3 Days Best Xiamen Tulou Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Drive to Nanjing from Xiamen City
   Marvel at Fujian's UFO-like Tulou Clusters and Slanted Yuchang Building

   Welcome to our 3-day Tulou tour! After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your Xian downtown hotel and drive for 2 hours to Nanjing County. Today, you will mainly visit the Tianluokeng Tulou Complex and the Yunshuiyao Scenic Area.

   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 Fujian Tulou, but it's still amazing 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 can catch the sights of Tulou from a closer look at Tulou.

   Yuchang Building (裕昌楼) is the most famous Tulou in Tianluokeng. You might think it is 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 in the corridors are slanted! How could such a huge building be supported by lean columns! Yuchang Building has suffered from rain, wind, and earthquakes in the past 700 years, but still survived well.

   

   Taxia Village depicts a picturesque countryside view where visitors can 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 witness how their people make life and develop for generations. Deyuan Hall (Zhang's Family Temple) is an outstanding view in Taxia Village. Through the grand building and beautiful decorations inside, you can read the everlasting glory of this large family.

   After that, we drive 30 minutes to Yunshuiyao Scenic Area. Here, the Huaiyuan Building (怀远楼), built in 1905-1909, is a rare double-ring tulou in Yunshuiyu. The outer ring serves as a residence, while the inner "Si Shi Room" functions as a school and ceremonial space. It inspired the animation "Big Fish & Begonia" and offers stunning mountain views. After the visit, drive back to the local hotel in Taxia Village for an overnight.

   

2. Day 2: Nanjing to Yongding
   Explore Hongkeng's Grand Tulou from Zhencheng to Kuiju

   Today, we will drive to Yongding and visit the Hongkeng Tulou Complex.

   Hongkeng Tulou Complex, with the largest scale and the most advantaged 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: Zhencheng Building (振成楼), which is famed as "Tulou Prince" due to the combined features of Western and Chinese architectural cultures. The mini circular Tulou, Rusheng Building (如升楼) by the stream, with a diameter of only 17.4 meters, contrasts sharply with the gigantic Zhengcheng Building. The Family Temple of Lin and Tianhou Palace, standing to the left and right of Zhengcheng Building, are also worthy of a leisurely visit.

   

   Please never miss the Fuyu Building (福裕楼). It is the first of the square tulou in Hongkeng Tulou Cluster. The whole building is axisymmetric and magnificent. At its peak, there were 27 households with more than 200 people.

   The title of "Potala Palace" of Kuiju Building (奎聚楼) might be exaggerated, but the palatial structures with layer upon layer of eaves indeed make Kuijulou against the hills grander and more splendid.

   After the tour finished, transfer back to your hotel.

   

3. Day 3: Back to Xiamen

   Free and easy on your own in the morning. Then we will drive for about 2.5 hours back to Xiamen city. If you need airport drop-off service, we can arrange it for you (at an additional cost).