5 days Xiamen and Tulou Hakka tour

Xiamen - a modern city in Fujian Province, southeastern China. The city is comprised of several islands and it's also known as one of the most livable cities in China. 

Upon your arrival at Xiamen airport or train station, you will be greeted by your local guide and driver, they will chauffeur you to the hotel in town for you to have a good rest. 

In the morning, transfer to the ferry for a 20-minute boat trip to Gulangyu. This tiny but charming island is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, and it has become one of the most popular travel destinations in China. 

Take a peaceful walk and appreciate the buildings before visiting Shuzhuang Garden, a beautiful seaside garden and the famous Piano Museum. In the afternoon, visit South Putuo Temple, the most famous Buddhist temple in town, and Hulishan Fortress, take a scenic drive along the beautiful Island Ring Road. 
 

In the morning, take a 2.5-hour scenic drive to Nanjing, where you will visit Tianluokeng Tulou, Yuchanglou (leaning structure Hakka house) and Taxia village.

Tianluokeng Tulou, composed primarily of four round and one rectangular earthen house, is one of the most magnificent and well-preserved Hakka Castles in the area. The village is also listed in the Famous Historic Cultural Village in China for its typical cultural regional system. +

Yuchanglou was built in 1308 and is one of the oldest existing Tulou. This five-story earth building is most famous for its tilted pillars.

Taxia Village is an exquisite Hakka village with more than 20 earthen building of different shapes built along the bank of a clear brook that flows through the entire village.

Then travel to Yongding to visit Chenqilou, which is the largest of the earth buildings. It is almost three hundred years old and is made up of four concentric circular buildings. 

Today you will visit Hongkeng Tulou Cluster, Nanxi Tulou Cluster and Chuxi Tulou Cluster.

Hongkeng Tulou Cluster is the most concentrated of all earthen house clusters. Some of the house designs are unique, including the Zhenchenglou (a magnificent building combining the Chinese style with the western style), Fuyulu (Five-Phoenix House), Kuijulou (a palace style building) and Rushenglou (a mini-sized circular building).

Nanxi flows through various Hakka villages and pass through the valley, surrounded by green mountains and terraces. Along the creek, there are over 100 tulou of different shapes: round, square, octagon, hexagon, triangle, D-shape, ellipse, and even round and square combinations. The tulou are scattered along valleys and banks, like a dragon snaking for tens of kilometers.

The Chuxi Tulou Cluster includes five large circular buildings and ten rectangular buildings. Jiqinglou is the oldest and most special round earth buildings in this area. It is almost 600 years old and covers a total area of 2826 m2 with 206 rooms. Unlike normal round earth building that usually got only four public stairways, Jiqinglou is equipped with 72 stairways, which divide the whole building into 72 independent units. All rooms, stairways and interior walls are constructed with wood and rabbet structure. Not even a single nail is used for the construction and the earth building remains intact after 600 years. 

In the morning, drive about 1.5 hours to visit Yunshuiyao. Here you will see Heguilou, the highest of all the earth buildings and most interesting of all, it was constructed on a swampland and has been impregnable for more than 200 years.

Then pay a visit to Changjiao Ancient Village. This beautiful ancient village is named after the Changjiao Brook that connects Heguilou and Huaiyuanlou. Along the banks of the brook are ancient banyan trees, ancient building and patches of farm land. A walk through the village will bring you back in time to Chinese traditional rural life. This village has been a popular place for film making.

The last stop is Huaiyuanlou which was constructed in 1907. The foundation of the wall was rammed from large cobblestones from the river and a mixture of lime, clay and sand. The surface of wall remains clean and smooth in spite of the pass of time. The ancestral hall of the building also serves as a private school. The beans, ridgepoles, doors, and windows in the entire ancestral hall are decorated with beautiful carvings and painting in the ancient style.

Afterwards, you will be dropped off at Xiamen airport for your departure flight home, or to your next travel city.