Yongding Tulou – Outstanding Work in the World Architectural History

When the armored concrete of a metropolis blocked the passionate connections among the neighbors used to be seen in the Chinese countryside when people are increasingly getting aesthetic fatigue to the skyscrapers with the bright glasses, Fujian Tulou, such a collective folk dwelling building where you can see the traditions of Chinese style family will make your eyes light up! Tulou buildings are doubtlessly the best name card that Yongding will be mighty proud of. With more than 20,000 Tulou existing now, Yongding has the core sites mainly collected in the four scenic areas: Hongkeng Tulou Complex, Gaobei Tulou Complex, Nanxi Tulou Complex, and Chuxi Tulou Complex. We recommend Hongkeng Tulou as the first option and you can extend your Tulou trip to other scenic areas if you have more interest and spare time.

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• Fast Facts about Yongding Tulou
• Why Visit Yongding Tulou?
• Major Tulou Complexes in Yongding Scenic Area
• How to Get to Yongding Tulou
• When is the Best Time to Visit Yongding Tulou?
• Recommended Yongding Tulou Visiting Routes
• Explore Unique Yongding Tulou Clusters with China Xian Tour

Fast Facts about Yongding Tulou

• Location: Yongding District, Longyan City, Fujian Province
• Chinese Name: 永定土楼
• Highlights: UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, blending architectural marvels with emerald mountains and rivers, Hakka cultural experiences, photographer’s paradise
• Best Time to Visit: Spring and autumn
• Recommended Visiting Time: 1 day for its essence, 2-3 days for in-depth Yongding Hakka tulou cultural experiences.
• Opening Hours:

  Tulou Complex	June – September	October – May
  Hongkeng	06:30 – 21:00	06:30 – 20:30
  Gaobei	06:30 – 20:30	06:30 – 20:00
  Nanxi	06:30 – 20:00	06:30 – 20:00
  Chuxi	08:30 – 19:30	08:30 – 19:00

  • Tickets:

  Ticket	Fare
  Hongkeng	CNY 90
  Gaobei and Nanxi	CNY 50
  Chuxi	CNY 70
  Combo ticket for Hongkeng and Gaobei	CNY 120
  Combo Ticket for Hongkeng, Gaobei and Nanxi	CNY 140

Why Visit Yongding Tulou?

• Unmatched scale: The total number of Yongding Tulou exceeds 20,000, making it the largest tulou complex in the world.
• Remarkable diversity: Besides the common round and square tulou, there are also about 30 unique layouts of tulou buildings, like the Eight Diagram layout, the half moon layout, etc.
• World-class recognition: It has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage and holds four Guinness World Records for the oldest, largest, highest and most numerous tulou buildings.
• Distinctive features: Yongding Tulou features magnificent architecture, a long history and a well-preserved and vibrant Hakka culture. It is the first choice to learn about Tulou architecture and Hakka culture.

Major Tulou Complexes in Yongding Scenic Area

Hongkeng Tulou Complex(Fujian Tulou Hakka Cultural Village)

• Highlights: circular Tulou, square Tulou, Wufeng Tulou
• Major Tulou: Zhengchenglou, Kuiju Lou, Fuyulou
• Tickets: CNY 90
• Recommended Visiting Time: 2 – 3 hours

Hongkeng Tulou Complex, with the largest scale and the most advantageous development, should be the first option without a doubt if you want to explore Tulou buildings in one stop. Walking forward for 1km from the entrance gate, you will get to the core of Hongkeng Tulou: Zhenchenglou which is famed as “Tulou Prince” due to the combined features of Western and Chinese architectural cultures. The mini circular Tulou, Rushenglou by the stream, with a diameter of only 17.4m, contrasts sharply with the gigantic Zhengchenglou. The Family Temple of Lin and Tianhou Palace, standing at the left and right of Zhenchenglou, are also worthy of a leisurely visit. Please never miss the Fuyulou at the other side of the stream, which is a typical Wufeng Tulou with unturned eaves like a flying phoenix and contains the “five elements” in its construction design. The title of “Potala Palace” of Kuijulou might be exaggerated, but the palatial structures with layer upon layer of eaves indeed make Kuijulou against the hills grander and more splendid.

Gaobei Tulou Complex

• Highlights: King of Tulou
• Major Tulou: Chengqilou, Qiaofulou, Shunyuanlou
• Tickets: CNY 50
• Recommended Visiting Time: 1.5 – 2 hours

Gaobei Tulou Complex is perfect for a Tulou day tour from Xiamen owing to the smaller scale, the concentrated locations of Tulous as well as the famous “King of Tulou”. Usually, 1-2 hours is enough to catch a glimpse of the Gaobei Tulou Complex. Chengqilou has been titled “King of Tulou”. There is no exaggeration to say it as long as you have visited this Tulou by yourself. With an external diameter of 62.6 meters, Chengqilou has 4 floors in circularity and 400 rooms set on piles with 4 huge circular floors, surviving the vicissitudes for 300 years to protect the ancestral hall in the middle. The architectural beauty mixed with the fascination of antiques makes Chengqilou a paradise for photography lovers. Whether you are good at it, do not forget to find a nice angle to click your camera. Going forward, you will come to Qiaofulou and Shunyuanlou for further exploration and get inspired by the cultures of overseas Chinese when talking with their hosts.

