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6 Days Fujian Tulou & Xiapu Mudflat Photography Tour

Hakka Earthen Buildings & Fabulous Xiapu Mudflat

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Unlike the famous Beijing, Shanghai and Guilin, Fujian Province is often ignored by foreign tourists. In fact, there are two masterpieces deserving your attention - Tulou and Xiapu mudflat. One is built by indigenous Hakka people, and one is carved by nature.

Tulou is the embodiment of Hakka Culture and it’s the residence and fortress of Hakka people. This earth building complex is the distinguished one in the art of architectural world and has listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. It’s the great place for architectural photography and Hakka Culture photography. While, Xiapu is called the “most beautiful mudflat in China” and “photographer’s paradise”. Every year, numerous shutterbugs come here from various places around the world and have successfully recorded the affecting beauty through clicks. And this 6-day photography tour is the best combo to shoot the most beautiful architecures and landscape as well as folk cultural life of Hakka people and seashore fishermen at Fujian Tulou villages and Xiapu mudflat area.

This Fujian photography tour can be customized depending on which sites you want to visit, what photos you want to take, and on the weather condition when you go. Feel free to tell your interests and ideas to your personal travel consultants when booking the tour!

Basic Photography Info

Travel Route: Xiamen / Nanjing Tulou / Yongding Tulou / Xiamen / Xiapu

Travel Length: 6 Days

Tour Code: CD-PTTXT-06

Tour Type: Customizable Private Tour

Departure: You Choose (you may plan it according to the best season and time.)

Itinerary Details Day by Day

Day 1 Xiamen Arrival

Welcome to Xiamen, the Garden City on the Sea! Your local guide and driver will meet you at the arrival hall of Xiamen airport or railway stations and then escort you to your hotel at Xiamen downtown and help you with the check-in. The rest of today is on your own to explore this beautiful city.

Arrival Ideals: Xiamen has frequent daily flights from Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Xian, Kunming, etc. Besides, you can take a bullet train from Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Guilin, Fuzhou, Huangshan, and so on.

Evening Idea: take a leisure walk at Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street where you’ll appreciate lots of beautiful old arcade buildings in Chinese, Western and South Asian styles and also some local popular food for a good try!

Welcome to Xiamen
Day 2 Xiamen - Nanjing Tulou (B, L)

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotels and then escort you to take pictures of the earthen buildings (Tulou) in Nanjing County with a 3-hour scenic drive. Nanjing Tulou is a key part of Fujian Tulou that are the traditional dwelling houses of Chinese Hakka people with round, square or rectangular appearance for living in family groups and have been listed as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2008.

First, walk up to the viewing platform to shoot the panorama 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 capture 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, take photos of 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 today’s shooting, 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!

Tianluokeng Tulou ClusterYuchanglou (Zigzag Building)Taxia Village
Day 3 Nanjing Tulou - Yongding Tulou - Xiamen (B, L)

After breakfast today, you will go to take photos of Yongding Tulou with a 20 minutes’ drive.

First, go to Hongkeng Tulou Cluster and shoot 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 shoot 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 take photos of Rusheng Building constructed into 23 meters in diameter and 3 floors during 1875-1908, which is the smallest earthen building listed by UNESCO and also called “pocket Tulou”!

Then, drive to 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 catch 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, shoot 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 take fabulous pictures of the 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 visiting, your guide and driver will escort you to your hotel in Xiamen. Have a good sleep!

Zhenchenglou with Western Inner DesignChuxi Tulou ClusterJiqinglou InteriorShengqinglou
Day 4 Xiamen (B, L)

Good morning! Your guide and driver will meet you at your hotels and then take you to have a classic photography discovery of the refreshing Xiamen City.

First, head to Huandao Road, which is the main track of Xiamen International Marathon belting Xiamen Island. This beautiful “golden coastal line” built along the sea is praised as “Five Colors Road’ with the blue sea, golden beaches, green grassland, red track and gray highway! Take a relaxing scenic walk on the wooden plank paths to savor the pleasant seascape and palm grove, walk by various interesting sculptures, enjoy sunshine at a quiet soft beach, inhale the little salty sea breeze and feel the strong ideal island charm of Xiamen City. (Optional Activity: If you want to bike along Huangdao Road to discover more beautiful places scattered along, please tell your guide, which needs extra charge.)

