Fujian province is China's south eastern most provinces in the mainland facing Taiwan across the strait. The journey starts from Xiamen, beautiful seaport city with Gulangyu Island; then drive into the villages in the mountains south and west of Fujian for the magical Chinese architecture Tu Lou, the earthen buildings of Hakkas.

The unadorned tu lou are either round or square, and huge (10-17 meters' high); and were designed as a fortress and apartment building in one. The structures typically had only one entranceway and no windows at ground level. Each floor served a different function - the first hosts a well and livestock, the second is for food storage and the third and higher floors contain living spaces.

Hakka people still live in the houses, you can see the everyday scene of the residents: elderly and children alike, full of life: chicken, ducks and dogs, and people cooking, washing clothes and working in the houses. The houses are nestled in beautiful villages and landscape (rivers, rich trees and blossom and very pleasant weather.

Xiamen City is one of the top ten most advanced cities in China and a famous seaport city. Vehicle-free Gulangyu, a few minutes away by ferry, is all pleasant strolls and quiet back streets full of best-preserved collection of colonial mansions - brilliant bougainvillea.

Highlights

* Unique earthen houses, huge and beautiful, nested in lush forest and mountains.
* One of the most famous and charming islands in China opposite Taiwan

Best time to visit

Earthen round Buildings and Xiamen City are located in the subtropical area. So it is never too cold to visit this area, but it will be muddy roads to Hakka villages if you visit in its rainy seasons from January to February; and you may meet landslides in summer.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive into Xiamen / Yongding / Chuxi
Beijing to Xiamen (CA1809 07:35-10:05)
Shanghai Hongqiao - Xiamen (FM9253 08:05-9:35)
If you go from other locale, we will check the available flights from your locale to Xiamen.

Go by coach (190 km east of Xiamen, 4 hours ) to southern Fujian across the mountains to explore the unique earth houses and Hakka people's life and customs. The Hakka people still live in these houses. We will have lunch in the middle of our journey. We first arrive in Yongding in the afternoon to explore its wonders of oriental architecture. We first visit Zhencheng Building (nicknamed "the prince" of round tulou), Rusheng (smallest one); Fuyu (rich landlord courtyard style); Quiju (Putala palace style) and Chengqi (with most ring layers) . Jiqing buildings, the most completed and oldest tu lou in Yongding county . In the afternoon we go to Chuxi, another famous tulou group, check out a unique group in the shaped of "nuclear missile launch site" and visit the oldest one of them with a Hakka Culture Museum inside. We will stay in this very mysterious and fascinating earthen house.

Day 2 Longyan / Nan Jing / Xiamen
We will continue to drive along the picturesque villages to see more different types of Hakka earthen buildings including Tianluo Keng earthen building group, regarded as the most beautiful and unique earthen building by local people. Viewed from the above, they look like a blooming Chinese plum flower. In the afternoon, visit another two buildings, Hegui and Huaiyuan. Return to Xiamen by coach.

Day 3 Xiamen Gulangyu Island / Fly out
Ferry to Gulangyu Island, which was Xiamen's foreign concession until World War II and retains the architecture and ambience of that former time. With the  piano music floating out of houses in the lanes, we will explore on foot various points of interest which are scattered around the island and enjoy the peace and quiet of a bygone era. In the late afternoon, transfer to the airport and fly out
Xiamen to Beijing (arrival around 7pm)
Xiamen to Shanghai Hongqiao (arrival around 8-9pm)