Fujian province in the South of China is a beautiful place to visit. With everything from rolling mountains to sunny coastlines, there is lots to see and do!
The Tulou, in Yongding (永定) and Nanjing (南靖)counties, are one of my favorite places to visit in the province - they are so unusual and I don't think there is anywhere else like them - and they are a great place to visit for the tea lover!
It was actually at the Tulou where I first got into drinking tea, so it has a special place for me and my tea journey!
What are the Tulou?
The Tulou are earthen buildings built between the 12th and 20th century. Recognized on the UNESCO World Heritage list, there are 46 Tulou scattered across the Fujianese countryside - nestled on hill sides between rice paddies and tea plantations.
Usually round or square in shape, these buildings are inward facing and are several storey's high. The largest of them could house 800 people, with individual houses for families as well as communal areas and even schools. The houses functioned like villages, and they were built for defensive purposes to protect from outsiders.
Often built in clusters, visiting the Tulou involves meandering around the Fujianese countryside, peeking into the past and exploring the spacious Tulou buildings.
But importantly, the TEA:
You can buy a number of different teas from the Tulou, but the key ones to look out for are hongmeiren, a red tea, and yanggan tea (liver tea) which is a flower tea.
HongMeiRen (红美人)
This is one of the first teas I got hooked on, and it only comes from the Tulou region. It is a red tea, from the small leaf tea variety, and is produced from the young buds.
TuLou Liver Tea (养肝茶)
This tea is a mixture of flowers including roses, chrysanthemum, luo han guo flowers and more. With a range of Chinese medicinal properties, the tea is said to be good for detoxifying and cleansing - especially if you've had a few too many drinks and your liver needs a break!
I am a big fan of this tea, it is quite different to teas you would usually drink in China. It has a distinct sweetness to it and feels very cleansing. I also end up drinking a lot of it when I brew up, so its a great way to cleanse your liver and drink lots of water!
You can check out my full review of the liver tea here.
Planning your visit:
Most people visit the Tulou as a one-day or two-day trip from Xiamen.
There is plenty to see, but some of the key Tulou you might want to check out are:
Nanjing Tulou (南靖土楼)
Tianluokeng Tulou (田螺坑土楼群) is a collection of five Tulou - one square and four round ones. It is really picturesque to explore and look down at, and its shape has led to the name 'four dishes and one soup'.
Yuchang Tulou (裕昌楼) is one of the oldest Tulou, dating back to 1308. It is five storey's high and is well-known for its slanted pillars, which amazingly continue to hold-up the structure!
Xiaochun Tulou (和贵楼) is a good one to visit if you are a Disney fan! In the Mulan live-action re-make, this is where Mulan is depicted to have lived. Much newer than the others, it was build between 1967 and 1970.
Yongding Tulou (永定土楼)
Chuxi Tulou Cluster (初溪土楼群) is usually considered the most picturesque Tulou scenic area. With five round buildings and many square buildings across the surrounding hills, it is a great place to explore
Chengqi Tulou (承启楼) is known as the King of the Earthen Buildings. It is over 300 years old, and has 400 rooms, housing over 600 people in its heyday! This is part of the Gaobei cluster (高北土楼群) where there are a number of Tulou to explore.
TOP TIP : I would definitely suggest spending two days exploring the Tulou. This way you can have a leisurely time enjoying the countryside and fresh air, and also make the most of the only place in the world where you can spend the night inside a Tulou!
How to get there?
To get to the Tulou you either want to take the train or a bus. Both Yongding and Nanjing have train stations you can travel to, from which you can take the tourist bus to the Tulou.
There are also direct buses to the Tulou clusters you can take from Xiamen. They take between 2 and 4 hours depending which clusters you want to visit.
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