In Fujian's mountainous southwest, Longyan is a Hakka heartland famed for the Yongding tulou — the most celebrated cluster of circular earthen roundhouses — set among terraced tea and tobacco hills.
History & culture
Settled by Hakka migrants over centuries, the Yongding area built hundreds of rammed-earth tulou as fortified communal homes for entire clans; the region also holds an important place in modern revolutionary history.
What to see & do
- ◆Yongding's Hongkeng and Chuxi tulou clusters (see the Yongding guide)
- ◆Zhencheng Lou, the 'prince of tulou'
- ◆Guanzhai Mountain scenery
- ◆Hakka villages and ancestral halls
- ◆Tea and tobacco terraces
What to eat
- ●Hakka salt-baked chicken
- ●Stuffed tofu (niang doufu)
- ●Preserved-vegetable braised pork
Getting there
High-speed rail (Longyan station) connects to Xiamen (~1.5h); the Yongding tulou are a further drive into the hills.
Avoid the pitfalls
- Confirm which tulou cluster you're visiting; they're spread across the county.
- It's a long day from Xiamen — consider an overnight in a tulou guesthouse.
- Many tulou are lived-in homes; be a respectful guest.
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