Four Days Xiamen Highlights and Tulou Tour

Guide will meet at your arrival (morning hours) with your name sign. Then we directly onto the Gulangyu Island via ferry, then have leisure stroll through the small alleys, visit the Piano Museum and Shuzhuuang Garden.

Gulangyu is a tiny island located 15 minute ride off the coast of Xiamen. Charming must be the first word that comes to mind when thinking of Gulangyu Island for all have been there. Because there is much more to Gulangyu than white-sandy beaches, leafy seaside promenade, fresh air and beautiful sunrise. The island also boasts large number of heritages including 19th-century European mansions, Piano Museum-the largest in the world and the only one in China, gardens and well-maintained cobbled alleyways, which are vestiges of its former glamor as important port for Sino-European trade.

Xiamen is a leisure and beautiful city. The Island Ring Road, biking trails, skywalk provides various ways to enjoy the beauty. We will take a bike ride today on the coastal cycling trail and visit important sights including Huilishan Fortress and Nanputuo Temple.

The cycling trail is around 23km along the east coastal road. It starts near the Xiamen University and ends at Wuyuan Bay, connecting the beaches and many attractions like Baicheng Beach, Hulishan Fortress, Zengcuoan and more. There are many things to do, and places to eat along the way. The bike ride takes 2-3 hours with few stops to photo, but usually you can spend much more time and go into the sights alongside.

Nanputuo Temple is an important Buddhist Temple to worship Avalokitesvara, and is also considered a pilgrimage site by dedicated followers from Southeast Asia. Listen to the monks chanting this millennium temple, or just simply enjoy the beautiful scenery with mountains and sea.

Today we drive around 2.5 hours westwards to Nanjing, home of thousands of Tulou Buildings. Tulou is a typical rural dwelling featuring multi-storied houses built by Hakka people in southeast of China between 15th and 20th centuries. The structures are inward-looking, many in circular or square shape, with high walls and only one entrance. The exterior is quite plain, but the inner decorations are surprisingly elaborate and comfortable. The biggest building can house 1,300 people. This architect miracle is definite worth your efforts to discover.

We first visit the region of Yunshuiyao Village which is said to be one of the most beautiful villages, and the Tulou structures nearby including Hegui Tulou, the best decorated and preserved one; Huaiyuan Tulou, the highest in square shape, and built on marshland.

Then we move to Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster, it is one of the most magnificent and well-preserved Hakka Castles in the area. The four round and one rectangular structure beautiful settle on the mountain slope. There is a observation platform offering nice panoramic views.  

Stay overnight tonight at one of the buildings at Taxia village.

Before moving back to Xiamen, we will discover some more Hakka Tulou Architecutres in the neighboring town, Yongding. The structures in Yongding have longer history than those we visit in Nanjing. Our stop will be the Chengqi Tulou, King of the Hakkas Tulou, and Chuxi village with the most picturesque Tulou cluster.  

Enjoy a rest on vehicle for your ride back to Xiamen.

Tips: The nearest station to Yongding is Longyan, with only one hour ride away. Bullet trains connect Longyan conveniently with Shenzhen, Huangshan, Hangzhou and Shanghai etc. If your next destination will be any of the above mentioned cities, it is suggested to board at Longyan instead of going back to Xiamen to avoid long distance road journey.