Chuxi Tulou Cluster

　　The Chuxi Tulou Cluster is located in Chuxi Village, Xiayang Town, Yongding County, Fujian Province, and comprises five circular tulou and dozens of square tulou. Nestled against mountains and near water, they are laid out in a staggered yet harmonious arrangement, showcasing exceptional aesthetic and artistic value. Among them, the Jiqing Lou was built in the 17th year of the Yongle era during the Ming Dynasty (1419), making it over 580 years old. It is one of the oldest circular earthen tulou among the Hakka structures, featuring a highly unique design with 72 staircases inside—one for each household—demonstrating remarkable ingenuity.

　　The Chuxi Tulou Cluster is located in Chuxi Village, Xiayang Town, Yongding County, and consists of five circular tulou and dozens of square tulou, spread out in an elegant, pattern-like formation. It holds significant historical, scientific, and artistic value. In February 1999, it was designated as a county-level cultural heritage site and became one of the nominated locations for the Yongding Hakka Tulou cluster to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

　　Among the most distinctive Hakka residential buildings in the village are the Jishan Lou of the Zhu family and the Jishan Tang, a reverse-walled structure. The Jishan Lou was constructed in the 28th year of the Guangxu era during the Qing Dynasty (1902) by the five brothers of the Zhu lineage, descendants of the 17th generation of the Zhu family, including Qiyuan Gong, a descendant of Indonesian Chinese. It was completed in the 3rd year of the Republic of China (1914). The Jishan Lou was built against the mountain and near the water. (Data sourced from Baidu Maps; final results are subject to Baidu Maps data.)

　　It faces south with a north orientation, covering an area of 2,680 square meters and containing 70 rooms. The Jishan Lou adopts a symmetrical horizontal square layout along the central axis. It is a two-story rammed earth building, commonly known as the "Seven-Beam House," and its architectural scale, craftsmanship, and cultural ambiance are rare and renowned in the eastern Guangdong region. Another uniquely distinctive residence is the Shanshan Lou, which is about 110 years old, with a construction area of 500 square meters and 22 rooms. It is a reverse-surrounding style building with the hall facing outward. Its structural design is unique among traditional Hakka walled houses and is extremely rare in the eastern Guangdong Hakka region.

　　[Jiqing Lou] Built in the 17th year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1419) by the third-generation ancestor of the Xu family in Chuxi Village, this tulou is over 580 years old and is one of the oldest and structurally unique circular tulou still existing in Yongding. Typically, smaller circular tulou have two shared staircases, while larger ones have four, with ground floors interconnected and accessible via surrounding corridors for convenient movement. However, this tulou features individual staircases for each household on every floor from the first to the fourth, with wooden partitions separating the levels. Seventy-two staircases divide the entire structure into 72 independent units. Rooms, staircases, and partition walls are all made of fir wood, connected solely through mortise-and-tenon joints without a single iron nail. Yet, it has withstood nearly six centuries of weathering, standing tall alongside the two-meter-thick earthen walls. The Chuxi Tulou Cluster was formed in the early 13th century and is similarly built against the mountain. The tulou and terraced fields together create a majestic and spectacular landscape. Originally named "Cuxi" (meaning "rough stream"), which carried an inauspicious connotation, it was later renamed to the current name—Chuxi.

　　Jiqing Lou can be considered the representative of the Chuxi Tulou Cluster. Built by the Xu family, who were in the paper business, it is much larger in scale compared to its surroundings. The tulou is divided into 72 units by partitions, differing from other tulou designs. It is now uninhabited and serves as a tulou museum. Unlike other tulou, there is no well inside, so water must be drawn from the river nearby. Additionally, there is only one main gate, unlike other tulou that typically have three or four gates. From the viewing platform on the opposite hill, the entire Chuxi Tulou Cluster, built against the mountain, can be seen in its entirety—tulou of varying sizes, shapes, and layouts, creating a breathtaking scene. Over the following centuries, tulou were continuously built with interconnected floors. Jiqing Lou’s design of communal living with individual independence struck a perfect balance: it alleviated the fear of isolation in turbulent times while avoiding the excessive noise and lack of privacy common in other tulou.

　　The rooms, staircases, and partition doors of Jiqing Lou are all constructed from fir wood, connected solely through mortise-and-tenon joints without any iron nails. After enduring nearly 600 years of harsh weather, it still stands firmly alongside the two-meter-thick earthen walls, appearing ancient yet not dilapidated. The youngest tulou in Chuxi Village is Shanshan Lou, built in 1979. The first-floor corridor and courtyard are paved entirely with uniformly sized square granite stones, providing excellent ventilation and lighting. Stepping into Shanshan Lou feels like entering a brightly lit square. Adjacent to Jiqing Lou, Shanshan Lou enhances the awe-inspiring sense of history radiated by Jiqing Lou, making it appear even more majestic, solemn, and serene.

　　[Shanshan Lou] Donated and built by overseas Chinese in 1979, the first-floor corridor and courtyard are fully paved with uniformly sized square granite stones, offering outstanding ventilation and lighting. This grand square-shaped and circular tulou, set against the backdrop of layered terraced fields on the hillside, lush green crops, surrounding mountains, clear streams, and cobblestone paths worn through time—all reminiscent of tulou—create a harmonious scene that resonates with the enduring legacy of the Central Plains and the hearty Hakka culture. Facing north, it covers approximately 630 square meters, is built with a timber-earth structure, and has three stories. The first-floor corridor and courtyard are paved with square granite stones, and the exterior walls are coated with lime, giving it a distinctive appearance.

　　Shengqing Lou. A square-shaped earthen tulou residence, built in 1799, facing north, covering 1,482 square meters, with a timber-earth structure. It consists of two square tulou—one inner and one outer—combined.

　　Gengqing Lou. A circular earthen tulou residence, built in 1840, facing north, covering approximately 660 square meters, with a timber-earth structure and three stories.

　　Gongqing Lou. A hexagonal earthen tulou residence, built in 1949, facing north, with a timber-earth structure. It has four stories, sloping from front to back, with four corners at the front and two at the back. The entire building has 152 rooms and halls, with only one main entrance.

　　Ticket Information & Opening Hours

　　The ticket for the Chuxi Tulou Cluster is 50 RMB per person, which includes access to Jiqing Lou, Shengqing Lou, Shanshan Lou, Gengqing Lou, Gongqing Lou, and the museum.

　　Transportation Overview

　　From the Xiamen Hubin South Road Long-Distance Bus Station, there are direct buses to Xiayang starting from around 6:00 AM until 12:30 PM. The route passes through Xiamen–Zhangzhou–Nanjing–Xiayang, with the entire journey taking about 6 hours.