Nanjing Tulou

—Tianluokeng Tulou Complex

Highlights: Classic Tulou complex, specular circular Tulou, ancient water village

Major Sites: Yuchanglou, Taxia Village

Tianloukeng wins its loud fame in the unparalleled overviews of the Tulou group: one Tulou sits in the middle and the other four Tulou cluster together around it. Maybe you have seen the scene many times on those classic publicity photos of Tulou, it’s still astonishing when you stand on the Upper Viewing Platform to behold the UFO-like Tulou buildings. That’s not a joke. These Tulou buildings had been thought of as nuclear bases by the CIA. From the Lower Viewing Platform, you could catch the sights of Tulou from a closer angle.

Yuchanglou is the most famous Tulou in Tianluokeng. You might think it too common with nothing special when seeing Yuchanglou from outside, but you will realize that you were wrong once you step into the gate: the columns on the corridors are slanted! How could such a huge building be supported by lean columns! Stay calm and no worry for the safety to keep visiting here. Yuchanglou has suffered from rain, wind, and earthquakes in the past 700 years but still survived well. Taxia Village depicts a picturesque countryside view where the visitors could get real relief from the busy life and work. A stream meanders out from the valley, the beautiful bridges are over it every other mile, ducks are chasing one after another in the water…the 42 Tulou buildings stand in such a peaceful environment to witnesses how their people make life and develop for generations. Deyuantang (Zhang’s Family Temple) is an outstanding view in Taxia Village. Through the grand building and beautiful decorations inside, you can read the ever glory of this large family.  

—Yunshuiyao Scenic Area

Major Sites: Yunshuiyao, Heguilou, Huaiyuanlou

Yunshuiyao, with the ever name of Changjiao Village, has been well known in China mainly because the Movie Yunshuiyao had been shot here. Different from those archaistic villages or towns, the dwelling houses, streets, markets, trees along the roads, and the scattered Tulou in Yunshuiyao could be traced with profound histories.

A must-do thing in Heguilou is to jump at the patio of the internal yard, you will find the ground paved by cobblestones shakes-this Tulou was built on the marsh! Impossible, right? But the ancient craftsmen did make the impossible into the possible! They took the water-proof pines as the bottom foundation and covered stonework on it to solve the problem. Huaiyuanlou had been a private school for the large family in ancient times where you still find many relics and learn the private education culture of ancient Chinese families.