Nanjing Tulou – A Masterpiece of Fujian Hakka Tulou Architecture

Written by Clementine | Updated March 19,2026

In the respect of the number of Tulou, Nanjing Tulou has fewer buildings than Yongding Tulou, however, Nanjing Tulou enjoys the same reputation as Yongding Tulou as it provides tour packages combining Tulou and ancient villages to enrich people’s travel experience.

Tianluokeng, Yunshuiyao, and Hekeng are the three main scenic areas. You may have seen the Tulou complex in Tianluokeng many times in those classic publicity photos of Tulou. Its layout is like “Four Dishes and One Soup”, making it a famous landmark. Today, there are still many residents living in these tulou buildings. So during the visit, you may see the daily scenes of locals cooking or chatting. Enjoying a location closer to Xiamen City, Nanjing Tulou is more popular for those who want a Tulou day tour from Xiamen. Follow us to explore the unique charm of each scenic area and discover the transportation and itinerary planning before departure.

Fast Facts about Nanjing Tulou

• Distance to Xiamen: about 150 km
• Main tulou buildings: Tianluokeng, Yunshuiyao, Hekeng
• Opening hours: 24 hours
• Ticket Price: CNY 40 – 90

Top 3 Tulou Complexes in Nanjing Scenic Area

Tianluokeng Tulou Complex

Highlights: “Four Dishes and One Soup”, slanted tulou and an ancient water village

Major Sites: Buyulou, Hechanglou, Zhenchanglou, Ruiyunlou, Wenchanglou, 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. It is vividly described as “Four Dishes and One Soup”. The tulou buildings are surrounded by terrace fields, creating a picturesque rural landscape.

Want to capture the classic photo of Tianluokeng? The Upper Viewing Platform inside the scenic area is the best shooting spot. Though you have seen the picture several times on the internet, it’s still astonishing when you stand on platform to behold the UFO-like Tulou buildings. You will find it is also like a blooming plum. That’s not a joke. These Tulou buildings had been thought of as nuclear bases by the CIA. When looking up from the Lower Viewing Platform, you could catch the sights of Tulou from a closer angle. And the tulou complex is as majestic as the Potala Palace.

Besides the “Four Dishes and One Soup”, the ticket for Tianluokeng Scenic Area also includes another two attractions: Yuchanglou and Taxia Village, which is about 15 minutes and 30 minutes driving away.

Yuchanglou is nothing special when seen from outside, but once you step into the gate, you will find the columns on the corridors are slanted! It is unbelievable that such a huge building has been supported by lean columns for over 700 years. Taxia Village depicts a picturesque countryside view. An S-shaped stream meanders out from the valley with tulou, ancient ancestral halls and residential houses on both banks, forming a natural Taiji diagram landscape.

Yunshuiyao Scenic Area

Major Sites: Yunshuiyao Ancient Village, Heguilou, Huaiyuanlou

Yunshuiyao, the ever name of Changjiao Village, is an ancient village and has been well-known in China mainly because the Movie Yunshuiyao had been shot here. Different from the magnificent Tianluokeng, Yunshuiyao is more like a romantic scroll featuring tulou, ancient plank roads, streams and ancient banyan trees. During the tour, visitors could get real relief from their busy lives and work. Heguilou and Huaiyuanlou are all unmissable scenic spots.

To explore the village, the ancient plank road stretching across the village is the main road. It is paved with cobblestones and winds along the stream. When strolling along the road, you will pass by Hehuilou, the iconic waterwheel, 13 hundred-year-old banyan trees and Huiyaolou. Listening to the murmur of the stream and watching the ancient architecture and the waterwheel, you will feel like travelling back to the post road 600 years ago. Try to find the largest canyon tree. Its canopy covers an area of nearly 2,000 sq. m. and the truck requires more than ten people to embrace. It is really impressive.

A must-do thing in Heguilou is to jump at the patio of the internal yard, you will find the ground paved by cobblestone shakes-this Tulou was built on the marsh! Impossible, right? But the ancient craftsmen did make the impossible 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 large families in ancient times where you still find many relics and learn about the private education culture of ancient Chinese families.

