Fujian Tulou

This site contains some beautiful tulou of different shapes - round, square, and U-shaped. Zhencheng Lou (振成楼) is the largest and Rusheng Lou (如升楼) is the smallest tulou. For the real story, though, seek out the smaller tulou, where family life still abounds. A point to note is that Zhencheng Lou is the government showcase unit and is therefore padded up for touristy appeal. Those who know avoid the place, simply because everything looks so spick and span. However, many families do live in the tulous, and before and after the tour busses leave it is a quiet and lovely place to explore. Its rear gate is where the public transport stops and picks up passengers to or from Longyan, Yongding or Xiamen.

On a slope of Hudong Mountain, sit five tulou - three circular, one oval and in the middle a square tulou. The locals call this place si wan ee tang (literally four bowls and a soup). These were built over 600 years between the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the 1960s. At night, the place is lit up with multicoloured lights which make interesting photos. However, you have to stay the night, most probably at the lodgings provided by the lady operating a local style teashop. Food can be enjoyed in the tolou if you stay the night as well. Relax and enjoy local life. Be prepared for a long and boring night after the initial excitement with your photographing done. A better option is to stay in one of the guesthouses in Taxia.

This is the largest of the tulou, on the route from Xiamen to Liulian. The main building is called Chengqi Lou (承启楼) and referred to as the "King Tulou" (土楼王) — an impressive round tulou with many concentric structures. While many tulou were built in the Qing dynasty, this one was built in 1964. In general, the Gao Bei complex is overrun with tourists — seek out smaller tulou for a more sincere experience, or go early or late to miss the busy hours.

This is perhaps the most picturesque of the tulou clusters, and is approximately 30-40 minutes south of Liulian.

It consists of 15 earth buildings with different shapes which are distributed in a narrow area along the banks of two small rivers in the shape of a "D". Since the completion of Hekeng Earth Building Group, except for normal maintenance, the walls, structures and internal and external space of 14 earth buildings have remained unchanged

This settlement is a bit larger than the others, and also contains an ancient town. The large tulou are not as dense and a bit further apart.

Built in 1308 it is the oldest Toulu in Fujian Province. This 18-m-high building is an outcome of the shareholding system in the early times by the Lio, Luo, Zhang, Tang and Fan clans. They shared 250 rooms in 5 floors. There are 22 wells in each ground floor kitchen which surpass any other toulu in Fujian for the number. An ancestral hall is in the center of the round Toulu. 25 generations have lived in this tulou, even though it is leaning up to 15 degrees in places. The slant mentioned is what makes the inhabitants proud. Whatever the reason their ancestors used crooked beams and columns, these have withstood the test of time. Chinese tourists particularly marvel at this curious crooked building.

A temple within the Hongkeng tulou cluster scenic area