Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster

Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster

Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster is a cultural tourism attraction.

One of the most talked-about attractions among the tulou in Zhangzhou, located in Shangban Village, Shuyang Town, Nanjing County. It is a settlement of the Huang family clan. The tulou cluster consists of one square tulou (Buyun Lou), three circular tulou (Hechang Lou, Zhenchang Lou, and Ruiyun Lou), and one oval tulou (Wenchang Lou). The square Buyun Lou stands in the center, surrounded by the other four. Viewed from above, they resemble a table of dishes, hence the nickname “Four Dishes and One Soup.”

The Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster is arranged along the mountain slopes, built halfway up the hillside and surrounded by green terraced fields. From a high vantage point, it looks like a blooming plum blossom dotting the earth. In May 2001, it was listed as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The oldest tulou in the cluster, Buyun Lou (the square tulou), was built during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1796), about 200 years ago. The newest, Wenchang Lou, was built in 1966. This tulou cluster gradually formed over a long period. The Jiaqing era marked the beginning and peak of tulou construction in the area, with three tulou built during that time. No such large-scale construction has occurred since.

The Huang family genealogy of Tianluokeng confirms that during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty, Huang Baisanlang migrated here from Yongding and began his legendary life here. At the center of the ancestral hall in the tulou cluster is the spirit tablet of the ancestors, with Huang Baisanlang listed first. His tomb is located two kilometers away from Tianluokeng at “Wugengliao,” where he is honored with offerings by the people of Tianluokeng every Qingming Festival.

This young duck farmer made full use of the abundance of snails in the mountain streams and muddy fields, as well as the advantages of deep valleys and dense forests, to continuously expand production and earn his first pot of gold. The first structure Huang Baisanlang built was the square tulou, also known as “that bowl of soup,” elegantly named Buyun Lou. He designed the central hall with a stepped floor plan following the terrain, allowing visitors to experience the feeling of “rising step by step” upon entering the main gate.

After the completion of Buyun Lou, Huang Baisanlang’s descendants built four more circular tulou—Hechang, Zhenchang, Ruichang, and Ruiyun—surrounding it. Modern architectural experts who have studied the site have marveled at the ancient builders’ wisdom. The constructors of these four circular tulou cleverly adjusted the height of the columns on each level to accommodate the slope, successfully creating a flat second floor that greatly enhanced livability.

Address: Tianluokeng, Shuyang Town, Nanjing County, Zhangzhou City

Type: Historical Site / Folk Village / Ancient Town / Ancient Village

Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0596-7778338; 0596-7880111

Opening Hours:

7:00-19:00

Transportation

1. Take a train to Nanjing Railway Station. Upon exiting, take the tourist bus just outside the station (departs roughly once an hour, 20 RMB/person, 1.5-hour ride); or transfer to a tulou shuttle bus at Nanjing Bus Station (20 RMB/person); or hire a private car (approx. 40 RMB/person)

2. Take the 8:30 AM bus from Xiamen Hubin South Long-Distance Bus Station to Tianluokeng (55 RMB, approx. 3.5-hour journey)

Ticket

A combined ticket is available for three attractions: Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster, Yuchang Lou, and Taxia Village — 100 RMB/person

Children between 1.1–1.4 meters tall receive half-price tickets; students with valid ID also get half-price

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