18 Best Fujian Tulou: Top 18 Tulou in Fujian, China

No.1: Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster

Type: Historic Sites

Location: Tianluokeng Village, Shuyang Town, Nanjing County

Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster, dating back over 700 years, is a collection of Tulou architecture. From a viewing platform overlooking the nearby hills, the cluster is spectacular and unique, like a Chinese dish menu "four dishes and one soup ". It consists of a square earth building at the center of a quincunx, surrounded by three round buildings, and an oval-shaped one.

Among all the earth buildings in this cluster, the square “Buyun Building” is the oldest, built in 1796. It has three floors, and each floor has 26 rooms, four sets of stairs, and a circular corridor in front of the rooms. By climbing these stairs and visit those rooms, you will find the ancient Tulou buildings' secret and Hakka people's daily life and culture. In 2008, the famous Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster was inscribed as one of the 46 Fujian Tulou World Heritage Sites.

No.2: Hongkeng Tulou Cluster

Type: Architectural Buildings, Historic Sites

Location: Hongkeng Village, Hukeng Town, Yongding County

HongKeng Tulou Cluster, also known as “Yongding Hakka Cultural Village”, is not only the most concentrated of all earthen house clusters, but also the Chinese National 5A Scenic Spot.

WIt has 3,000 large-scale, uniquely-shaped Tulou. Being a unique architectural complex with large-scale earthen buildings, Yongding Hakka Cultural Village is listed as one of the world cultural heritages. With long history, distinctive style, ingenious structure, complete functions and large scale, the local earthen buildings have developed a school of its own among the colorful Chinese traditional dwellings. Of the many buildings in the village, the Zhenchenlou, Fuyulou and Kuijulou are the most remarkable.

No.3: Gaobei Tulou Cluster

Type: Architectural Buildings, Historic Sites

Location: Gaobei Village, Gaotou Town, Yongding County

Gaobei Tulou Cluster, selected as one of the “Yongding Hakka Earth Building”, was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 32nd World Heritage Conference held in Quebec, Canada, in July 2008.

Gaobei Tulou Cluster lies among mountains and rivers with dozens of earthen buildings in a unique design. It has dozens of tulous with various sizes and heights, mostly bigger than others. Among them, Wuyun Building, built in the Ming Dynasty (1369-1644), embodies the time-honored history of tulou. The elegant Qiaofu Building shows the patriotism of overseas Chinese. The most famous structure is the Chengqi Building, nicknamed the "King of Tulou."

No.4: Chengqilou (King of Tulou)

Type: Architectural Buildings, Historic Sites

Location: Gaobei Tulou Cluster

Built in 1709, Chengqilou in Gaobei Tulou Cluster is known as “the King of Tulou”.

Chengqilou is a massive round tulou with four concentric rings surrounding an ancestral hall at the center, the outer ring is 62.6 meters in diameter and four storeys tall, 288 rooms, with 72 rooms on each level, circular corridor on 2nd to 4th floor, with four sets of staircases at cardinal points connecting ground to top floors. A large outward extending roof covers the main ring. The ground floor rooms are kitchens for family branches, the second level rooms are grain storage rooms, and the 3rd and 4th floor rooms are living quarters and bedrooms. The second ring of 80 rooms is two storeys high, with 40 rooms on each level, the third ring served as community library, one storey with 32 rooms; there are 370 rooms in all. The 4th ring is a circular covered corridor surrounding the ancestral hall. If you stayed for one night in each room, it would take you more than a year to go through all the rooms.

No.5: Zhenchenglou (Prince of Tulou)

Type: Architectural Buildings, Historic Sites

Location: Hongkeng Tulou Cluster

Zhenchenglou, the Prince of Tulou, was inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage. Belonging to Hongkeng Tulou Cluster, it is located in Hongkeng Village, Hukeng Township of Yongdong County.

Zhenchenglou was built in 1912 by the descendants of a rich tobacco merchant. It is a double ring tulou, its outer ring is four storeys high, total 184 rooms, and the inner ring is two storeys with 32 rooms. The multi-ring concentric architectural structure is a mix of Chinese and Western architecture, making the building a gem of round earthen buildings.

Western influence is evident in the Greek style columns of the ancestral hall, and in the wrought iron railing of the second level corridor.

No.6: Yuchanglou (Yuchang Building)

Type: Historic Sites

Location: Xiaban Village, Shuyang Town, Nanjing County

Yuchanglou, known as the “zigzag building” or “leaning building”, is one of the oldest and largest earthen buildings in China. Located in Xiaban Village in Nanjing County, this is a five-story tulou built in 1308 Yuan Dynasty by the Liu Family clan.

Why called the “leaning building”? It is because the vertical wooden post structure is not straight, but leaning left and right. It was constructed like this mainly due to a mistake in measuring the building material. In spite of this apparent infirmity, this tall tulou withstood 700 years of natural elements and social turmoil. Yuchanglou's outer ring is 36 m in diameter and boasts five storeys, with 50 rooms on each floor. Each of the 25 kitchens on the ground floor at the back half of the circle has private water well beside its stove. This is the only tulou in all Fujian with such convenient water supply.

