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Fujian Tulou: A Comprehensive Guide to the Hakka Villages

This guide will help you plan your trip to the Fujian Tulou Hakka Villages, one of the most unique and iconic places in all of China.

The Tulou, meaning “earth buildings,” are circular or square structures made from rammed earth, timber, and stone. They were designed not only to provide shelter but also to serve as fortifications against invaders. The architecture blends functionality and aesthetics, with each Tulou often housing an entire clan. The design features thick walls, minimal windows, and a central open courtyard, reflecting the communal lifestyle of the Hakka people.

These buildings are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but unlike other UNESCO sites, such as Lijiang Old Town (here is my guide), people still live there, which makes the whole area very interesting.

Another interesting fact: In the 1960s, when the CIA conducted satellite surveys of the region, they were baffled by the massive, doughnut-shaped structures. They were convinced they had stumbled upon nuclear missile-launching bases, only to find out later that these were just houses.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Fujian Tulou is Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November). The weather is nice in Spring, and the countryside is lush with blooming flowers. You may even encounter local festivals or cultural events. In Autumn, the temperatures are also pleasant, and you can witness the harvest of tea, rice, and other crops, giving you more photographic opportunities. The sky is also usually nicer.

As I wrote in my China Travel Guide, generally, I don’t recommend traveling during Summer and Winter. Summer, in particular, is extremely hot and humid in Fujian.

Before heading to China, remember to get a VPN; otherwise, you won’t be able to access most websites and apps. I recommend this one. If you prefer an eSim, this one works well. If you want a local Simcard, you can easily get one using this service.

How to get to the Tulou Hakka Villages

The villages are located in rural areas, but getting there is not too complicated. The most common starting points are Xiamen or Fuzhou. You can take a high-speed train from either city using Trip.com to Nanjing. Be careful to pick the right Nanjing and not Nanjing 南京 ,the capital of Jiangsu (here is my guide). The Nanjing you want to select has these characters: 南靖.

After arriving in Nanjing, you can take a bus or a taxi to your guesthouse. The journey from the train station to the first cluster of Tulou houses should take about one hour.

Where to stay and for how long?

There are 46 villages designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, primarily located in the Yongding, Nanjing (Nankang), Hua’an, and Zhangzhou counties.

I recommend staying in Nanjing County, near the Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster (田螺坑土楼). I stayed in this guesthouse. It’s located very close to the viewpoint and is a good starting point for exploring other areas. The owner is very friendly and will help you arrange the pick up from the train station.

Most people spend two nights there. This should give you enough time to visit most of the other Tulou.

Things to see in one day in Tulou

In one day, you can visit Tianluokeng, Yuchang, Taxia Village, Yongding, Yunshuiyao, and then return to Tianluokeng.

Nanjing (Nankang) County

Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster (田螺坑土楼) is also known as the “Four Dishes and One Soup” formation. It features one square tulou surrounded by four circular tulou. The cluster includes Buyun Lou, Hechang Lou, Zhenchang Lou, Ruiyun Lou, and Wenchang Lou. I recommend spending about 2 hours in the area.

I think this is the most authentic of all the Hakka villages and has the best viewpoint for taking the same iconic pictures of the houses. The best time for the pictures here is sunset and the blue hour after that.

Don’t miss the He Gui Lou, a rectangular tulou with a unique design.

The entrance fee to the Nanjing Tulou Clusters (90rmb) gives access to Tianluokeng, Taxia Village, and Yuchang Tulou only.

Yuchang Tulou (裕昌楼)

This building is one of China’s oldest and most iconic tulou buildings. Built in 1308 during the Yuan Dynasty, it is often called the “Leaning Tower of Tulou” due to its visibly tilted structure. Despite its uneven appearance, the building has stood strong for over 700 years.

Yuchang Tulou is a five-story circular structure with a unique design that includes tilted pillars and beams, which were intentionally constructed to withstand earthquakes. The tulou features 270 rooms arranged around a central courtyard, housing multiple families in a communal living arrangement. Its ancestral hall, located at the center, serves as the spiritual and cultural heart of the building.

Taxia Village (塔下村)

The village is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tulou and is renowned for its blend of nature, traditional architecture, and Hakka culture. A crystal-clear stream winds through the village, flanked by ancient stone bridges, traditional tulou buildings, and well-preserved ancestral halls, creating a picturesque and tranquil atmosphere.

The village has several notable tulou, including the Deyuan Tang, a unique semicircular tulou, and the Zhang Clan Ancestral Hall. Taxia Village is also famous for its “Eight Immortals” tea, a local specialty that reflects the region’s tea-growing heritage.

