Fujian Tulou: Tianluokeng cluster
田螺坑土楼群 · Nanjing County, Zhangzhou, Fujian, China
The Hakka 'four dishes and a soup': a clan epic in giant rammed-earth buildings.
Know before you go
- People still live in the tulou, so tread softly and speak quietly
- don't enter bedrooms or photograph interiors without the owners' permission.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
The Tianluokeng cluster is made up of one square, three round and one oval tulou, which from above look like 'four dishes and a soup'; it became a World Heritage Site in 2008. Tulou are defensive communal homes where Hakka clans lived together, built of rammed earth that stays warm in winter and cool in summer; each building is a clan society in itself — a family tree in three dimensions.
Local customs
- The Hakka value their clans and farming and study
- their Spring Festival and Lantern Festival processions and lantern fairs are lively, and residents still share wells and worship at a common ancestral hall. Authentic Hakka dishes such as braised pork with preserved greens and salt-baked chicken are savoury and hearty.
Religion & beliefs
- Hakka areas mostly revere Mazu, Guan Yu and Bogong (the earth god)
- the ancestral hall is the centre of clan worship, so be respectful and don't walk in uninvited.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
China: don't get physical in a dispute
- Walk away from an argument and call the police if needed
- Pushing, shoving or fighting
Whoever starts it, taking part in a fight can bring a fine or detention, and the injured party usually demands compensation.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: China travel advice
China: carry your original passport
- Foreign visitors should carry their original passport
- Carrying only a copy or photo of your passport
Police make random ID checks and do not accept printouts; if you cannot show your passport, you may be fined or detained.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: China travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- People still live in the tulou, so tread softly and speak quietly
- don't enter bedrooms or photograph interiors without the owners' permission.
Locals appreciate DO
- Tulou residents love making gongfu tea and chatting
- older people often gather in the courtyards to tell stories.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- The best viewpoint is the hilltop platform overlooking the whole 'four dishes and a soup'
- go in the late afternoon for soft light. Combine with the Yunshuiyao ancient road and Huaiyuan Lou
- staying a night in a tulou guesthouse lets you feel how the rammed earth keeps it warm in winter and cool in summer
- check tickets on the official website.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
Must-try
- Hakka salt-baked chicken
- Braised pork with preserved mustard greens
- Tulou dried bamboo shoots / bitter greens
Hakka salt-baked chicken, meicai kourou (pork belly with preserved mustard greens), tulou dried bamboo shoots / bitter greens (wild vegetables), beef balls / Hetian chicken, Hakka sweet rice wine / lei cha (pounded tea)
| Where to eat | Farmhouse restaurants in Tianluokeng / Xiaban village, restaurants in Nanjing county town, Hakka restaurants in Taxia village |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | Hakka people are hospitable and will toast you — drink within your limits; don't wander into residents' private homes inside the tulou |
| Typical price per person | CNY 50–90 |
| Tips | At scenic-area farmhouse restaurants, check whether dishes are priced per portion or per jin before ordering; mountain roads are winding, so those prone to car sickness should avoid greasy food. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
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HaJunkiyada · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photos
Photos
Windmemories · CC BY-SA 4.0
Aine Hickey · CC BY 3.0
Gisling · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sources & verification notes
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