Home > Sightseeing > 3 Days Miraculous Earthen Buildings of Hakkas in Fujian
TRIP OVERVIEW
Explore the most extraordinary type of Chinese rural dwelling, the circular Hakka rammed earth buildings, otherwise known as the Fujian Tulou. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is some of the most amazing architecture you will ever see. The journey starts from Xiamen, beautiful seaport city with Gulangyu Island. Gulangyu Island is world known for its tranquil and enchanting environment, the only residential island in China without any vehicles and full of plants and gardens. Then we will drive into the villages to see life continue in the Tulou as it has for hundreds of years.
Quick Inquiry
(B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
DAY 1 Beijing - Xiamen (L, by air)
Arrive Xiamen Airport, our local guide will pick you up at the exit of the airport, then transfer to the hotel, check in and have a short rest. Time permitting, we will choose to do a round-trip to Gulangyu Island.
Overnight in Xiamen Hotel or similar.
DAY 2 Xiamen / Tianluokeng in Nanjing / Stay in a Tulou in Yongding (BLD)
Xiamen/Tianluokeng 150km/2.5 hrs driving; Tianluokeng/Yongding 30km/1hr driving
Today will spend the day exploring the amazing Hakka Earthen Buildings, which can be traced back for more than 3000 years.
From your hotel in Xiamen, after Breakfast, we will make the 2.5 hrs drive to visit the tulou cluster of Tianluokeng, which is in Nanjing county.
Tianluokeng Earth Buildings Complex is the Huang Family's residence. They are composed of one square building (Buyun Lou), three circle buildings (Hechang Lou, Zhenchang Lou, and Ruiyun Lou) and one oval building (Wenchang Lou). The square building Fangyun Building sets in the middle while other four buildings surround it. The buildings scatter and interlock according to the lie of the mountains. If overlooked from a higher place, the buildings look like blooming plum blossoms embellished on the earth embraced by the mountains. While look up them from the foot of the mountains, it occupies a mountainside position. As a combination of exquisite constructions, Tianluokeng Earth Buildings Complex is a perfect landscape with the connection of cultural and natural elements and is acclaimed as the peak of perfection. At the complex we will wander around and take a peek at the daily lives of these fascinating peoples. We will have lunch in local restaurant.
In the evening, we will then drive to Yongding, where we will spend the night in an authentic Hakka earthen building village. The tulou here has a shape of an emerging mushroom, or of a falling flying saucer. In the Cold War, it was even believed by the Western countries, when examining some tulous, that is was used as China's nuclear reactor!
Overnight in a local Hakka Earthen Building.
DAY 3 Yongding Tulou / Xiamen / Beijing (by air; BL)
150km/2.5 hrs driving
We will spend half a day proceeding to the tulous of Zhencheng Lou (nicknamed "the prince" of round Tulou), Chengqi Lou (with most ring layers), Rusheng Lou (smallest one), Fuyu Lou (rich landlord courtyard style) and Kuiju Lou (Putala palace style).
The "king of the tulou" at Chengqi Lou, built in 1709, is massive rotunda tulou with four concentric rings surrounding an ancestral hall at the center, the outer ring is four storeys tall, 288 rooms, with 72 rooms on each level, circular corridor on 2nd to 4th floor, with four sets of staircases at cardinal points connecting ground to top floors. A big roof extending out ward covers the main ring. If a person stayed for one night in each room, it would take him more than a year to go through all the rooms. After lunch, you will be drive back to Xiamen airport, ending your tour.
-End of Tour-
The tour cost includes
The tour cost does not include
Cancellation and Refund Policy for Tours Reservation
Cancellation in advance Cancellation penalty
More than 30 days No Cancellation Fee
30-10 days 50% of the full payment
9-0 days or no show 100% of the full payment

Necessities
Enough films and batteries, Sun-cream with the protection index of 40-60, sunglasses with a sun protection factor of 15, the lip creams and balms with SPF rating, towel, toothpaste, electric torch, Snack foods.
Cloth that you bring must be warm enough and can be removed easy enough according to the weather, including Jacket, hat, Cotton underwear, Socks, Long-sleeve Shirts, T-shirts and Pants (Shorts are not appropriate at any time while hiking), comfortable shoes, rain gear (long rain coat is better).

