Fujian Yongding Tulou One-Day Tour Guide

Located in Yongding, Fujian, the Tulou is a national 5A tourist attraction. It is a place with a strong folk culture, beautiful scenery, a quiet environment, fresh air, and a great place to experience the natural scenery. It is well worth a visit.

I. Address and Opening Hours

Address: Yongding District, Longyan City, Fujian Province

Opening Hours: 7:00-19:00

II. Transportation

(1) Xiamen-Yongding Tulou

Bus:

A. The most convenient route is Xiamen-Yongding Tulou. Remember to take the bus to Yongding Tulou, not the one to Yongding County. Xiamen Hubin South Bus Station has direct buses to Xiayang from 6 am to 12:30, with a journey of 3.5 hours. The bus stops at Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Nanjing-Shuyang Town-Yongding County’s Hukeng Town-Xiayang Town. You can get off at any of these stops. If you want to see (Hukeng Folk Culture Village, Gabei Tulou Group, Zhenfu Building, Yanxiang Building, Huanji Building), get off at Hukeng. If you want to see (Zhongchuan Ancient Village, Chuxi Tulou Group), get off at Xiayang.

Return trip: There are three buses from Yongding Tulou Bus Station to Xiamen (7:30, 12:30, 14:45), taking about 3 hours. The ticket price is 60 yuan/person. If you miss the last bus from Yongding Tulou to Xiamen, consider taking a bus from Shuyang Town directly to Nanjing County, as there are many buses from Nanjing County to Xiamen. The last bus is said to be at 8pm. For more details, please call the Tulou Station: 0597-5535779.

B. If you miss the direct bus to Xiayang, take the bus from Xiamen-Yongding-Tulou.

1. Xiamen-Yongding (7:50, 8:50, 12:20, 13:50, 14:40, 16:00) each has a bus to Yongding County, the ticket price is 75 yuan, and the journey takes 4 hours.

2. Yongding-Hukeng: You can buy a ticket from Yongding Station to Hukeng Tulou Culture Village, 15 yuan/person, with a bus every 40 minutes and arriving in an hour.

3. Yongding-Xiayang (Chuxi Tulou and Zhongchuan Ancient Village): From Yongding County Bus Station, take the “Jinfeng Line”, Yongding-Xiayang, every 20 minutes from 6:20am to 5:20pm, passing Yuan tou Mountain, Lieshi, Qiling, and Shuangyang.

4. Yongding-Gaotou (Gabei Tulou Group), 7:25, 8:20, 10:30, 11:40, 13:00, 14:20, 15:15, 16:30, passing Lieshi, Qiling, Dayi, and Hukeng.

5. Yongding-Hukeng Shijia, 9:30, 15:00, passing Lieshi, Qiling, Dayi, and Hukeng.

Scenic spot charter: Charter a car to tour the Tulou in Yongding, with a driver. An 11-seater costs about 400 yuan, a 7-seater costs about 300 yuan, and a sedan costs 150-200 yuan. A motorcycle costs 100 yuan.

Distance to the scenic spot: Hukeng Culture Village is 4 kilometers from Chengqilou and the Gabei Tulou Group, 5 kilometers from the Nanxi Tulou Group, and over 40 kilometers from the Chuxi Tulou Group.

Return trip: From the Tulou to Yongding County, then take a bus from Yongding to Xiamen: 6:30, 7:30, 8:10, 9:30, 1:00, 2:10.

C. If you miss the bus to Yongding County, take the Xiamen-Longyan-Yongding Tulou route, but the journey will be longer.

1. Xiamen Hubin South to Longyan departure time 6:45 7:45 8:45 9:45 10:35 11:25 12:25 13:25 14:15 15:15
16:05 16:45 17:25 18:25

2. Longyan to Yongding Hongkeng Tulou 7:00 7:50 8:30 9:10 10:30 12:00 12:50 13:40 14:20 15:00
15:40 16:50

Return trip: Longyan to Xiamen departure time 7:10 7:50 8:40 9:30 10:20 11:00 11:50 12:50 13:40 14:40
16:00 16:40 17:30 18:30

Train:

Take train K299 departing from Xiamen at 17:07, get off at Yongding Station at 23:12. As you arrive at night, it’s advisable to find a hotel to stay overnight and take a bus to Yongding Tulou Folk Culture Village the next day.

(2) Fuzhou Destination Guest Tour Itinerary Selection

A. Train:

Fuzhou-Yongding-Tulou, take train 2274 from Fuzhou to Shenzhen at 21:10, get off at Yongding Station at 08:54, and then take a bus to Yongding Tulou Folk Culture Village.

B. Bus:

Take a long-distance bus from Fuzhou to Yongding, then take a bus to the Tulou from Yongding County. Or take a bus from Fuzhou to Longyan and then to the Tulou. (For information on buses from Longyan/Yongding to the Tulou, please refer to the Xiamen-Yongding Tulou route B and C)

(3) Guangzhou Destination Guest Tour Itinerary Selection

A. Take train K300 departing from Guangzhou East to Xiamen at 18:48, get off at Yongding Station at 03:07. As you arrive at night, it’s advisable to find a hotel to stay overnight and take a bus to Yongding Tulou the next day. (It’s recommended to take the train from Shenzhen that arrives during the day).

