Tulou Cluster of Tianluokeng

　　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. 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 is in the center, surrounded by the other four. Viewed from above, it resembles a table of dishes, hence it is playfully called "Four Dishes and One Soup."

　　The Tulou Cluster of Tianluokeng is staggered along the mountain terrain, built on a mountainside and surrounded by green terraced fields. Viewed from high above, 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 earliest 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 latest, 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 this area, with three tulou built during that stage, after which no such large-scale construction took place again.

　　The Huang family genealogy of Tianluokeng confirms that Huang Baisanlang moved here from Yongding during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty 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 by the people of Tianluokeng every Qingming Festival.

　　This young duck farmer made full use of the abundance of snails in the muddy mountain streams and the advantages of the secluded, densely forested area to 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," with the elegant name "Buyun Lou." He built the central hall along the undulating terrain into a stepped shape, allowing visitors to experience the joy of "advancing step by step" upon entering the gate.

　　After the completion of "Buyun Lou," the descendants of Huang Baisanlang subsequently built four circular tulou — "Hechang," "Zhenchang," "Ruichang," and "Ruiyun" — around it. Modern architectural experts who visited and studied the site were all impressed by the ancient builders' wisdom. The builders of these four circular tulou successfully achieved a level second floor by adjusting the height of the columns according to the terrain, greatly facilitating daily living.