No.7: Huaiyuanlou (Huaiyuan Building)

Type: Historic Sites

Location: Kanxia Village, Meilin Town, Nanjing County

Huaiyuanlou is probably the finest tulou - well designed and full preserved. It has been listed in the national protected historical and cultural sites in 2006. Built in 1905 in late Qing Dynasty, Huaiyuanlou is 4-story round earth building in the height of 14.5 meters with 136 rooms. It faces south but slightly towards the east. As the Fengshui master believed that right facing due south would cause bad luck.

The Huaiyuanlou is rich in cultural atmosphere. It used to be the ancestral hall as well as a private school of the family. The ridgepoles, doors and windows are decorated with beautiful carvings and exquisite paintings in the ancient style, and numerous plaques and couplets are seen everywhere; all the words on the plaques and couplets given by the predecessors are expressing the same idea that all the happiness and fortunes can only attain from hard works.

No.8: Ta'xia Village

Type: Historic Sites, Natural Scenery

Location: Shuyang Town, Nanjing County

Taxia Village, listed in the 15 Chinese Landscape Villages, is not only an exquisite Hakka Village but also a famous hometown of overseas Chinese.

Built in 1426 in Ming Dynasty by Zhang Family, Taxia Village has more than 40 earth buildings in kinds of shapes as well as some Diaojiaolou (buildings built on wood pillars). The earthen buildings are built in round, rectangle, apron shapes and among them the oldest tulou is Fuxinglou built in 1631. While the characteristic Diaojiaolou are built in earth-wood or brick-wood structures. For the fine environment and harmonious relationship, people live in Taxia Village are longevous. Besides, the Zhang’s Clan Ancestral Hall is also worth visiting. It is one of the best-reserved ancient clan ancestral halls in China with a history of more than 400 years.

No.9: Jiqinglou (Jiqing Building)

Type:Architectural Buildings, Historic Sites

Location: Chuxi Tulou Cluster

Jiqinglou, or Jiqing Buidling, is the largest round tulou and also the oldest in this cluster, built in 1419 during the reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming dynasty.

It consists of two concentric rings; the outer ring building is four storys tall, with 53 rooms on each level. The outer ring has 72 staircases that divide the whole building into 72 independent units for 72 households. The second ring is a one-story building. Compared with other earthen buildings, Jiqing Building is also special that only one gate is equipped in such a large earthen building, and there is no well in the building that people need fetch the water from the river next to the building. Walking around or seeing from a height is pretty pleasant way to appreciate this natural landscape painting.

No.10: Heguilou (Hegui Building)

Type: Historic Sites

Location: Pushan Village, Meilin Town, Nanjing County

Hehuilou building is the highest earthen building of Nanjing Tulou. Built in 1732 in Qing Dynasty, with an area of 1547 square meters, the five-story rectangle Heguilou is in a height of 21.5 meters. The name “Hegui” means harmonies.

Besides the highest height, there are other three features of Heguilou. First, it was constructed on a swampland just like a rest ship and has been incredibly intact for more than 200 years. Second, there are two water wells in the courtyard just about 10 meters apart, but waters of them are totally different. Thirdly, Heguilou is a building surrounded by houses and it surrounds some houses itself. Some monolayer houses were built around it while houses of a school were built in the courtyard of it.

No.11: Chuxi Tulou Cluster

Type: Architectural Buildings, Historic Sites

Location: Chuxi Village, Xiayang Town, Yongding County

Chuxi Tulou Cluster, inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered as the most graceful tulou cluster in Yongding County. This cluster consists of five round buildings and tens of square buildings. With great historical, scientific and artistic values, these earthen buildings were well-spaced on the hill by the river with beautiful terraced fields, presenting a grand and magnificent spectacle.

Here, you could visit Jiqinglou, Shengqilou and Yuqinglou, which are typical of the Hakka earth buildings in Chuxi Tulou Cluster; live in a local family and chat with host and hostess to know about their daily life and local customs; trek along the field path in the back mountain of Chuxi to see the beautiful idyllic views; even pick up local fruits and even try the primitive farm work; climb to the top of the nearby mountain and have a bird’s view of Chuxi Village…all could be the highlights of your tulou tour.

No.12: Yunshuiyao Village (Changjiao Village)

Type: Historic Sites

Location: Meilin Town, Nanjing County

Yunshuiyao Village, used to be called Changjiao Village, is a time-honored ancient village with enchanting Minnan landscape. In 2005, the film The Knot (Yun Shui Yao) was shot here. In the film, the poetic rural scenery adds to the romance and purity of the love, which presents a beautiful and untouched village.

The most attractive sceneries in the village are tulous and banyans. There are 53 Tulous in well-preserved in the village. The famous ones are Huaiyuanlou and Heguilou. While the century-old banyans stands are everywhere; stand along the old road, lie in front the wooden houses, or grow beside the river bank, making the old village a cool fairyland. Walking leisurely along the 10 kilometers path, passing through the old banyan, visiting the mysterious tulous, or sitting near the beautiful mountains and clean water…you’ll be in an idyllic world.

