Pinghe Tulou

Pinghe Tulou

Tulou are tall, majestic, and uniquely designed ancient folk buildings. According to records, there are 476 well-preserved tulou in the county that were built before the first year of the Republic of China (1912). Among the more famous ones are the Shengwu Lou in Luxi Town and Fengzuo Juening Lou, both national cultural heritage protection units, Daxi Zhuangshang Building (the largest square earthen tulou in China), Xiazhai Bangyan Mansion, and Wuzhai Township Siyong Lou.

(1) Shengwu Lou – A National Cultural Heritage Protection Unit

Located in Jiaolu Village, Luxi Town, it was initially built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty. This earthen tulou covers a site area of 1,506 square meters and a building area of 1,266 square meters. It took five generations of emperors—Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xianfeng, Tongzhi, and Guangxu—to complete. The most distinctive feature of Shengwu Lou is its exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters, showcasing luxurious and finely crafted architectural artistry. The stone carvings, wood carvings, and clay sculptures vary in style, all featuring beautiful designs and exceptional taste, earning it the title “Treasury of Folk Art from South Fujian in the Mid-to-Late Qing Dynasty.”

(2) Zhuangshang Large Tulou

Located in Zhuangshang Village, Daxi Town, Pinghe County, it was built during the Shunzhi and Kangxi reigns of the Qing Dynasty. This unit-style and corridor-style combined earthen residential tulou has a building area of over 9,000 square meters and covers a land area of 34,650 square meters. In addition to residential spaces, it includes a full range of public buildings and facilities for various aspects of social life, serving as a microcosm of traditional rural Chinese society. It is an important physical resource for studying the history and culture of the Hakka people in Fujian, holding significant value in anthropology, history, architectural science, and art. Huang Hanmin, in his book *Fujian Tulou*, described it as “The scale of Zhuangshang Building is truly astonishing—it is well-deserving of its title as the grandest square tulou in Fujian.”