Next, go to take photos of Nanputuo Temple (South Putuo Temple) of more than 1,000 years old. Enter the temple to admire a grand cluster of Buddhist halls with flying eaves and yellow tiles standing layer by layer under century-old trees and against the emerald mountain and pray in front of the holy Buddhas. Meanwhile, immerse into the peaceful atmosphere with locals taking a break around the large lotus pond, traditional Chinese pavilions, corridors, etc.. Later, walk about 20 minutes up to Wulao Peak to have a terrific bird’s eye view of the beautiful Xiamen University, Xiamen Port and the nearby islets on the blue sea!

Then, take a 20-minutes’ ferry to Gulangyu Island from Xiamen downtown. It is the No.1 attraction in Xiamen and also a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage with dozens of precious historical architectures built by people from the UK, Italy, France, Spain, Japan, etc. during the Second Opium War, thus, this little island of 1.88 s.q.m wide is regarded as “International Architecture Museum” with relic sites of 13 embassies from 18th-19th centuries. Roam along the old alleys to appreciate those left sites of churches, mansions, villas, banks and museums telling the historical stories of Gulangyu. Walk up to the most famous Sunlight Rock and catch the wonderful panorama of the large group of red and pink Western styled architectures with dotted emerald trees. Then, go to take pictures of the must-see Shuzhuang Garden that is the classic model of traditional Chinese garden on the sea. Take a leisure stroll amongst the twisty corridors, ancient halls with flying eaves and blue tiles, delicate pavilions, poetic gardens and ponds, etc. facing the shimmering sea and feel its traditional Chinese literal beauty contrasting to the western charm surrounding. Step into the outstanding Piano Museum which boasts an awesome collection of nearly 100 precious old pianos from all over the world for your worthy musical inspiration. Enjoy your architectural savory and then take the ferry back to Xiamen downtown.

After the visiting, Your guide and driver will escort you to your hotel in Xiamen. Have a good rest!

Huandao RoadSouth Putuo Temple Buddhist ArchitectureGulangyu IslandSightseeing from Sunlight RockShuzhuang Garden
Day 5 Xiamen - Xiapu (B, L)

Today, after breakfast, you’ll take a 3 hours high speed train from Xiamen to Xiapu. You will arrive in Xiapu by midday, and after checking in the hotel and having lunch, take some rest.

In this afternoon, you’ll be driven about 20km to Xiaohao Village (about 35 mins’ driving), which is a famous place for shooting sandiness mudflat and sunset. When the sun is falling down, the shining golden glory paints the whole mudflat, and this is the best moment to record this splendid landscape of the setting sun and the mudflat. The east of Xiaohao is great for photographing with back lighting and the color of its beach changing with light, offering photographers hidden surprises. The west of Xiaohao is great for shooting with front lighting, photographing super large-scale scene of kelp harvest - fishing boats like mighty forces shuttling among the bamboo poles on the sea, which is like a grand movement composed by many dancing musical notes.

After that, get to Dongbi only 2km from Xiaohao to shoot the sunset. The golden color of the falling sun presents a golden silk dress for the mudflat and the soft lines of the sinuate water ways vary as the waves, some even performing “S” shapes, and this is super magnificent and rare. Various changing curves and lines are dyed with contrastive warm colors and blue colors under the orange and red sky backdrop. Furthermore, as some fishermen hang their fishing nets here on the mudflat, it is very lucky to shoot some pictures of the ordinary tools to increase your amounts of cultural themed photographic works of Xiapu.

After the shooting, be escorted back to your hotel and have a good sleep!

Fisherman Working in Xiapu MudflatXiapu Xiaohao Village Dongbi Village
Day 6 Xiapu Departure (B, L)

Today, try to get up early and head to Beiqi Village, which is the most wonderful shooting place for Xiapu mudflat, to take best photos of the beautiful sunrise. The morning golden sunshine spurting down on the sea changes the mudflat into a dreamy colorful world. Shoot the most famous tiger-skin-like stripes of the mudflat dyed under the glorious morning sunshine, shadows of fishermen, fishing boats, poles, etc. which compose a very harmonious painting with lyric dynamic charm, from which you will admire the “Magician Nature” who makes the extraordinarily common point, line, light and shadow full of magic. After shooting the sunrise of Beiqi, get back to your hotel and have breakfast.

