Tulou is a kind of traditional rammed citadel of the Hakkas. The resident building can be round and square. In Yongding County, there are entirely three hundred and sixty round houses and four thousand square houses. The grand complex of Hakka residence in Yongding show best the intelligence of the Hakka, added luster to Chinese traditional architecture. It's a highlight in Longyan travel.
They are most famous in Yongding, Fujian, China. With a long history, these round buildings combining dwelling and defense factions are in a unique style. It is a good place for tourists to experience the traditional Hakka culture. As soon as you enter the earth building, you will feel a deep sense of history and gentle atmosphere. There are 3 most representative earth buildings in Yongding.
Gaobei Tulou Cluster
Famous for Chengqi Earth Building, Gaobei Tulou Cluster is located in Gaotou Village, known as “The King Hakka earth buildings” with the largest number of laps and the largest resident population. In the area, Gaobei Tulou Cluster is one of the most well-known. It features dozens of Hakka earth towers such as Chengqi Tulou, Wuyun Tulou, Qiaofu Tulou and Shize Tulou.
Chengqi Tulou, a famous Yongding hakka Tulou, known as ‘King of Round Tulou’, is one of the most famous ones. Built by the Jiang family, the construction of Chengqi Tulou took over 50 years. The building is a three-ring round one with an ancestral hall at the center. The outer ring has four floors with 72 rooms on each floor, the second ring has two floors with 40 rooms on each floor and the inner one has one floor with 32 rooms. A precious wooden folding screen made of Phoebe zhennan and inscribed with pictures made in 1754 during Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911AD) is housed inside.
Hongkeng Tulou Cluster
Also known as Zhencheng Earth Building, Hongkeng Tulou Cluster is located in Hongkeng Village. As the most splendid Hakka Earth Building, it is a representative in Yonding County and praised as “The Prince of Hakka earth buildings”.
Hongkeng Tulou Cluster of Yongding Tulou has more than 30 Hakka Tulou houses with different styles: the ‘Tulou Prince’ – Zhencheng Tulou, the smallest round Rusheng Tulou, palatial Quanju Tulou, and Jingyang Tulou with the thickest walls. Ever since they were built in Song Dynasty (960 – 1279AD), those buildings have been residences of the Hakka for over1,000 years.
Jiqing Earth Building
Jiqing Earth Building is the earliest existing round earth building with the most stairs. It was built on the hillside which formed a magnificent landscape with the terraced field.