Yongding - Fujian Province

Located in Fujian Province, not too far from Xiamen, Yongding is most famous for its unique Tulou buildings, used as communal residences by the Hakka people.

Tulou are large earthen buildings which are rectangular or circular in shape and can be up six storeys in height. The word ‘tu’ in Chinese means ‘earth’ and ‘lou’ is ‘building’. In many ways each Tulou is like its own village, with several extended families living together, and some of the largest Tulou can house several hundred residents. The ground floor was traditionally reserved for livestock and food storage and preparation, while the upper storeys were the living quarters. The Hakka Tulou have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008 and most are still occupied to this day, although the future of these unique residences is uncertain as many of the younger generation are moving out to more modern accommodation in China’s ever-growing cities.

Several Tulou have been converted into simple guesthouses, and we highly recommend spending a night experiencing this unique style of living for yourself.