Hongkeng Tulou Day Tour from Xiamen: UNESCO Heritage Sites

A full day among earth buildings that have stood for centuries, with a guide who knows their stories

A private day tour from Xiamen to Hongkeng Tulou Folk Cultural Village and Yunshuiyao Ancient Town, UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Fujian province. You'll visit the region's largest and best-preserved tulou (massive earthen structures including Zhenchenglou, Rushenglou, and Kuijulou clusters) along with thousand-year-old banyan trees and ancient roads, traveling by private vehicle with a local guide who speaks your language.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Yunshuiyao and Hongkeng Tulou

• Pick up at hotel lobby
• Drive 2.5 hours to Yunshuiyao Village
• Stroll Yunshuiyao Ancient Village with guide
• Visit Huaiyuan Building
• Visit He Gui Lou Tulou
• Drive 1 hour to Hongkeng Tulou Village
• Explore Zhenchenglou, Rushenglou, Kuijulou clusters
• Stroll around ancient villages
• Return to Xiamen and drop off at hotel

The experience

A full day means roughly seven to nine hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, with a 2.5-hour drive to Yunshuiyao Ancient Village as your first stop. There you walk through an ancient town with a long history, visit Huaiyuan Building (the most exquisite double-ring earth building in the region, built over 200 years ago), and see He Gui Lou, the highest tulou house in Fujian. Your guide walks you through the ancestral halls and explains the traditional rammed-earth construction that made these structures possible.

After Yunshuiyao, a one-hour scenic drive takes you to Hongkeng Earthen Folk Culture Village, where you explore the three main tulou clusters (Zhenchenglou, Rushenglou, and Kuijulou), on foot. These massive rectangular and circular structures sit among green mountains and snaking rivers. Your guide gives you the history and cultural context as you stroll the ancient villages. The scale and preservation of these buildings, and the rural Fujian landscape around them, are what make this a UNESCO site worth the full day.

Your private driver handles all transport, including hotel pickup and drop-off, so you don't arrange taxis or navigate between sites. Bottled water is provided. The guide speaks your chosen language (English, French, Korean, Chinese, or Japanese), so the stories and details come through clearly, not rushed or filtered through translation.

What’s included

• Your experienced tour guide and private driver.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Xiamen.
• bottled water throughout the tour.

Options for this experience

4 options

Mandarin Chinese Guide9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Lasts 8 hours; pickup is included

A guide who speaks Korean or Japanese9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Lasts 8 hours; pickup is included

English Guide9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Lasts 8 hours; pickup is included

French Guide9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Lasts 8 hours; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00

Book up to16h before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, Chinese and Korean

Audio guideEnglish, French, Chinese and Korean

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 15

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Interstellar Cloud Tour

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a private guide who can explain the history and construction of each tulou in depth, rather than walking through the villages on your own or joining a group. The full-day structure gives you time to linger at both Yunshuiyao and Hongkeng without feeling rushed between sites.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, Korean and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly are the tulou buildings I'll be visiting?

Tulou are massive earthen structures built using traditional rammed-earth construction, designed as fortified family compounds. Zhenchenglou, Rushenglou, and Kuijulou are the largest and best-preserved clusters in the Hongkeng village, some over 200 years old. They're circular or rectangular in shape and sit among the mountains. The ancestral halls at their centers were historically used for family study and gatherings.

How much time do I spend actually walking around the villages versus driving?

You'll spend roughly 2.5 hours driving to Yunshuiyao, then have ample time to walk through that ancient town and visit Huaiyuan and He Gui Lou buildings. After a one-hour drive to Hongkeng, you explore the three tulou clusters on foot before returning to Xiamen. The itinerary is structured so you're not rushed at either site.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes your private guide, driver, private vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, and bottled water. Lunch is not included, so you'll want to budget for a meal or bring food. Gratuities for the guide and driver are optional.

Do I need to be in good physical shape for this tour?

The tour involves walking through ancient villages and around the tulou structures, but it's suitable for all physical fitness levels. However, it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers due to the vehicle travel and walking involved.