Private Tulou Tour from Xiamen: Hongkeng Folk Cultural Village

Massive circular earth buildings rise from Fujian valleys, each one a family compound built centuries ago.

A private day tour from Xiamen to Hongkeng Tulou Folk Cultural Village and Yunshuiyao Ancient Town, led by a local guide who explains the history and architecture of UNESCO-listed earth structures. Your hotel pickup and private car are included. The tour spans seven to nine hours and covers the Zhenchenglou, Rushenglou, and Kuijulou Tulou clusters, plus thousand-year-old banyan trees and ancient roads. Lunch and admission tickets are separate.

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
• Visit Huaiyuan Building
• Visit He Gui Lou Tulou
• Drive 1 hour to Hongkeng Tulou Village
• Explore Zhenchenglou, Rushenglou, Kuijulou Tulou clusters
• Return to Xiamen and drop off at hotel

The experience

A private driver picks you up at your hotel and drives 2.5 hours to Yunshuiyao Ancient Village, where your guide walks you through the settlement and its history. You'll visit Huaiyuan Building, a double-ring earth structure with an ancestral hall at its center, and He Gui Lou, the tallest tulou in Fujian, which has stood for more than 200 years. The guide explains how these massive rammed-earth constructions were built using traditional Chinese techniques.

After an hour's scenic drive through rural Fujian, you arrive at Hongkeng Tulou Folk Cultural Village. This is where the region's largest and best-preserved earth buildings cluster together (Zhenchenglou, Rushenglou, and Kuijulou) each one a UNESCO World Heritage site. You have time to explore the ancient villages on foot, see how families still live inside these structures, and walk among the thousand-year-old banyan trees that shade the roads. Your guide provides context as you move through the compounds, pointing out the architectural details and family histories embedded in the walls.

The return drive to Xiamen takes you back through the same rural landscape, ending with drop-off at your hotel. Bottled water is provided throughout the day. You choose your guide's language at checkout (English, French, Korean, Japanese, or Mandarin Chinese), and gratuities are optional.

What’s included

• Experienced local guide in your chosen language.
• private car with driver.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Options for this experience

4 options

Mandarin Chinese Guide9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Pickup is included

English Guide9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Pickup is included

Korean guide or Japanese guide9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Pickup is included

French Guide9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Pickup 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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, Chinese, Japanese 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Elephant Tour

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a guide who can explain the history and construction of the earth buildings as you walk through them, rather than exploring on your own. The private car and guide are included, so you don't arrange transport separately. You only need to budget for lunch and admission tickets on the day.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, Korean, Chinese and Japanese.

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.

How long is the drive from Xiamen to the Tulou villages?

The initial drive to Yunshuiyao Ancient Village takes 2.5 hours, then a one-hour scenic drive follows to Hongkeng Tulou Folk Cultural Village. The full day spans seven to nine hours including exploration time.

What are the main buildings I'll see at Hongkeng?

Zhenchenglou, Rushenglou, and Kuijulou are the three largest Tulou clusters at Hongkeng, all UNESCO World Heritage sites. You'll also visit Huaiyuan Building, a double-ring earth structure, and He Gui Lou, the tallest tulou in Fujian province.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included. You'll need to arrange or purchase it separately during the day. Bottled water is provided.

Do I need to buy admission tickets separately?

Yes, admission tickets to the Tulou sites are not included in the tour price and must be purchased on arrival.