(4) Shenzhen Destination Guest Tour Itinerary Selection

A. Take train 2273 from Shenzhen to Fuzhou at 22:45, get off at Yongding Station at 07:03, then take a bus to Yongding Tulou.

(5) Guests from other destinations outside Fujian Province can choose to take a plane or train to Xiamen or Longyan for transfer, then take a bus to Yongding Tulou.

III. Ticket Policy

The Fujian Tulou·Yongding Scenic Area is free from May 1st to July 1st, 2022 (excluding secondary consumption items).

① Scenic Area Full Ticket Price:

Fujian Tulou Yongding Scenic Area·Hongkeng Scenic Area (Tulou Prince Zhenchenglou) 90 yuan/person

Fujian Tulou Yongding Scenic Area·Gabei Scenic Area (Tulou King Chengqilou) 50 yuan/person

Fujian Tulou Yongding Scenic Area·Nanxi Scenic Area (Nanxi Tulou Princess) 50 yuan/person

Fujian Tulou Yongding Scenic Area·Chuxi Scenic Area (Jiqinglou) 70 yuan/person

Fujian Tulou Yongding Scenic Area·Zhongchuan Scenic Area (Hu Bao Villa) 30 yuan/person

② Tourists who can enjoy discounts:

Half-price tickets

(1) Seniors aged 60-70 (with ID card)

(2) Students (with valid student ID)

(3) Children between 1.2-1.4 meters tall

Free tickets

(1) Children under 1.2 meters tall (including 1.2 meters)

(2) Retired personnel (with retirement certificate)

(3) Seniors over 70 years old (with ID card)

(4) Disabled persons (with disability certificate)

(5) National Model Workers (with National Model Worker Certificate)

(6) Active military personnel (with valid ID)

IV. Accommodation

1. Hukeng Town: Hakka Tulou Prince Grand Hotel (Tianhe, Hukeng Town, Booking Phone: 0597-5205555);

Huading Grand Hotel (No. 59, Yingbin Road, Hukeng Town, Booking Phone: 0597-5536988)

2. Xiayang Town: Kedu (International) Hot Spring Resort (Address: No. 58, Xianghe Road, Xiayang Town, Booking Phone: 0597-5209999), Cunming Hot Spring Hotel (0597-5588988).

In addition, there are clean and comfortable characteristic hotels and Tulou guesthouses around the Hakka Tulou Scenic Area, such as the characteristic Tulou guesthouse-Fuchuan Yijia (Address: Fuchuan Village, Kemingli, Fuchuan Yijia Tulou, Xiayang Town, Booking Phone: 0597-5586555)

3. Yongding County: Yongding Jinten Grand Hotel (Address: Xiaokeng Square, Yongding County, Booking Phone: 0597-5551666);

Yongding Hotel VIP Building (Address: No. 36, Tiyu Road, Fengcheng Town, Yongding County, Booking Phone: 0597-5833041);

Yongding Zhongtian Grand Hotel (Address: Xiaokeng Development Zone, Fengcheng, Yongding County, Booking Phone: 0597-5820888);

Yongding Dongfu Hotel (Address: No. 1, Wenquan Road, Yongding County, opposite Yongding Bus Station, Booking Phone: 0597-5830888).

In addition to star-rated hotels, there are also other convenient hotels to meet the accommodation needs of different customers.

V. Yongding Tulou Tour Route Recommendations

D1: Gabei Tulou Group (Chengqilou, Shizelou, Wuyunlou, and Qiaofulou)—Yongding Hongkeng Hakka Tulou Folk Culture Village (Zhenchenglou, Fuyulou, Kuijulou, Rushenglou, Natural Museum, Tianhou Temple)

D2: Nanxi Tulou (Zhenfu Building, Yanxiang Building, Huanji Building)—Chuxi Tulou Group (Jiqinglou, Shengqinglou, Shanqinglou, Gengqinglou, Gongqinglou, Museum)

D3: Hu Bao Villa and Gu Zhongchuan Village—Longhu Scenic Area

Classic Tulou Introduction:

Hongkeng Village concentrates all the rich forms of Tulou. The single buildings are unique, integrating round, mansion, palace, and miniature Tulou into one village, epitomizing the essence of Yongding Tulou. The legendary stories behind the Tulou are rich in historical, cultural, and economic significance.

Zhenchenglou, known as the most magnificent Tulou, is located in Hongkeng Village, Hukeng Town. Built in the first year of the Republic of China (1912), it is called the “Tulou Prince,” renowned for its magnificence, combination of Chinese and Western styles, and beautiful and diverse internal space design. It has two rings, the outer ring is 4 stories high, with a diameter of meters, designed according to the principles of the “Book of Changes” (Yijing) Eight Trigrams. This building pioneered the integration of Western architectural culture into Hakka Tulou architecture. In April 1986, at the World Architectural Model Expo held in Los Angeles, USA, Zhenchenglou was exhibited alongside the Yonghe Palace and the Great Wall, attracting attention and causing a sensation.