The area’s landmark is the 24 10-meter-tall “stone flagpoles.” Originally built to celebrate public figures inside the clan with academic ranks or official titles, they now commemorate overseas Chinese who benefited this village.

Yongding Tulou Cluster

In this cluster, you’ll find 23 of the 46 Unesco-listed Tulou. The ticket that you paid to access the Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster is not valid, and you’ll have to spend another 50rmb. Due to its popularity, this area can be very crowded.

Chengqi Tulou (承启楼)

The most famous building is Chengqi Lou (the “King of Tulou” ), which was featured in the Mulan Disney Movie. This massive building boasts over 400 rooms and a courtyard with a diameter of 73m. Inside the Tulou, three concentric rings of structures encircle the ancestral hall at the center, creating a layout that feels almost maze-like. Unfortunately, it is not possible to access the upper floors.

Shize Building (世泽楼)

This rectangular Tulou was built in 1819 during the Qing Dynasty. Its name, “Shize,” translates to “Generations of Kindness.” The architecture of the Shize Building is both functional and symbolic. It features four stories, with the outer walls made of compacted earth, bamboo, and wood, designed to withstand earthquakes and intruders.

Qiaofu Building (侨福楼)

The small circular tulou adjacent to the King Tulou is called the Qiaofu Building. The name reflects its connection to overseas Chinese (“Qiao”) and good fortune (“Fu”).

This building is also famously known as the Doctor Tulou, as 11 of its residents, including one woman, earned medical degrees. Pictures of these accomplished doctors are proudly showcased at the altar located at the rear of the building.

Shiqiao Ancient Village (石古村)

Shiqiao includes many ancient buildings, the most famous one being the Shunyu Tulou, which holds the record for the Tulou with the most rooms (369 in total). When I visited this place, I was the only tourist, and it really seemed like I stepped back in time—a stark contrast with the Yongding Cluster.

Yunshuiyao Village (云水谣古镇)

Yunshuiyao Village, formerly Changjiao Village, was renamed after the popular 2006 Chinese romantic film Yunshuiyao (filmed there), which won the Best Film Award at the 2007 Golden Rooster Awards. This also happened to Furong Zhen (here is my guide), another beautiful village that I recommend visiting if you are heading to Zhangjiajie (here is my guide).

Unfortunately, due to its popularity, this is the most overcrowded place. You’ll also be required to pay another 90rmb to enter the village. This is the area I liked the least.

The two most famous Tulous are Huaiyuan and Hegui.

Huaiyuan Tulou (怀远楼)

Huaiyuan Tulou (怀远楼) was built in 1909. Its name, meaning “Cherishing Faraway Friends,” reflects Hakka hospitality values. The four-story structure features 34 rooms per floor, surrounding a central courtyard with an ornate ancestral hall.

If you pay RMB 5 to one of the residents, they’ll let you go up to the fourth floor, where you can take some pictures and have a great view of the tulou’s design.

Walking from Huaiyuan to Hegui, you’ll pass thirteen enormous banyan trees on the riverbank, which are really iconic and will give you the chance to take some nice pictures.

Hegui Tulou (和贵楼)

Hegui is another rectangular tulou built in 1732 during the Qing Dynasty. Its construction on soft, swampy ground makes it truly unique and has allowed it to stand firm for nearly 300 years. It is five stories tall and is the tallest tulou in Fujian. It features 140 rooms, housing multiple families in a communal living arrangement.

This building is also called Noah’s Ark because the marsh it sits in swells during the rainy season, and water floods the courtyard.

Final Thoughts

The Hakka Tulou is a must-visit for anyone interested in history, architecture, and culture. I tried to provide an overview of the most notable ones in this guide, but you can easily spend more days exploring other less-known buildings.

I didn’t like the number of tickets you have to buy to access different villages, which are by no means cheap if you consider the local purchasing power. I recommend leaving early in the morning to beat the crowds, at least in a few places.

This is also one of the areas in China where local tourism bureaus still haven’t implemented a ban on the loudspeakers that tour guides use to talk to their groups. Since many Tulous have very tight spaces, you’ll end up surrounded by tens of Chinese shouting as loud as possible just to be barely heard. This completely ruins the atmosphere, and it’s a shame that people in China don’t understand the value of exploring a place without screaming all the time. I’m telling you this to give you the right expectations: I recommend visiting the Tulou, just don’t expect to be in a quiet place.

If you are interested in ancient China, don’t miss the Water Towns scattered around Jiangsu Province (here is my guide). You can find other pictures I took in Fujian here.

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