Nanxi Tulou Valley Scenic Area

• Highlights: Tulou Great Wall
• Major Tulou: Zhenfulou, Yanxianglou, Huanjilou
• Tickets: CNY 50
• Recommended Visiting Time: 2 – 3 hours

There are 200+ Tulou buildings in different shapes standing closely or loosely in Nanxi, extending about 10 km to form a Tulou Valley, hence the name “Tulou Great Wall”. The three Tulou especially worthy of visiting are Zhenfulou, Yanxianglou, and Huanjilou. Zhenfulou is famed as the “Tulou Princess” corresponding to the “Tulou Prince” Zhenchenglou. It got its name because of its harmonious blend of elegant architectural design and the surrounding natural landscape. This round tulou building is nestled between the ridges and the valley, with the gentle Nanxi River flowing in front of it. It covers an area of over 4,000 square meters, featuring a unique Bagua (Eight Trigrams) layout. The intricate carvings and luxurious appearance are also reasons for its popularity. Except for the shared features of the combination of Chinese and Western architectural culture, Zhenchenglou is also more elegant compared with the grand Zhengfulou. As the whole family of the host is living overseas, you will not be bothered by commercial activities. At Yanxianglou, you will learn more details about the amazing Tulou building such as its water-proof functions. Huanjilou provides powerful proof of the advantages of the Tulou building because the break created by the M7 earthquake in 1918 had been amazingly closed gradually with the centripetal force of the circular Tulou and the drag force from those bridges in Tulou. Chuxi Tulou Complex

• Highlights: 72 Stairs of Jiqinglou, Hakka Folk Museum
• Major Tulou: Jiqinglou, Shanqinglou
• Tickets: CNY 70
• Recommended Visiting Time: 2 – 3hours

Chuxi Tulou is wild with its remoter location compared with other Tulou complexes. All the Tulou buildings here are named “Qing” and the 600-year-old Jiqinglou is the representative. Distinct from the public shared stairs of the other Tulou, Jiqinglou has individual stairs from the first floor to the fourth floor for each family but meanwhile, these are connected with each other in the internal building. Such an exceptional architectural miracle of the 72-Stairs in Jiqinglou has been the only existing copy in all of Fujian Tulou. Besides, Jiqinglou is famed as the “Hakka Folk Museum” as you can see the different exhibitions (mainly photos) in each room to tell you the hidden stories of their hosts. Built in 1979, Shanqinglou is a young Tulou receiving much more modern influence as you can see the air-conditioners on the external walls and the gallery on the first floor paved with beautiful granite.

How to Get to Yongding Tulou

Usually, tourist visit Yongding Tulou Scenic Area after their Xiamen tours. Most tulou clusters are located in the mountainous area. Though there are frequent bullet trains from Xiamen to Longshan Town Station or Longyan Station, you’ll need to transfer to a taxi or take a local bus (about 1 hour drive) to finally reach the tulou area. Longyan Station to Yongding tulou is about 10 kilometers farther than from the Longshan Town Station. Given the long distance between different tulou clusters and their mountainous location, traveling there by yourself seems a little challenging. And we highly recommended you to join a guided tour with a reliable travel agency. This way, all the logistic works, including the transportation, will be taken care of, and the local knowlegable guide will ensure you an immersive experience of Hakka tulou culture.

When is the Best Time to Visit Yongding Tulou?

Generally, March to May and September to November are the best times to visit Yongding tulou for comfortable temperatures and stunning seasonal scenery. A spring trip to Yongding will reward you with blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields. The golden rice fields, and warm sunlight are bonus for an autumn trip there. Winter is the low season when the tolou buildings welcome noticeably fewer tourists. If possible, try to avoid the summer months from June to August when the region is hot, rainy and flooded with large crowds of Chinese tourists and students.

Recommended Yongding Tulou Visiting Routes

For a classic one-day tour, it is recommended to focus on the most representative Hongkeng Tulou Complex or combine it with Gaobei Tulou Complex. The detailed route is as follows: Arrival at Hongkeng Tulou – Zhenchenglou – Kuijulou – Fuyulou – Rushenglou – enjoy lunch in Hongkeng Village – head to Gaobei Tulou Complex – Chengqilou – Qiaofulou – Shunyuanlou – return For a 2-day tour, you can follow the above route on the 1^st day and then stay overnight in the tulou homestay near Hongkeng or Gaobei. On the 2^nd day, choose either  Nanxi or Chuxi based on your interests. The recommended visiting routes for the two tulou complexes are as follows. Nanxi Tulou Route: Zhenfulou – stroll along the Nanxi River – Yanxianglou – Nanjiang Village Observation Deck – return Chuxi Tulou Route: Viewing Platform – Jiqinglou – Yuqinglou – Shengqinglou – Gengqinglou – Shanqinglou – return

Explore Unique Yongding Tulou Clusters with China Xian Tour

Considering the long distance between Xiamen and Yongding Tulou, it will save much time and effort if you travel with a tour group. China Xian Tour is glad to arrange the tour for you. Our travel specialists are experienced in tailoring a trip based on tourists’ needs and will provide 24/7 customer support. To ensure your travel experience, we will also arrange a local driver to escort you between the scenic spots and a local guide to introduce the history, culture and details of tulou. You can completely enjoy the tour with us. Just contact us now to start your Tulou tour.