Fujian Tulou · Hua'an Scenic Area

　　Although there are roughly over 3,000 tulou in Fujian, only 68 remain in Hua'an County. Though their number is not large, Hua'an tulou occupy a unique and irreplaceable position among Fujian tulou due to their distinctive regional characteristics and exceptional historical, artistic, and scientific value.

　　The "Er Yi Lou" (Suitable for Two Purposes Building) in Dadi Village, Xiandu Township, Hua'an, is a typical representative of Hua'an tulou, a masterpiece of Fujian tulou, and a treasure of traditional Chinese residential architecture.

　　1. Most Livable Environment

　　The "Er Yi Lou" backs onto Wugong Mountain, whose rolling ridges are covered in lush trees. In front of the building, the water meanders, offering a broad view. Nearby, Turtle Mountain serves as a natural screen, while distant Nine Peaks act as a backdrop. To the left, Lion Mountain juts out boldly; to the right, Tiger Walk Mountain recedes modestly, hence the addition of the Xuan Tian Pavilion to balance the feng shui and create equilibrium. Here, beautiful mountains embrace the site, and abundant water converges, forming a picturesque landscape that gathers energy and wind. The mountainous backdrop blocks cold waves, the water welcomes cool breezes, and vegetation preserves soil and moisture. The tulou and its environment integrate organically, creating an ideal ecological layout. It boasts both stunning scenery and convenience for daily life and production—truly a place suitable for mountains, water, living, and people.

　　2. Most Unique Layout

　　The floor plans of Fujian round tulou are divided into inner corridor-style and unit-style. Unit-style tulou are concentrated in Pinghe, Zhao'an, Yunxiao, Zhangpu, and Hua'an counties under Zhangzhou City. Most unit-style tulou consist of individual bays as independent units. However, the "Er Yi Lou" and "Nanyang Lou" in Dadi Village, Hua'an, use multiple bays as units. The "Er Yi Lou" has ten four-bay units, one five-bay unit, and one three-bay unit around its perimeter. Each unit has its own entrance, small courtyard, and private staircase, creating an intimate living space. The circular structure encloses a central courtyard, serving as a shared public space for multiple households. By modern standards, it undoubtedly offers the best level of spatial privacy and is highly suitable for living.

　　3. Most Thorough Defense

　　In addition to general tulou defense measures, the "Er Yi Lou" features a rare "hidden corridor" on the fourth-floor exterior, uncommon among Fujian round tulou. To date, apart from the "Nanyang Lou," only the "Lianfang Lou" in Xiazhai, Pinghe County, and the "Wushi Lou" in Guzhu Township, Yongding County, have similar outer corridors. The hidden corridor not only connects the independent units but also facilitates gunfire rescue during defense, making it arguably the most ideal defensive design. Additionally, using drainage channels as backup escape routes is also rare among Fujian tulou.

　　4. Thickest Outer Walls

　　The enclosed outer earthen walls of Fujian tulou typically have stone foundations, with the first-floor walls measuring 1.1–1.5 meters thick. The outer walls of the "Er Yi Lou" are built with granite blocks, reaching a staggering 2.5 meters in thickness—the thickest among Fujian tulou.

　　5. Most Scientific Design

　　The "Er Yi Lou" not only has a uniquely distinctive layout but also features rarely seen scientific design elements. The twelve unit doors around the perimeter are equipped with wooden half-doors outside, providing both protection and ventilation, each adorned with unique carved floral decorations.

　　The winding "sound transmission holes" in the outer walls, designed for calling out and defense, are unique among Fujian tulou.

　　Each unit’s second and third floors have cantilevered corridors, perfect for drying clothes and relaxing.

　　Multiple horizontal beams are installed at the corners of the fourth-floor hidden corridor walls as fixed ladders, facilitating roof repairs.

　　Additionally, holes are cut into the wooden flooring of the inner corridor, allowing long construction materials to be easily lifted to the fourth floor and roof when the holes are opened. These thoughtful and meticulously designed human-centric features are truly astounding.

　　6. Richest Murals

　　The "Er Yi Lou" preserves 600 square meters of murals from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republican era—an unparalleled find in Chinese residential architecture. Not only are the murals extensive in area and quantity, but they also feature 226 murals and 228 painted artworks in diverse styles. The scenes are filled with rustic charm and daily life, exuding a rich earthy aroma, vividly depicting tulou life and reflecting the aspirations and pursuits of its inhabitants. Particularly surprising is the discovery of decorative murals depicting foreigners, foreign scripts, and Western clocks in such a remote mountainous area. This distinct exotic touch is remarkable and stands as strong evidence of Fujian's maritime cultural heritage in residential architecture.

　　7. Best Preserved

　　Among Fujian's famous tulou, Yongding County’s "Zhencheng Lou" had one section of its "Bagua"-style outer ring burned down. The inner ring of "Chengqi Lou" was also severely damaged and only recently restored. In Nanjing County, the "Shunyu Lou"’s outer ring fourth-floor partitions and eaves remain unfinished, and its inner ring is only half-built.

　　Among all large round tulou in Fujian with diameters over 70 meters, the "Er Yi Lou" is the best preserved. From its timber and earthen structural components to its decorative murals, nothing has been replaced, maintaining its original state in its entirety—an exceptionally rare feat.

　　8. Earliest National Protection Listing

　　After the "Er Yi Lou" was first published in the ninth issue of *Architectural Journal* in 1988, it caught the attention of academia. Though it was "discovered" and introduced much later than Yongding tulou, its unique charm won the favor of many experts and scholars. In 1992, the "Er Yi Lou" became the first Fujian tulou to be listed as a national-level cultural heritage site.

　　Represented by the "Er Yi Lou," Hua'an tulou most comprehensively embody China’s traditional view of nature and serve as the most valuable examples for exploring people-oriented, livable environments.