No.13: Hekeng Tulou Cluster

Type: Historic Sites

Location: Hekeng Natural Village, Shuyang Town, Nanjing County

Hekeng Tulou Cluster, one of the most incredible Tulou clusters, inscribed as one of the 46 Fujian Tulou World Heritage Sites.

Located in Hekeng Village, Shuyang Town, this extremely extensive and impressive cluster consists of 27 earthen houses with 15 different shapes. It all distributed in the narrow strip of small rivers, like a shape of letter T, means Triones. Hekeng Tulou Cluster is the densest Tulou building area in Nanjing County. Having a birds’ eye view of the Hekeng Tulou Cluster, you will find the huge “T” earth buildings spreading between green mountains and clean water, adding a field to this magnificent scenery.

No.14: Nanxi Tulou Cluster

Type: Architectural Buildings, Historic Sites

Location:Hukeng Town, Yongding County

Nanxi Tulou Cluster, called the "Great Wall of Tulou", has more than 100 earth buildings in the valley stretching for 10km, including two of the world cultural heritage monomer tulous: Zhenfulou “the princess of Tulou”, and Yanxianglou. And Huanjilou went through strong earthquake cracks, is also recommended to visit.

Looking from a height, South Stream passing through a long canyon, stretches for more than ten miles. There are more than a hundred round, square, D-shaped and other shapes of earth buildings in the canyon, large or small, high or low, or polyethylene or casual, like paved ribbon winding, up and down in rapid. Just having a highly ornamental value like that, this earthen area won the "Earthen Wall" in the world.

No.15: Hua'an Dadi Tulou Cluster

Type: Historic Sites

Location: Dadi Village, Xiandu Town, Hua’an County

Dadi Tulou Cluster, the most famous cluster in Hua'an earth buildings is mainly consist of Eryilou, Nanyanglou and Dongyanglou. The three earthen buildings all have their features. The Eryilou is known as the "King of Tulou", which is the best example and was included in the list of the World Heritage, the Nanyanglou is the "Fujian Tulou Museum", and Dongyanglou is the most livable place here.

This tulou cluster is encircled by many animal-shaped mountains, such as Mt. Centipede, Mt. Dajinmian, Mt. Tiger, Mt. Tortoise and Mt. Lion. It also has two streams flowing through the whole village. The pleasant living environment of green mountains and clean water, rich humane attractions make Dadi Tulou Cluster presenting the unity of human and nature. It is not only “a mythical architectural pattern unique in the world”, but also a presentation of visible, touchable and sensible traditional Chinese culture.

No.16: Zhenfulou (Princess of Tulou)

Type: Architectural Buildings, Historic Sites

Location: Nanxi Tulou Cluster

Zhenfulou, known as the Princess of Tulou, belongs to Nanxi Tulou Cluster. It is Called Zhenchenglou’s “Sister Building”, just about 4 kilometers away. Zhenfulou has fantastic natural scenery. The mountain is behind it, and a river beside it.

Like Zhenchenglou, it is a mixture of Hakka and western architectural styles - the elaborate ancestral hall has granite columns, and the porch is tiled and enclosed by an iron grille gate. Part of the internal space was used for storing tobacco products and for offices. Nowadays, the Zhenfu Building is becoming a tulou museum for travelers to get more about Hakka History and Culture.

No.17: Zhongchuan Ancient Village

Type: Architectural Buildings

Location: Xiayang Town, Yongding County

Zhongchuan Ancient Village is close to Hakka House Spot. This ancient village has a population of two to three thousand, but about 3,000 overseas Chinese trace their ancestry to this village, which makes it one of the leading ancestral homes for Chinese for other countries.

Travelers comment on tripadvisor saying “Like its nearby surroundings, this one has no air pollution, no crows - only beautiful swallows and fat country chickens, and very friendly locals. One of the few nice places in China where hawkers will not hassle you to buy stuff or quote you sky high prices...”Getting this village, you’ll know more stories of third-degree scholars and “the Zhongchuan Cultural Phenomenon”.

No.18: Nearby Peitian Hakka Village

Type: Architectural Buildings, Historic Sites

Location: Liancheng County

Peitian Hakka Village located in the rural village of Fujian Liancheng County, still holds the (national) most complete ancient residential buildings of Ming and Qing dynasties. Its exquisite architecture, craftsmanship and rich flavor of Hakka culture are the classic architecture of Hakka culture, which can comparable with Yongding Tulou Clusters.

Peitian Village, this area of only 13.4 square kilometers, about 300 households, a small village of only 1,000 people, known as "the first village houses in Fujian Province." Because Peitian ancestors left the village a huge legacy: Tin Pei holds 30 mansions, 21 shrines, 6 Colleges, a kilometer Streets, two arch across the street, four Taoist Temple, with a total area of 70,000 square meters. It makes an admiration for the outside world with its deep breadth of Multi-cultural heritage, well protected of the village buildings, and multiple treasures.