Nanxi Tulou Cluster

Nanxi Tulou Cluster

The Nanxi Tulou Cluster is one of the representative tulou complexes in Yongding. Among them, Zhenfu Lou is the most talked about by visitors — graceful and dignified, it is known as the "sister building" of Zhencheng Lou. Like Zhencheng Lou, it is a magnificent round tulou, an earth-and-western hybrid structure designed and built according to the Bagua layout. The scenery is very beautiful.

Nanxi is a small stream located within Hukeng Town, Yongding County, Fujian Province. Traveling upstream from Hukeng Town and passing through villages such as Xiannanxi, Xinnan, Nanzhong, Nanjiang, and Shijia, then climbing up a hill in Jiaotang Natural Village, you can gaze over a long, narrow valley where the leisurely-flowing Nanxi cuts through. The murmuring stream, emerald-green mountains, and terraced fields create a picturesque scene. Along both banks of the Nanxi River, over 100 tulou of various shapes — including round, square, octagonal, hexagonal, triangular, D-shaped, oval, and those that are round in front and square at the back — are scattered or clustered, large or small, tall or short, high or low, creating a breathtaking view resembling an ever-flowing dragon meandering through terraced valleys and winding riverbanks for over ten kilometers.

Locals recommend viewing the full panorama of Nanxi from the mountaintop observation deck. Surrounded by vegetable fields and rice paddies, the view offers a stunning glimpse of the beautiful Nanxi valley. Several tulou of varying sizes form a cohesive complex. Further in the distance, more tulou are tucked away among the mountains, rivers, and trees, appearing and disappearing intermittently. However, there is no bus service here, so it may be difficult for unfamiliar visitors to get there on their own.

The Nanxi Tulou Cluster features many notable buildings, including the “Big Three” — Zhenfu Lou, Yanxiang Lou, and Huanji Lou — as well as the uniquely shaped Octagonal Lou (Dongcheng Lou) and the pointed Jinjian Lou. Each tulou has its own distinctive character and is well worth visiting.

Zhenfu Lou is located in Xiannanxi, Hukeng Town, nestled against mountains and beside water, offering extremely beautiful scenery. “A phoenix rises from the crimson hills, elegant and fair; a dragon surges through the jade waters, circling with grace.” This couplet on the gate aptly depicts the harmonious mountain-village landscape formed by Zhenfu Lou and its surroundings. The main gate of Zhenfu Lou faces the flowing waters of Nanxi. The river is broad and gentle, with large rocks lying across it. The riverbanks on both sides are high and solidly built. Not far under the bridge lies a deep pool with clear blue water, surrounded by lush ancient banyan trees that spread like umbrellas. If you look back at Zhenfu Lou from the village road on the opposite side of the gate, you’ll see its roof nestled perfectly between the mountain ridges on either side of the valley. Neither too tall nor too short, neither overly prominent nor hidden, the building serves as an ideal “transition” between the two mountains. It can be said that the serene and beautiful mountain-water-field environment centered around Zhenfu Lou is a masterpiece where heaven, earth, and humanity blend as one.

Huanji Lou is located in Nanzhong Village. It was built in 1693 (the year of Guisui during the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty) by Su Buchen. This large earthen round fortress, constructed with a wooden and earthen structure, is grand in scale and majestic in appearance. The tulou has four floors, is about 20 meters high, with a diameter of 43.20 meters and a circumference of 130 meters. The bottom wall is 1.70 meters thick, tapering to 0.9 meters at the top; the first floor has 32 rooms (used as kitchens and dining areas), along with a larger entrance hall and main hall. The second floor has 34 rooms (used for storage), while the third and fourth floors each have 34 rooms. The inner ring of the tulou includes two halls, ten rooms (for receiving guests), and two bathrooms each for men and women. The corridor inside is 1.56 meters wide, and the outer eaves corridor is 1.82 meters wide. The door is 2.96 meters high and 3.4 meters wide, reinforced with iron sheeting. There is one well inside and one outside the tulou. The external auxiliary buildings include 16 bedrooms, 8 stables, and 6 mills. Currently, 21 households with 116 residents live in Huanji Lou. The descendants of Su Buchen in this village number over 400, with many overseas — particularly in Myanmar.

Yanxiang Lou is a circular tulou located in Xinnan Village, built in 1880 by Su Guchun. In his youth, Su Guchun came from a poor family, but in middle age, he prospered through the tobacco trade in his hometown and cities like Shanghai, which allowed him to build this tulou. The main structure of Yanxiang Lou has a diameter of 40 meters, with base walls 1.5 meters thick and top walls 0.7 meters thick. The walls stand 14.5 meters high, with one main gate, two wells, three halls, four staircases, 34 rooms per floor, totaling 136 rooms across four levels. Four bathrooms are located next to the staircase on the ground floor, and six washing areas are near the halls. The first floor houses individual kitchens and dining rooms, the second floor is used for grain storage, and the third and fourth floors are bedrooms. The main gate is reinforced with steel plates, and at the top inside the gate, there is a water tank for fire suppression. In the past, when bandits attempted to burn the gate, they were unsuccessful.

Transportation

Take a bus from Yongding to Shijia;

Hire a car from Hukeng, approximately 60 RMB

Ticket Price

50 RMB per person

Opening Hours

8:00-17:30

Location

Nanxi Tulou Cluster, Hukeng Town, Yongding County, Longyan City, Fujian Province

Source: Fujian Provincial Tourism Development Commission

Hukeng Town: Located in the southeastern part of Yongding, upstream of the Jin Feng Stream. It borders Guzhu Township, Gaotou Township, and Shuyang Township of Nanjing County to the east, Luxi Township of Pinghe County to the southeast, Daxi Township to the west, and Chen Dong Township across the border to the north. Covering an area of 96.1 square kilometers, it is a renowned tulou tourism area, as well as a hub for overseas Chinese, border regions, and old revolutionary bases. In 1993, it was upgraded from a township to a town, with the town government located in Hukeng Village, 38 kilometers from the county seat. In 2000, it had 16 village committees, 166 villager groups, 5,057 households, and 22,908 residents. During the “Hundred Villages, Thousand Tulou New Style Competition,” 25 tulou in the town were commended. … More details about Hukeng Town++

Zhenfu Lou

Yanxiang Lou

Huanji Lou