After getting some rest, you’ll be escorted to Shajiang, the only place suitable to shoot in daytime. Shoot the elegant view of many big “S” shapes formed by layers of bamboo poles hanging sea kelp on the sea, which extends to the end of the sea. With fishers driving their boats shuttling back and forth among each curve, you can record the amazing landscape painting of mudflat. The best shooting angle is from the top floor of Xiapu No.2 Middle School.

Later, drive to Yantian Village, a main shooting place of local culture of fishing family. You can use your camera freely to record the real life and laboring scene of the piscatorial “Lian Family Boatmen” who are called the “sea gypsies” for long time living on their own fishing boats in Xiapu.

After the tour, your local guide and driver will escort you to Xiapu Railway Station for a high speed train to your next destination or home. Tour ends!

Watch Sunrise at Beiqi VillageShajiang Yantian Village

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Fujian Tulou

Fujian Tulou Fujian Tulou Fujian Tulou

Designated as World Heritage Site, Fujian Tulou is the unique rammed earth construction in the world. Tulou was oriented from Song Dynasty and mature in Qing Dynasty. The oldest Tulou has a history more than 600 years. Tulou represents the Hakka Culture which is mainly about unity and endeavor. One Tulou is one small community which contains dozens of families. People lived in Tulou are like a big family, and they help each other and defend against the enemies together. Most of Fujian Tulou is located in Nanjing County and Yongding County. In the two counties, there are five Tulou clusters in total.

Best Sites for Photography

Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster

Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster is located in Nanjing County, and it’s consisted of one square Tulou, one elliptic Tulou and three circular Tulou. Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster is also called “four dishes and one soup” due to its pattern. This Tulou Cluster is preserved intact. Though this site is slightly developed, the local people are simple and sincere and most of them still retain the old customs. You can watch the panoramic view of the cluster from the observation deck besides the cluster, or just enter into the tulou and shoot the inner structure. On the way to Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster, you will pass one interesting Tulou – Yuchanglou or you can call it Zigzag for the vertical wooden post structure is not straight and perpendicular, but zigzags left and right. The zigzag is caused by an error measuring of the building materials. However, due to this apparent infirmity, this tall tulou has survived many rains and earthquakes.

Hongkeng Tulou Cluster

Hongkeng Tulou Cluster was originated from Ming Dynasty. It’s located at Yongding County. Together with temple, school and ancestral hall, Hakka Tulou with different shapes and different sizes were built along the river side. Those earth buildings perfectly blend in the surrounding mountain, river and pastoral strip. The most famous Tulou in Hongkeng Tulou Cluster is Zhengchenglou, which is also called “the prince of tulou”. Zhengchenglou is a double ring tulou, and the outer ring has 184 rooms while the inner ring has 32 rooms. This building was designed according to Bagua concept of Chinese Fengshui theory, however, the inner designs are in rich Western flavors to tell the Chinese and Western cultural communication.

Gaobei Tulou Cluster

Located at Gaobei Village, Yongding County, Gaobei Tulou Cluster is one of the essences of world cultural heritage. Dozens of tulous nest under the mountain and near the river, which presents a great idyllic scenery for us. The most famous one among Gaobei Tulou Cluster is Chengqilou, which is also called “the king of tulou” by its fans. With a diameter of 62.6m, Chengqilou has 370 rooms in total, and the 15th generation Jiang clan with 57 families and 300 people live here.

Chuxi Tulou Cluster

Chuxi Tulou Cluster is located at Chuxi Village, Yongding County. Chuxi Village has more 2000 thousand people and they are all belonging to Xu clan. Chuxi Tulou Cluster contains five circular tulous and 31 square tulous. Jiqinglou is the largest round tulou, which was built in Ming Dynasty. The structure of Jiqinglou is very special, for there are 72 staircases in total, and every family use one staircase. On the back mountain beside Chuxi Village, there is an observation platform and you can see the panoramic view of the whole village here.