Hekeng Tulou Complex

Highlights: Double Big Dippers layout of 7 square tulou buildings and 7 round tulou buildings

Hekeng Tulou is famous for its unparalleled layout of the “Two Big Dippers”. To appreciate this spectacular view, the viewing platform of Shizi Mountain at the entrance of the village offers a clear and panoramic view. In the valley of less than 1 sq km, 7 square tulou buildings and 7 round tulou buildings are scattered along the stream in an orderly manner and surrounded by the lush green trees. It is the densest cluster of Tulou in Fujian Province. The local people seem to live in a landscape painting.

The construction of these tulou buildings spans 423 years. The earliest Chaoshuilou was built during 1549 – 1553 in Ming Dynasty, while the newest Yongqinglou was built from 1967 to 1972 in the last century, only about 50 years old. It clearly shows the development and evolution of Tulou architecture, so Hekeng Tulou Complex is reputed as a living tulou museum. Among the 14 tulou buildings, 13 buildings have been listed on the World Heritage List, making it the Tulou complex with the largest number of World Heritage Sites in Fujian Province.

Practical Travel Information about Nanjing Tulou

Opening Hours and Ticket

Best Time to Visit

Travelling to Nanjing Tulou in spring and autumn allows you to appreciate the distinctive scenery in comfortable weather. In spring, the surrounding mountains are covered with flowers. After the rain, the clouds and mist also shroud the mountains. The tulou complex is like a fairyland. It is the best time for photography and hiking. When it comes to autumn, the rainfall decreases and the fields turn golden. You can capture a panoramic picture of tulou complex and the golden field scenery.

How to Plan a Nanjing Tulou Tour

For each of the three scenic areas, about half a day is enough to cover their major scenic spots. And they are not very far from each other, about 12 – 17 km.

Overall, a one-day tour is enough to discover its essence. You can focus on the iconic Tianluokeng or combining Tianluokeng with Yunshuiyao. It is highly recommended to charter a bus or join a tour group to save time, since travelling from Xiamen to the scenic areas by public transportation will require about 3.5 hours and the transfers between scenic areas also take much time.

If you want to enjoy an in-depth and immersive experience, leave 2 days for the Nanjing Tulou tour. Book a tulou homestay and savor the characteristic Hakka cuisines, such as the stewed chicken and salt baked chicken, to experience the local life. About the itinerary, you can arrange Tianluokeng and Hekeng on one day and Yunshuiyao on the other day.

How to Get to Nanjing Tulou from Xiamen

For most tourists, Xiamen is the main transfer city to get to Nanjing Tulou. Then how to travel from Xiamen to the scenic area? No matter which one you visit, the first step is to take a bullet train to Nanjing Station. It takes about 0.5 – 1 hour and costs about CNY 30 – 35.

If you plan to tour Yunshuiyao or Tianluokeng, then take bus line 1, 8, or 601 to Nanjing Bus Station and transfer to bus line 6 to Yunshuiyao and Tulou Reception Center bus stop, respectively. The journey will take about 2.5 hours and cost about CNY 15.

After exiting Nanjing Station, there are also many taxis or private cars offering the carpooling service. Generally, the travel time to both scenic areas is about 1 hour and the fare is CNY 40 – 60. It is more convenient and time-saving. It is also the main way to visit Hekeng Tulou, since there is no direct public bus to get there. A single trip will take about 1.5 hours and cost about CNY 40 – 60.

The Wucun Bus Station in Xiamen also offers 4 tourist direct buses to Yunshuiyao and Tianluokeng every day. The bus departs at 07:00, 10:30, 14:30 and 18:00. The duration is about 2 – 2.5 hours and the ticket fare is CNY 70. The bus station is next to Xiamen Railway Station. To get there, you can take metro line 3 to Xiamen Railway Station exit 6 and walk to the bus station directly.

Plan a Tulou Tour with China Xian Tour

If you want to enjoy a more carefree tour, it is highly recommended to join a tour group. The reason is that Nanjing Tulou is far from downtown Xiamen and the transportation between the scenic spots is not convenient and complex. China Xian Tour will be your reliable choice. Our local driver will offer point-to-point transportation services, so you can transfer between the attractions seamlessly. Besides, our English guide will provide cultural explanations. You will not miss the wonderful stories behind the Tulou due to language barriers. So do not hesitate to contact us.