Tianluokeng Tulou & Yunshuiyao Village Private Day Tour

Walk through seven centuries of Hakka architecture and cobbled village streets

A 9-hour private day tour from Xiamen to the Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster and Yunshuiyao Ancient Village, with hotel pickup, a local guide and private driver. You visit the Yuchang Building (the oldest and largest round tulou, standing for over 700 years) explore the viewing platform for the "Four Dishes and One Soup" formation, walk through the Taxia water village, and stroll the ancient cobbled paths of Yunshuiyao. Your guide speaks English, French, Korean, Mandarin Chinese or Japanese. You choose the language at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Tianluokeng Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village

• Pick up at hotel lobby
• Drive 2.5 hours to Yunshuiyao Ancient Village
• Stroll Yunshuiyao Village with local guide
• Visit Huaiyuan Building
• Visit He Gui Lou Tulou house
• Drive to Tianluokeng Tulou Clusters
• View Tianluokeng Tulou from platform
• Explore Yuchang Building
• Stroll Taxia Village
• Visit Zhang's clan ancestral hall
• Transfer back to hotel

The experience

Hotel pickup starts the day, followed by a 2.5-hour drive to Yunshuiyao Ancient Village. Your guide leads you through the cobbled paths under ancient trees to the heart of the village, explaining the regional history and culture as you walk. From there you move to Huaiyuan Building, a double-ring earth structure with a 190-square-meter ancestral hall at its core where the family's children once studied. Then comes He Gui Lou, the highest tulou in Fujian, standing as evidence of over 200 years of traditional rammed-earth construction at its peak.

At Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster, you start at the viewing platform to see the famous "Four Dishes and One Soup" (the arrangement of four round buildings surrounding a square one) before descending to explore them up close. The Yuchang Building is the centerpiece: the oldest and largest round tulou known, with teetering columns that have survived seven centuries of weathering and earthquakes without collapse. After Yuchang, you walk through Taxia Village, a typical Hakka settlement home to many overseas Chinese families, and visit Zhang's clan ancestral hall, a nationally protected cultural relic. Your driver returns you to your hotel at the end of the day.

Bottled water is provided throughout. The tour suits all fitness levels, though the day involves steady walking on uneven cobbled paths and village streets. You'll have free time at key stops to photograph the buildings and absorb the surroundings without a rigid schedule.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Xiamen.
• private car and driver for the full day.
• experienced local guide in your choice of English, French, Korean, Mandarin Chinese or Japanese.
• bottled water throughout the tour.

Options for this experience

4 options

Mandarin Chinese Guide9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Includes pickup

English Guide9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Includes pickup

Korean guide or Japanese guide9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Includes pickup

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

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 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Elephant Tour

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want to see three major tulou sites (Tianluokeng, Yuchang, and Yunshuiyao) in one day from Xiamen. The 2.5-hour drive each way is included, so you won't need separate transport to reach the inland villages.

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.

What is the Yuchang Building and why does it matter?

Yuchang Building is the oldest and largest round tulou (Hakka earth castle) known to exist, with columns that have stood for over 700 years through earthquakes and erosion without collapsing. It's the centerpiece of the Tianluokeng Cluster and the main reason visitors come to see the site.

How long is the drive from my hotel to the first stop?

The drive to Yunshuiyao Ancient Village takes 2.5 hours in a private air-conditioned vehicle with your driver. You'll have time to rest and settle in before the walking portion of the tour begins.

What does "Four Dishes and One Soup" mean at Tianluokeng?

It's the name for the famous arrangement of four round tulou buildings surrounding a central square structure, visible from the viewing platform. The formation resembles a traditional Chinese meal layout and is one of the most photographed views in the cluster.

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

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the private driver, private car, bottled water and the local guide are all included. Admission tickets to the sites and lunch are not included and must be arranged or purchased separately.