4-Day Xiamen and Tulou Tour

This classic Xiamen tour combines the essential attractions in Xiamen City with romantic Gulangyu Island and the unique tulou. Wander on Gulangyu to see exotic architecture with a Mediterranean flavor, such as various old consulates and churches. Go to see the tulou (Hakka Earthern Buildings) before it is too late, as this unique style of building is not being built any more, due to changes in the locals’ demand for housing. This tour is good for family.

Highlights
Drift to the exquisite Gulangyu Island and lose yourself on it.
Visit Nanputuo Temple, Hulishan Fortress and Gulangyu Huandao Road in Xiamen.
Discover the beauty of the traditional Chinese communal residences — the Hakka tulou.
One night in an original tulou to have a glimpse of a vanishing dimension of life and appreciate the night scene of tulou.

DAY 1  Xiamen Arrival
Your private guide and driver will collect you from the airport and transfer you to your hotel in a commercially licensed and insured, comfortable vehicle. The rest of the day after the check-in is free for you to explore the city. Feel free to ask your guide for recommendations.

Acommadation

Stay overnight in Xiamen: Days Hotel & Suites Mingfa Xiamen (4-star) / Pan Pacific Xiamen (5-star)

DAY 2   Explore Xiamen and Gulangyu Island
In the morning, you will take a 10-minute ferry crossing to the romantic Gulangyu Island. Wandering along the winding paths, you will feel the pleasant sunshine and warm sea breezes and see exotic architecture with a Mediterranean flavor, such as various old consulates and churches. Boutiques are wonderful places to buy souvenirs and post cards. You will visit two attractions on the island: Sunlight Rock Park and Shuzhuang Garden and take electromobiles.

Have a sea food lunch near the island.

In the afternoon, you will head to South Putuo Temple and take a scenic on the Island Ring Road along the East Coast of Xiamen.

South Putuo Temple is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Southeast Asia. You will see important Chinese buildings, monks, and dedicated worshipers, and you will feel the peace. The temple is located at the foot of Wulao Peak. Climbing up to Wulao Peak, you will enjoy a bird’s-eye view over Xiamen University and Xiamen Port.

You will then take a scenic drive along the beautiful Island Ring Road.

Good to Know:

1. If you want to spend the night on Gulangyu, you can notice your travel advisor.
2. During the high season, you may have to wait 10 to 20 minutes to board a ferry.
Acommadation

Stay overnight in Xiamen: Days Hotel & Suites Mingfa Xiamen / Pan Pacific Xiamen (5-star)

DAY 3    Tianluokeng Tulou Clusters and Ancient Taxia Village Cultural Tour
It takes about three hours to travel from Xiamen to Tianluokeng Village. Located in Shangban Village, Shuyang Town, Tianluokeng Tulou, composed primarily of four round and one rectangular earthen buildings, is one of the most magnificent and well-preserved Hakka castles. The village is also listed as one of the ‘Famous Historic Cultural Villages in China’ for its special culture and architecture.

Then, you will head west towards Taxia Village which is a distinctive Hakka village located in the valley of Nanjing County. It was built in 1426 during the Ming Dynasty by the Zhang family, and many famous overseas Chinese people can trace their history to this village. It is listed as one of the 15 most beautiful villages in China.

It consists of more than 40 earthen buildings in different shapes as well as some diaojiaolou (/dyaoww-jyaoww-loh/ ‘hanging corner building(s)’, another type of Hakka buildings built on wooden pillars) that have been built along the banks of a clear brook which flows through the village.

You will stay overnight in an orignal tulou to experience the hospitality of local Hakka people and see night scene of tulou. Hakka people were from the central plain area of China, where is the cradle of Chinese civilization. They value family unity, so Hakka people build their big tulou houses for the whole family living together. They also value Ba Gua which is the most holy culture symbol in ancient China, so Hakka people build tulou based on the complex Ba Gua which also affects all Chinese people today on policy, culture, architecture, phylosophy and so on.

Good to Know: From April to November, you may pick tea in a local tea plantation and may take them home with you. You may also taste the red tea that has already been prepared by the local farmers.

Accommadation

Stay over night in Weiqunlou Inn (Original tulou with private toilet)

DAY 4  Explore the Largest Tulou and Xiamen Departure
It takes about half an hour from the hotel you live to Chengqilou.

Located in Gaobei Village, Chengqilou is the largest earthen building. It is almost 300 years old and is comprised of four concentric circular buildings. This Tulou has 400 rooms altogether and used to house 80 families. The locals call Chengqilou the “Tulou King”.

After lunch, you will be transferred to the airport in Xiamen. Your guide will confirm your return trip and escort you to the airport in time. You will be accompanied to find the correct check-in desk. Your private guide will make sure everything goes smoothly before saying goodbye.