Nanxi Tulou Cluster

Nanxi is a river name and it passes through the Hukeng County. More than 100 tulous with various shapes and sizes lie along the banks of Nanxi River. This tulou strip is extended to several miles, just like a long dragon, so some people also call Nanxi Tulou Cluster the “Tulou Great Wall”. Famous tulous in Nanxi Tulou Cluster are Huanxilou and Yanxianglou. Huanxilou is the only tulou without ancestral hall among Fujian Tulou. This is unbelievable in the old times, so people call Huangxilou the most rebel tulou in Fujian.

Best Season for Photography

You can visit Fujian Tulou all year around. Autumn and Spring are most recommended. March to May to shoot Tulou with blooming spring flowers in the village and rice terraces irrigated with water. September to November is best to shoot Tulou with golden rice terraces mountains and villagers harvest in the fields with orange persimmon. June to August is usually to take pictures of Tulou surrounded with thriving green rice terraces and mountains. December to February is great to take photos of local Hakka festivals and folk life. If you are interested in folk customs, December to February, especially lunar New Year period, is a good time to visit. During this time, you will encounter many folk activities, like local wedding banquet, Celebration of the Lantern Festival, etc. However, Labor's Day Holiday in early May and National Holiday in early October are better to avoid from crowded!

Yongding and Nanjing County feature a subtropical monsoon climate, and the weather is relatively moderate with an annual average temperature of 20℃ (68℉). The frost-free days are over 300 days, and the winter is not too cold while summer is not too hot.

Tips from Our Experts

1. Recommended equipment

Wide angle lens and telephoto lens are mostly used for capture the inner designs, outlook and panorama of Fujian Tulou and the surrounding rural sightseeing. Tripod to help to steady the camera is also recommended.

2. Where to shoot

Outside the Tulou, there are usually observation decks or platforms where you can shoot the panoramic view. While inside the Tulou, you can shoot in so many locations. Each floor has its own special perspective to shoot. Normally, the top floor is the best place to shoot the whole tulou. While on the first floor, you can shoot from a low angle and get picture with another style. Local people, wooden furniture and some living staffs in tulou are also great things to shoot.

3. Transportation advice

Fujian Tulou in Nanjing and Yongding is about 2.5-3 hours driving distance from Xiamen, so most people prefer fly or take a bullet train to Xiamen City first and then transfer to Nanjing or Yongding by a hiring taxi or private car. Besides, bus terminals in Xiamen down has limited coaches to Nanjing Tulou and Yongding Tulou for your consideration.Besides, once you get into the Tulou scenic spot, public transportation is limited, so the best way to tour is taking a private vehicle.

4. Accommodation advice

Stay overnight in tulou is an interesting experience, however, the accommodation condition is not very good, and tulou only provide public lavatory. Thus, if you can’t accept this, we recommend you to stay at the hotel near tulou. These hotels have a better accommodation condition. Usually, Taxia Village is most chosen for visiting Nanjing Tulou area, and Yongding downtown is popular for visiting Yongding Tulou scenic area. Comparatively, Yongding downtown offers better accommodation.

Xiapu Mudflat

Xiapu Xiapu Beiqi Sunrise

Xiapu Mudflat is located at Xiapu County, the northeast coast of Fujian Province. There are many beautiful mudflats in the world, so what makes Xiapu so special? On the one hand, Xiapu has the great shoot position. To shoot mudflat, the best angle is overlook view. Xiapu just has many small hills where you can shoot the mudflat from a high point. On the other hand, without white sand, azure sky and blue sea, Xiapu is nothing like the traditional sea resorts. This is a sea of labor, a sea that breeds generation by generation. Through the ages, local people change the sea with their own hand, while their life is also changed with the sea. They farm the mudflat along the long coastline, work as the sun rise, and rest as the sun set. This is Xiapu, a picturesque mudflat sketched by color and line, the most photographed sea in China, the most beautiful mudflat praised by photographers.

Best Sites for Photography

Beiqi Sunrise

Beiqi is a famous seaweed farm and only 5km from Xiapu County. This is the closest and the most beautiful shooting site in Xiapu. The most beautiful things here are the tiger-skin-like mudflat stripe and shades of poles, fisherman and boat. The best location for shooting is on the top of the little hill seated beside the mudflat. At here, you can shoot the most beautiful sunrise in Xiapu. Use wide angle lens to show the panoramic view and use telephoto lens to capture the sailing boat on the mudflat.

