The Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster (田螺坑土楼群), situated on the mid-slope of Hudong Mountain at an altitude of 787.8 meters in Nanjing County, Fujian Province, is a small settlement of the Huang family, who are Hakka people. This cluster represents the quintessential Hakka tulou (earthen building) architecture and follows the sequence of the Five Elements (Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth). It consists of one square building, three circular buildings, and one oval building, named Buyun Lou, Zhenchang Lou, Ruiyun Lou, Hechang Lou, and Wenchang Lou, respectively. The arrangement of the buildings, with the square Buyun Lou in the center and the other four circular buildings surrounding it, has earned the nickname “four dishes and a soup.”
The most iconic viewpoint is from a viewing platform on the mountain. From this vantage point, you can gaze down at the entire tulou cluster. Inside the tulous, many areas have become commercialized, with some offering accommodations. On the ground floor and at the entrances, you will find local vendors selling various handicrafts. Although these souvenirs may be somewhat rustic in their craftsmanship, they are very affordable and make for excellent keepsakes.
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Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | 90 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day throughout the year |
| Telephone Number | 0086-400-888-5111 |
Location and Transportation
The Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster is located in Tianluokeng Natural Village, Shangban Village, Shuyang Town, Nanjing County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, approximately 60 kilometers from the county seat. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
By Train: Take a train to Nanjing Railway Station. Upon arrival, you can catch a tourist bus outside the station that will take you directly to the Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster. The bus ride takes about 1.5 hours.
By Bus from Nanjing: From the Nanjing Bus Station, you can transfer to a special tulou shuttle bus. The fare is approximately 20 RMB per person.
From Xiamen: You can take a long-distance bus from Xiamen Hubin South Long-Distance Bus Station to Tianluokeng. The ticket price is around 55 RMB, and the journey takes about 3.5 hours.
History of Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster
The construction of the Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster began in the first year of the Kangxi Emperor’s reign (1662) during the Qing Dynasty, taking a total of 304 years to complete. Originally named Tianliao Keng Village, it was renamed Tianluokeng due to its terrain resembling a snail (tianluo) surrounded by towering mountains with a low-lying center resembling a pit (keng). During the late Yuan Dynasty, the Huang ancestors, led by Huang Xigui and his son Baisanlang, migrated from Aoyao, Yongding County, Fujian, to Tianluokeng. They first constructed grass huts to settle down and survived by raising mother ducks.
In the first year of the Jiaqing Emperor’s reign (1796) of the Qing Dynasty, the Huang family began constructing the square-shaped Buyun Lou. This three-story building has 26 rooms per floor and four staircases. The name “Buyun” implies the hope that future generations will achieve success, rise through academic ranks, and attain high official positions. The middle hall of Buyun Lou was built in a stepped manner following the terrain, allowing people to experience a sense of “stepping up” as they enter, symbolizing progress and elevation.
Following the construction of Buyun Lou, the Huang family started building the circular Hechang Lou to its upper right. This three-story tulou has 22 rooms per floor and two staircases. In 1930, during the Republic of China period, they built Zhenchang Lou to the upper left of Buyun Lou, with each of its three floors also having 26 rooms. Six years later, in 1936, they constructed Ruiyun Lou to the lower right of Buyun Lou, mirroring the layout with 26 rooms per floor across three stories. The final building in the cluster, the oval-shaped Wenchang Lou, was completed in 1966. This three-story structure has 32 rooms per floor.
Each of these buildings showcases the unique architectural style and cultural heritage of the Hakka people, combining practicality with aesthetic beauty. The strategic placement of each tulou reflects not only the traditional beliefs of the Huang family but also the practical considerations for defense and community living that are central to Hakka culture.