the unique layout, the 14 circular and square earthen buildings look like two “Big Dipper” lying at the special galaxy of surrounding emerald mountains, hovering mists, pieces of farming fields and clear floating stream, which is really a wonderful miracle of nature and human efforts.
After the visiting, your guide and driver will escort you to your hotel at Taxia Village and help you with the check-in procedure. Enjoy your overnight with rural Hakka Tulou surrounding!
After breakfast today, you will be escorted to Gaobei Tulou Cluster to explore Chengqi Building, which has been constructed for around half a century and is now more than 300 years old. Being the largest round Tulou with most circles in Yongding, it is reputed as the “King of Tulou” and has been printed on the national stamps in China in 1986. Walk in the huge earthen building with a diameter of 72 meters to admire its amazing design of 4 circles and 4 floors with circle in circle, which was in accordance to Bagua and reaches the highest level of Tulou construction.
Next, go to Hongkeng Tulou Cluster and visit Zhencheng Building from 1912 that is praised as “Prince of Tulou” and famous for its splendid design and exquisite interiors according to China’s traditional culture of Bagua. Have a close look at its most conspicuous hall, which is two floors high and has 4 circular granite columns in western features, making the Tulou with Chinese Hakka exterior and special western interior decoration. And walk to see Kuiju Building from 1834. This special palatial square Tulou constructed for 5 years is unique among all Fujian Tulou and looks like the style of Potala Palace from afar. Walk around to appreciate its diverse fancy carvings, paintings, sculptures and more awesome artistic colorful decoration on every corner. Continue to see the appearance of Fuyu Building from the observation deck at the opposite bank. Originated from 1880, it is the classic representation of Chinese mansion styled Tulou in Yongding and all five-phoenix-style Tulou, featured with lower front part and higher rear part and layers of well-arranged roofs with flying eaves, quite elegant and magnificent.
Then, drive to have a bird’s eye view of Nanxi Tulou Cluster from Shijia Village at the end of the cluster. It is praised as “Great Wall of Tulou” with hundreds of Tulou of various shapes and sized scattered along both banks of Nanxi River in the valley with verdant sightseeing, stretching for over ten kilometers into a Hakka natural and cultural spectacle!
After the visiting, your guide and driver will escort you to your hotel in Yongding and help you with the check-in. Stay overnight Yongding!
Good morning! After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and then drive about 1 hour to visit Chuxi Tulou Cluster that is reputed as “most beautiful Tulou cluster in China” an also the most concentrate, ancient, complete and famous Tulou cluster. Walk by the stream to visit Jiqing Building. Constructed in 1419, this Tulou is the oldest and most special circular construction in Yongding, with 72 stairs separating the building into 72 independent units. Walk upstairs to the museum to look at those old object for living and entertainment for Hakka people in the past and displays of their history, culture and art. Next, visit Shengqing Building that is a 39 meters wide square Tulou from 1799. Composed with a square exterior wall and a square cloister house inside, it looks like a Chinese character of Hui “回” meaning return from high position, which is unique in whole Chuxi! Then, take a short hike on the north mountain and have a full view of Chuxi Tulou Cluster. Immerse into the fabulous traditional Hakka rural landscape with the most eye-catching three circular and one square Tulou, the youngest Tulou with distinct white wall and other tens of various round, square, rectangular, oval, octagonal shaped Tulou scattered on the lush rice terraces slop mountain. (Optional experience: in Autumn season, you can choose to catch the rare chance to pick up local fruits and even try the primitive farm work.)
After the tour, transfer back to Xiamen. And your guide and driver will escort you to the airport/railway station to catch the flight or train to your next destination. Tour ends!
No documents found.
Xiamen / Nanjing Tulou / Yongding Tulou / Xiamen / Wuyishan
Xiamen / Nanjing Tulou / Yongding Tulou / Xiamen
Xiamen / Nanjing Tulou / Yongding Tulou / Xiamen
No documents found.
“Very good experience”
“WONDERFUL 25 DAYS IN CHINA - PRIVATE TOUR”
“Awesome China tour from northeast to southwest”
1,580+
Reviews