Xiaohao and Dongbi Sunset

Xiaohao is 18km from Xiapu County, and this is a beloved site for many Xiapu fans. At here, you can shoot the sandy mudflat and labor scene of catching fish. You need to walk a short mountain road to get to the high point for photography. The best time for shooting is about the sunset time. Dongbi is only 2km from Xiaohao. The view here is very spectacular, especially in the seaweed harvest season: small boat sailing across the seaweed farm under the golden sun, and this is the great place to shoot sunset on the sea.

Yantian

Yantian is 13km west to the Xiapu County. Yantian means salt pan in Chinese and there is the “Sea Gypsy”. Sea Gypsy refers to the people who live on the shabby boat and make a living by fishing and collecting shells. Yantian has a large area of mudflat and the shore view is very attracting. This is a great place t shoot local people’s living and working conditions and folk customs. The best locations for shooting are Beidou Village, Diaoqi and Nantang Village. Yantian’s sunrise and sunset are also very suitable for shooting.

Weijiang

Weijiang Village is 1 hour drive from Xiapu County. A large area of mudflat extends to the distance; this spectacular scene is great for sunrise and sunset shooting. Weijiang is also called Mantou Hill for there is a little islet which looks like Mantou (means bun) in the sea of Weijiang. Except the gorgeous sunrise and sunset, this place is also good for shooting the labor scene of drying seaweed. The shooting location of Weijiang is flexible, and many locations are suitable for shooting.

Best Season for Photography

Xiapu is suitable for taking beautiful photos around the year, however, April to December are most recommended. March to April are good to shoot the cultural scenes of villagers hanging oysters on the pols; in May and June, you are going to shoot the pictures of people catching fish fry and hanging sea kelp, and egrets flying in the beautiful sky as well; in July to September, it is the best time to take fabulous photos of the changing and terrific colors and lights of the sky, clouds and sea for most beautiful Xiapu mudflat; while from October to the start of the next year, you can take amazing photos about local fishermen’s working of the seaweed and the praisable maple leaves at Yangjiaxi Village. Apart from that, the time of flood tide and falling tide is more important than the season for photography in Xiapu. And usually, morning hours and sunset hours are more recommended to catch the lights and shadows. Daytime is good for folk photography.

Tips from Our Experts

1. Recommended equipment

Wide angle lens more than 24mm and telephoto lens of 300 ~ 400mm (at least 200mm) will be helpful to capture the grand and magnificent of the sea. When you shoot at the seashore, the wind is strong, thus, tripod can help to stable the camera. Polarizer is also recommended to avoid the reflecting effect of the water surface. When you shoot beside the sea, to prevent the water and sand from the lens, you need to bring some lens paper.

2. How to shoot sunrise and sunset in Xiapu

When you shoot sunrise or sunset, don’t let your camera face the sun light. Take use of the inverted reflection in the mudflat or morning/dusk sunglow to add more color to your photo. When the sunset, don’t leave immediately. During the half hour after the sunset, you can shoot the mudflat with blue color background. At this time, tripod is necessary.

3. Photographic composition

Horizontal composition can express the majesty of the mudflat, while the vertical composition shows the depth of the coastline. If the shooting objects contain many people and fishing boat, diagonal composition and curvilinear composition are suitable to highlight the subjects.

4. Transportation advice

Xiapu has High Speed Railway Station, so it’s convenient to get there. From Fuzhou to Xiapu, it only takes about 1 hour, while from Xiamen to Xiapu, it takes about 2.5 hours. There is no airport in Xiapu, so you can take flight to Fuzhou or Xiamen, and then take high speed train from Fuzhou or Xiamen to Xiapu.

5. Accommodation advice

There are some hotels on the Shanhe Road and Longshou Road of Xiapu County. Xiapu is not a tourist zone, thus, it’s hard to find a hotel along the sea.

For more photography advice about Fujian Tulou and Xiapu, you can feel free to contact us and we are here ready to help!

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