Medicine
In addition to the normal medications for traveling, just like the Aspirin and medicine for diarrhea, siriasis,sunstroke and carsickness.

Currency to use
US$ is acceptable only in a very limited range, e.g. tips. However, for convenience, Chinese currency is the best choice. If you want to change US$ to Chinese currency in the tour, you can change it in the Hotel you stay or in the Bank of China. You could draw cash only from Bank of China in the big city, the ATM there doesn't always work properly and the bank is not easy to find. Please bring some cash at hand to use.

Food and drink
a) Eating is an important part of your China experience. Generally breakfasts are included in the itinerary and offered by hotels. China Highlights recommends local Chinese restaurants that are popular with local people for lunch. You can order dishes with the help of your guide. We usually leave dinner for your own choice — Western food can be found in most large cities.
b) We have tried to arrange various food in different cities. But you may still think the food is simple and not as delicious as in the big cities especially while trekking in the mountains and villages. If you have any priority of the food (eg. If you are vegetarian or you are allergic to MSG, peanut oil, fish and peanut, etc) please inform us early, we will try to alternate the food accordingly. At the same time please prepare some of your favorite snacks and substitution food in case of need.
c) Meals in the home stays will be different from the cities but clean, which leave you a good chance to experience the ethnic minority culture. We will pack a breakfast for you of cold cereal, milk, toast, fruit, and jam for the home stay.
d) It is very important to drink a lot of water and eat enough fruit in your tour especially while trekking in the mountains and villages. You are advised not to drink tap water.

Accommodation
Hotels in China are bound by Government laws which mean that air conditioning is switched on nationally in May and the central heating in November (this may vary slightly depending on the region).
In some remote areas, sometimes shower maybe not available in the home stay. A married couple is not allowed to share a room in the Miao's home-stay due to the local customs.

Tipping
It is customary to tip service providers in the travel industry in Asia, depending on the service. Tipping is expected — though not compulsory — and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Recommendations for tipping drivers (3 USD per person per day as a guideline) and local guides (8 USD per person per day as a guideline) would depend on the quality and length of the service.

Vehicles
We use comfortable sedans or vans with air-conditioning. The comfort and safety of our customers is of utmost importance, so we ensure that all of the vehicles we use are well maintained and always very clean. Our drivers take pride in their vehicles.

Tourist insurance
It is a must before going, please provide us the confirmation of insurance company when sign up.

Customs
In some provinces with many minorities (like Guizhou, Guangxi, Tibet, Xinjiang and etc.), the customs and habits of local people are different from place to place. The local guide will inform you what should care. Respect the local customs and religions. The people are very kind and hospitable. You can feel free to talk with them. But there are some rulers you should go by!
a. Do not photo them without getting the permit, please show the respect to them!
b. Don't talk the sensitive topics like the political and the religion matters!

Conditions
When you sign up for the trekking tour, you acknowledge that there are risks involved in trekking in high altitude and confirm that you are fully aware of and accept these risks. It is customer's responsibility to determine whether the tour he/she choose is suited to his/her physical condition. Customers are responsible for the cost of any medicines or medical care they may require during the trip for any reason. Please make sure you have adequate personal medical insurance to meet any medical emergency which might arise. In some cases, if you need medical care during the tour, you may be required to pay for it at the time it is rendered and seek reimbursement from your insurer after you return home. Please check with your medical insurer for details. In the event of a medical emergency, we will make every effort to assist you in obtaining necessary care. Also, please tell us in writing if you suffer from any allergies or other physical conditions which might affect you during the tour (if you hasn't tell us in writing before going, you are supposed to be healthy enough to take the tour). Finally, please check with your doctor to find out what inoculation may be recommended for the areas you will be visiting. It is your responsibility to obtain all necessary inoculations. We reserve the right to decline to accept any person as a member of the tour, or to decline to retain any person, if such person's physical condition, mental well-being or behavior interferes with the operation of the tour. There will be no refund in such cases.

Always take good care of your belongings.