2025 Yongding District Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in October)

Hidden World Cultural Heritage in a Remote Countryside Yongding District in Fujian Province is a well-known hometown of overseas Chinese. Situated in mountainous terrain with limited farmland, it was here that the Hakka people—after enduring generations of migration since the Tang and Song dynasties—built tens of thousands of Tulou (earthen buildings), creating a true architectural marvel of the world. In 2008, the Tulou clusters were inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. It is said that during the Cold War, the US once mistook them for missile silos after satellite reconnaissance! In May 2025, our SUV headed south from Changting, Fujian. After about an hour and a half on the Xiarong Expressway, we arrived at the Yongding tulou area—specifically, the tulou cluster in Chuxi Village, Xiayang town. We visited Yuqinglou, Jiqinglou, and Gengqinglou. Though our visit was brief, it was truly eye-opening! The four-story Jiqing Building (Jiqinglou), which faces south and is over 60 meters in diameter, is the representative structure of the Chuxi tulou cluster. It was built in 1419 (during the Ming Dynasty) by seven brothers of the third generation of the Xu clan from Chuxi Village—over 600 years ago. It remains the oldest and most architecturally unique round Tulou still standing in Yongding today. Experts on Tulou explain that local residents made full use of natural materials—earth, wood, and river stones—to construct these buildings. It provides a comfortable and sustainable living environment where it was warm in winter and cool in summer. When a tulou eventually collapses due to natural disasters or the passage of time, its materials return harmlessly to nature. Though these are ancient structures, the environmental consciousness they embody is far ahead of their time!.

Looking for a cool and fun destination this summer vacation? You must take your kids to the Yongding Tulou! Not only is it pleasantly cool here, but it's also packed with surprises, guaranteeing an unforgettable experience for both you and your children. When you share your trip with other parents afterward, they'll be green with envy! Yongding Tulou is a quintessential example of traditional Hakka dwellings, with a history stretching back to the Song and Yuan dynasties. Over centuries of development, these structures reached maturity, with the oldest tulou dating back over 1,200 years. In 2008, as a key component of Fujian Tulou, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In August 2011, it was further honored as a National 5A-level Tourist Attraction and even earned a Guinness World Record as the county with the most tulou in Fujian. Just hearing these accolades tells you how remarkable it is! When visiting Yongding Tulou, don’t miss the Hongkeng Tulou Cluster, the filming location for the animated movie "Big Fish & Begonia." Stepping inside feels like entering the film’s mystical and grand world. Among the cluster, Zhencheng Lou, the "Prince of Tulou," is a standout. Located in Hukeng Village, Hukeng Town, Yongding, Fujian, it’s hailed as the "Prince of Tulou" and the "Pearl of Oriental Architecture." Admission is ¥85 per person. Built in 1628, this 400-year-old marvel covers 5,376 square meters and boasts a uniquely stunning architectural style. Another must-see is Chengqi Lou, the "King of Tulou," a four-story, four-ring structure with 400 rooms, featuring "gardens within gardens" and "rings within rings." Having weathered 300 years, it truly embodies "one building, one world; one household, one universe." A combined ticket for the tulou costs ¥98, while entry to the "King of Tulou" alone is ¥50. The scenic area offers parking and shuttle buses to Chengqi Lou, making transportation a breeze. Also worth visiting is Qiaofu Lou, famously known as the "Doctoral Building" for producing 11 PhD holders. But there’s more to Yongding Tulou than just architecture. You can catch the "Tulou Wedding" performance, even join the immersive experience of a traditional Hakka wedding as "Wu Ya’s Groom." Witness the ancient art of tulou wall-building and marvel at the ingenuity of its creators. Large-scale Hakka sitcoms also offer deep insights into Hakka culture. After all that fun, treat yourself to authentic Hakka cuisine! Stuffed tofu, pickled duck feet, bamboo shoot dumplings, taro buns, braised pork with preserved vegetables—each dish is mouthwatering just to think about! With its high elevation, Yongding stays refreshingly cool all summer. A weekend here feels like staying in a natural air-conditioned retreat, surrounded by lush greenery. At night, enjoy the enchanting Hongkeng scenery—pure bliss! For accommodations, we recommend Dulv Homestay and Huanxing Lou. Staying overnight in a tulou, falling asleep to its serene silence and waking to birdsong, is an experience like no other!

