In all the various forms of architecture of the world, we’ll wager that you won’t find anything quite so unique and striking as the rural tulou fortresses of the Hakka people in Fujian, China.

Built to protect the migratory Hakka people from local warlords, the tulou are encircled by thick walls that can tower up to five stories high. A single tulou fortress could house up to 800 people, creating entire towns made miniature thriving within the circular walls.

Tulou offers nearly everything a family would need in daily life, including a temple for ancestor worship, schools, wells, and large kitchens. In 2008, these earthen, self-contained microcosms of the outside world were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Today, tulou are considered some of China’s most fascinating sociological and architectural sites.

You can find tulou all over the mountainous provinces of Fujian and Guangdong. The majority of tulou are clustered near the city of Yongding—and some of them are still inhabited!

If you’d like to explore these fascinating relics of ancient times, we’ll take you there on our ‘Discover China’s Architectural Marvels’ tour. Not only will you visit the famed Hongkeng fortresses, but you’ll also be treated to a traditional family dinner and spend the night in a tulou to understand the unique lifestyle it offers. And not just any tulou—you’ll be a guest at Chengqi Lou, also known as the “King of Tulou.”

To find out more or to start planning your exploration of a town in a tulou, just contact one of our locally based China Travel Specialists.