Kuijulou, a palace-style Tulou. Built on a hillside, surrounded by mountains and water, making the most of the land. Despite enduring 200 years of wind and rain, it stands firm like a mountain, reminiscent of the Potala Palace. The beauty of Kuijulou is not just in its architecture and culture, but also in its art. The carvings, sculptures, and paintings within the building are filled with a strong Hakka historical flavor and local customs.

Fuyulou, a representative of the five-phoenix Tulou. The structure is staggered in an orderly manner, with clear main and secondary parts, seamlessly integrated with the mountain slopes behind it, highlighting its grandeur and majesty. This building covers an area of over 600 square meters, and in its heyday housed nearly 30 households and over 200 people.

The couplet in the main hall “For hundreds of years, families have nothing but accumulated virtue, and the best thing to do is to study,” fully reflects the Hakka people’s “culture of farming and reading”; the “Bao Yi Ku” (literally “Birth Clothes Cave”) in the back hall further evokes a sense of the deep inner meaning of “returning to one’s roots.”

Rushenglou, a single-ring round building, with a diameter of only 17 meters. Because the building is small, like the “rice measure” made of bamboo tubes used by Hakka people. Many tourists call it the “miniature Tulou.” In fact, its name “Rushenglou” is derived from the owner’s good wishes – as the sun rises in the east, it will shine forever, and they hope to live a prosperous life.

Chengqilou, located in Gabei Village, Gaotou Township, is also known as Tianzhu Building, and is called the “King of Fujian Tulou.” Built during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty (1628—1644), it was designed according to the principles of the “Book of Changes” (Yijing) Eight Trigrams, with a diameter of 73 meters. “Four stories high, four rings of buildings, 400 rooms in total; circular structures within circular structures, rings within rings, enduring three centuries of vicissitudes,” it housed over 800 people in its heyday. In 1959, the book “A History of Ancient Chinese Architecture” published a detailed description of this building. In 1986, China’s Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued a set of Chinese folk residential series stamps, among which the Fujian folk residential stamp featured Chengqilou.

Zhenfu Building, the most beautiful Tulou, is located in Xipian Village, Hukeng Town. Built in the second year of the Republic of China (1913), it was constructed according to the principles of the “Book of Changes” (Yijing) Eight Trigrams, and is called the “Tulou Princess.” It has two rings, the outer ring is 4 stories high, with a diameter of meters. The surrounding scenery is beautiful and picturesque, exuding elegance. The halls are adorned with carved beams and painted columns, and have overhanging eaves and upturned corners. There are numerous stone carvings and couplets.

Yanxiang Building, known as the Tulou with the strongest literary fragrance. It is located in Xinnan Village, Hukeng Town, built in the twenty-second year of the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty (1842). It is round on the outside and square on the inside, constructed according to the principles of the “Book of Changes” (Yijing) Eight Trigrams. It has carved beams and painted columns, and is simple and elegant. Successive generations have passed down the family tradition of poetry and literature, with many talented individuals, making it a typical literary family.

Huanji Building, located in Nancun Village, Hukeng Town, built in the thirty-second year of the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty (1693), is known as the “Ear of the Earth” and the “Earthquake-resistant Fortress.” It is a circular Tulou with two rings, 4 stories high. Standing in the center of the courtyard and calling out, there is an effect similar to a loudspeaker. The reason for this remains a mystery. In January 1918, a strong earthquake struck Yongding. The outer wall of this building was shaken open with a crack a foot wide, but later slowly healed. Therefore, it is known as the Tulou with the most magical colors.

Chuxi Tulou Group, located on the mountainside at an altitude of 400-500 meters in the depths of the mountains in Chuxi Village, Xiayang Town. The mountains are steep and rugged, the terrain is complex, and the slopes are relatively steep, forming from the early Ming Dynasty (early 14th century) to the present. Nearly a hundred Tulou, including 5 round Tulou, are built on the hillside, scattered and arranged, majestic and imposing, backed by thousands of acres of terraced fields. This Tulou group is a typical example of the perfect combination and harmonious coexistence of man and nature. Among them, the most peculiar of the Tulou is Jiqinglou, the round Tulou with the most stairs. It is located in Chuxi Village, Xiayang Town, built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty (1403—1424). It has two rings, 4 stories high, with an outer diameter of 66 meters. It is known for its long history and extraordinary structure. The bottom floor is corridor-style, and the upper floors are divided into 72 units by 72 flights of stairs. All the wooden structures in the building are joined together with tenon and mortise joints, without a single nail.

Zhongchuan Tulou Group is the most characteristic Tulou group with overseas Chinese features. It is located in Zhongchuan Village, Xiayang Town, formed from the early Ming Dynasty (1520s) to the present. Over a hundred Tulou with different shapes and sizes are built by the water, with unique architectural styles, fully reflecting the integration of Chinese and Western cultures, with a strong overseas Chinese flavor. Historically, it has produced many famous literary and martial arts talents and business tycoons, such as Hu Zichun, Hu Taixing, and Hu Wenhu, who are renowned throughout China and even internationally.