Across the bay from Xiamen, Zhangzhou is fertile, flower-filled farmland that holds some of Fujian's most spectacular Hakka and Minnan tulou — the great circular earthen apartment-fortresses of the inland hills.
History & culture
A prosperous Minnan trading prefecture and major source of overseas emigrants, Zhangzhou's mountainous Nanjing and Hua'an counties built clusters of rammed-earth tulou from the Ming dynasty onward, now UNESCO-listed.
What to see & do
- ◆Tianluokeng tulou cluster ('four dishes and a soup')
- ◆Hua'an Eryi Lou, a giant earthen roundhouse
- ◆Zhangzhou old town and Ming-era bridge
- ◆Dongshan Island beaches
- ◆Flower and fruit farms
What to eat
- ●Minnan-style braised pork rice
- ●Stuffed tofu and fish balls
- ●Tropical fruit and preserved snacks
Getting there
High-speed rail (Zhangzhou station) is minutes from Xiamen; the tulou clusters are a 2–3h drive inland, best by car or tour.
Avoid the pitfalls
- The famous tulou are deep in the hills — it's a long day trip from Xiamen/Zhangzhou.
- Different counties (Nanjing, Hua'an, Yongding) have separate clusters; pick one.
- Some roundhouses are still homes — respect residents and ask before photos.
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