Getting 'round Fujian

Tulou (土楼) are massive round or square earthen buildings constructed by Hakka people throughout south China, particularly in inland Fujian. Built for residential and defensive purposes, they were home to one or more clans comprising several families, with individual apartments facing inwards to a common courtyard. Some are still inhabited nowadays while others are in poor condition, but they're now one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area and well worth visiting. Getting There - The tulou are scattered throughout the countryside, so it's difficult to visit them without a car. We took the train from Xiamen to Nanjing (南靖 — not to be confused with the former capital Nanjing 南京) where we found many drivers. We negotiated a route and price with one driver, who took us first to a guesthouse (not included in the price) and then on an excellent one day tour of several Hakka villages. This was probably the most flexible way to see the area without our own car and the price was reasonable. Note that it's also necessary to buy a ticket to the tulou area; the funds raised by these passes supposedly go towards preservation of the ancient buildings. Attractions - As well as the tulou, there are ancient temples and high terraced fields, making this a great place for photography. Hotels - There are many guesthouses and small hotels in the area, including some inside tulou themselves. We stayed in the hotel recommended by our driver, which was clean and comfortable and run by a very friendly local couple. Food & Restaurants - Many guesthouses offer food and there are many other restaurants catering for the crowds of tourists who visit this area. Shopping - Inside the tulou many families have opened small shops selling tea and other local produce, handicrafts and knick-knacks. Many of the tea shops offer a chance to taste several different kinds of Fujianese tea (our driver took us to a couple of places for tasting.) #solstice #summervacation #urbanexplorer