East China

Zhangzhou Travel Guide

The Hakka World of Tulou and Yunsuyao

Zhangzhou｜The Hakka World of Tulou and Yunshuiyao: The focus in Zhangzhou is inland: the tulou in Nanjing and Hua'an are giant circular residences built by the Hakka and Minnan people for defense, with dozens of households living on the first floor. The section of cobblestone ancient path and waterwheel in Yunshuiyao is the most photogenic part of the tulou area. This site compiles the best seasons, suggested stays, intercity transportation, and local tips.

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Destination Details

Key facts

Best seasonOctober to April; cool in the mountains in the mornings and evenings

Suggested stay1-2 days

Affiliated AreaEast China · Fujian

Key highlightsNanjing Tulou (Tianluokeng) · Yunshuiyao Ancient Town · Hegui Building and Huaiyuan Building · Zhangzhou Ancient City

Local cuisineBraised noodles, oyster omelette, four-fruit soup, mochi, Hakka cuisine from the Tulou area.

The focus of Zhangzhou is inland: the tulou in Nanjing and Hua'an are large circular residences built by the Hakka and Minnan people for defense, with dozens of families living on the first floor. The section of the Yunshuiyao cobblestone path and waterwheel is the most photogenic part of the tulou area.

Main Highlights

Nanjing Tulou (Tianluokeng)

A combination of five tulou called "Four Dishes and One Soup"; the viewing platform offers the most stunning panoramic view.

Yunshuiyao Ancient Town

The millennia-old trail along Changjiao Creek and the large waterwheel are suitable for a leisurely walk.

Hegui Lou and Huaiyuan Lou

One is built on a swamp, and the other is a double-ring tulou; the contrast in structure is very intuitive.

Zhangzhou Ancient City

The arcades and old streets in the city center, with shops preserved on Taiwan Road and Hong Kong Road.

Suggested Stay and Itinerary

Suggested stay: 1-2 days.
It is recommended to stay one night at a tulou; early morning is free of tour groups; the ancient city can be scheduled on the way to or from the tulou.
Connecting with other cities of the same theme is more efficient; refer to the "extendable routes" below.

Best Season

October to April; cool mornings and evenings in the mountains.

How to Get There and Intercity Transportation

From Xiamen/Quanzhou to Nanjing Tulou is about 2-2.5 hours by car; it is recommended to hire a car or take the direct park shuttle.

Local Cuisine

Lu noodles, oyster omelet, four-fruit soup, ma-ci (glutinous rice cake), and Hakka dishes from the tulou area.

Local Tips

Many tulou still have residents; ask for permission before entering; mountain roads are winding, so take motion sickness medication in advance if needed.