Fujian Tulou

Fujian Tulou

Fujian Tulou is a type of Chinese rural dwellings of the Hakka and Minnan people in Fujian. Because Hakka people like to live together in remote mountainous and forested regions, they built fortified houses to defend themselves against fierce animals and thieves. Built on a stone base, the Tulou's thick walls were packed with dirt and internally fortified with wood. The first Tulou appeared during the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), and the building style developed over the following dynasties until reaching its current form as found during the period of the Republic of China (1912 - 1949). Its design incorporates the traditions of Feng shui, showing a perfect combination of unique traditional architecture with picturesque scenery.

Travel tips:
- Hours: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

- Admission:
Nanjing Tulou: 100 yuan/person;
Yongding Tulou: 90 yuan/person;
Hua'an Tulou Cluster: 90 yuan/person;

- How to get there: take the railway from Guangzhou City to Zhangzhou City, Yongding County and then take a bus to Tulou (less than 25 yuan/person); 

Kaiping Diaolou

Kaiping Diaolou (Watchtower Houses in Kaiping)

Kaiping Diaolou are fortified multi-storey towers mainly located in Kaiping City of Guangdong Province. They feature a unique architectural style, which combines an elegant Western style with the earthy countryside in southern China. The number of Diaolou is more than 3,000. Now there are 1,800 units scattered over 15 counties. They were first built in late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and were booming in early 1920s with the development of overseas Chinese. Diaolou served as the filming site of the famous movie "Let the Bullets Fly." Due to abundant numbers and varied architecture styles, it is known as the Museum of Watchtower Houses

Travel tips:
- Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

- Admission: 180 yuan/person

- How to get there:
Bus: take a bus from Guangdong Provincial Bus Station to Kaiping;
Take a bus from Zhongshan Balu Bus Station to Kaiping;
Self-driving: driving through Kaiyang Highway and State way 325, the travel time is over one hour;

Wang Family's Grand Courtyard

Wang Family's Grand Courtyard

Located in Jingshen Town, 12 km east of Lingshi County, Shanxi Province, Wang Family's Grand Courtyard, or "Wang Jia Da Yuan", is the largest folk residence among all the well-known grand courtyards. It was built by Wang Family, one of the four grand families of Lingshi County from Kangxi Emperor's Reign (1661 - 1722) to Jiaqing Emperor's Reign (1796 - 1820) of the Qing Dynasty (1636 - 1911), featuring the architecture style of the Qing Dynasty. It consists of five alleys, five fortresses and five ancestral halls. It has 231 small courtyards and 2,078 rooms, covering an area of 80,000 square meters. The layout of the yards shows the strict hierarchical system of ancient China. Rooms and yards with different scales were offered to people in accordance with their social status.

Travel tips:
- Hours: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

- Admission: 66 yuan/person

- How to get there: take a flight or train to Taiyuan, then take a bus from Taiyuan Bus Station to Lingshi County.

Courtyard of Family Qiao

Courtyard of Family Qiao

Located in Qiaojiabao Village, Qixian County, 54 km north of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, the Courtyard of Family Qiao was built in the late 1700s by the then influential Qiao family. The entire courtyard house covers an area of 4,175 square meters and consists of 6 main courtyards and 20 smaller ones, with 313 rooms altogether. Looking from the pavilion on the southwest corner is a great way to have a bird's-eye view of the entire complex. Beyond the gate is a wall on which is carved Chinese characters, evoking the theme of longevity. Various kinds of red lanterns hanged in courtyards, and the carving on the roof is very delicate. It has been featured in many famous Chinese movies and TV series, including the well-known film "Raise the Red Lantern." This internationally acclaimed film fully demonstrated the house's character.

Travel tips:
- Hours: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (autumn and winter); 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (spring and summer)

- Admission: 40 yuan

- How to get here: Taiyuan Travel Agency has a direct bus to the the Qiao Family Courtyard House, costing 80 yuan;