Fujian Tulou is numerous, among which the more famous ones are Yongding Tulou in Longyan (Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou) and Nanjing Tulou (Yunshuiyao Tulou and Tianluokeng Tulou). Because there is a certain distance between each characteristic Tulou and the surrounding transportation is not convenient, it is recommended to drive there. If you arrive by bullet train/high-speed rail/bus, you need to transfer to a bus or taxi to the Tulou area. 1. King of Round Buildings—Yongding Gaobei Tulou Chengqi Building 【Attraction Distribution】Chengqi Building, Qiaofu Building, Shize Building, Wuyun Building 【Recommended Play Time】3 hours 【Ticket Price】48 yuan 【Note】If you want to go upstairs to take pictures and check in, you need to spend 10-20 yuan, led by the villagers where you live. Fujian Tulou is an important shooting location for "Big Fish Begonia", among which the Chengqi Building known as Fujian Tulou is the home of the female protagonist Chun. This Tulou has a peculiar shape, a huge scale, and each floor is a circular corridor, which is very convenient for each other. The whole building is built with wood, all relying on the connection of the falcon's head, you can't see a screw, the whole building is divided into 72 independent units, without interference, it can be said to be a beautiful work of ancient architecture Fuyu Building. 2. Yongding Hongkeng Hakka Tulou 【Attraction Distribution】Rusheng Building, Kuiju Building, Fuyu Building 【Recommended Play Time】1.5-2 hours There are more than 100 various Tulous in Hongkeng Village today, each with its own characteristics. Centered on the "Prince of Tulou" Zhencheng Building, the Hongkeng Tulou group has gathered famous attractions such as Rusheng Building, the residence of the witch in "Big Fish Begonia", Kuiju Building, the small Potala Palace, and Fuyu Building, the Wufeng-style Tulou, etc. 3. Nanjing Yunshuiyao Tulou Fujian Tulou (Nanjing) Scenic Area 【Attraction Distribution】Hegui Building, Huaiyuan Building, Yunshuiyao 【Recommended Play Time】1.5-2 hours Nanjing Yunshuiyao Tulou representative buildings include Hegui Building, Huaiyuan Building, Yunshuiyao. "Yunshuiyao", "Big Fish Begonia", "Where Dad Goes 3" shooting location, beautiful scenery, relatively famous, so it is also a scenic spot with more tourists. Inside are cobblestone roads, and you can climb the building to overlook the beautiful scenery for a fee. Hegui Building is a landmark building of Nanjing Tulou, built in 1732. Huaiyuan Building is about 800 meters away from Hegui Building, and the architectural craftsmanship is exquisite. The thousand-year-old banyan tree group in Yunshuiyao is its most distinctive business card. 4. Four dishes and one soup—Nanjing Tianluokeng Tulou Tianluokeng Tulou Group 【Attraction Distribution】Tianluokeng, Yuchang Building, Taxia Village 【Recommended Play Time】1.5-2 hours Nanjing Tulou Tianluokeng is a classic image of Fujian Tulou, with four round buildings surrounding a square building, which is jokingly called "four dishes and one soup". The Tianluokeng Tulou Group was built according to the order of "gold, wood, water, fire, and earth" in the five elements, and because of its unique architectural form combination, it was called a "world architectural wonder" by Luo Zhenwen, the leader of the Chinese ancient architectural protection expert group. 5. Recommended food in Yongding Tulou 1) Yongding Tofu: Yongding Tofu is one of the local specialty foods, with a delicious taste and various methods. Among them, Yongding City has a unique tofu feast. 2) Hakka cuisine: Hakka cuisine has a unique taste, including taro wraps, beef balls, traditional handmade noodles.