Xiamen to Tianluokeng Tulou: Private Day Tour with Lunch

Summary

Private tulou tour from Xiamen with lunch & village walk

You’ll ride from Xiamen into Fujian’s hills for a private day trip to Tianluokeng Tulou with a local guide. See ancient earth buildings up close, share a homemade Hakka lunch inside one of them, explore Yuchang Building’s leaning columns, and stroll riverside lanes in Taxia village. It’s a day full of real moments you’ll remember long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed wasn’t the buildings — it was the sound of chickens somewhere behind the trees, and the way the mist hung over Tianluokeng’s round earth houses. Our guide, Li, pointed out the “Four Dishes and One Soup” layout from the viewing platform (I’d seen photos before but standing there, you get why everyone stops for pictures). The air smelled faintly like woodsmoke and wet earth. I tried to say “tulou” in Mandarin; Li laughed and said my accent made it sound like “potato.” Fair enough.

Walking down into the cluster, you can actually feel how thick those walls are — cool to the touch, almost damp. We met Mrs. Chen, who lives here with her family (she’s Hakka, her ancestors built this place centuries ago). She invited us in for lunch — rice wine in chipped cups, pork belly with preserved greens, some kind of eggplant dish that was smoky and sweet. I’m not sure what half of it was but it tasted like someone’s grandmother had made it just for us. The rice wine burned a little going down but honestly, I liked it.

After lunch we headed to Yuchang Building — they call it the “rickety building” because some of its columns lean at wild angles. It looks like it shouldn’t still be standing after 700 years but somehow it is. You can hear voices echoing up through the open center, kids running on old wooden floors. Later we wandered along Taxia village’s riverbank where ducks drifted past and old men played cards under red lanterns. There’s an ancestral hall where people still leave incense; I stood there a minute just listening to water trickle by outside.

The drive back to Xiamen felt quiet after all that — maybe it was just me thinking about how these places have survived so much change. I still think about that view from above sometimes, especially when I smell woodsmoke or hear laughter through an open window.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tianluokeng Tulou and Taxia Village Tour

• Drive from Xiamen to Tianluokeng Tulou Clusters
• View Tianluokeng Tulou Clusters from platform
• Visit Tianluokeng Tulou village with guide
• Enjoy traditional Hakka lunch with family
• Visit Yuchang Building
• Stroll in Taxia Village and visit De Yuan Hall
• Drive back to Xiamen

Top questions

How long is the drive from Xiamen to Tianluokeng Tulou?

The drive takes about 2.5 hours each way between Xiamen and Tianluokeng Tulou.

Is lunch included on this private tulou tour?

Yes, a traditional Hakka lunch is included inside one of the earth buildings.

Are hotel pickups available in Xiamen?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off within Xiamen main island are included.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transportation options are wheelchair accessible for this tour.

Can vegetarians be accommodated for lunch?

Yes, vegetarian options are available if requested at booking.

What villages or sites will we visit on this day trip?

You’ll visit Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster, Yuchang Building, and Taxia Village.

How long does the entire private tulou tour last?

The tour lasts around 9 hours including travel time from Xiamen.

Is there an English-speaking guide on this tour?

Yes, your private guide speaks English (and may speak other languages).

What’s included

Your day includes comfortable transport with hotel pickup and return in Xiamen, entry fees at all sites visited, bottled water throughout the journey, guidance from a knowledgeable local expert who shares stories along the way, plus a traditional Hakka lunch (with homemade rice wine) served inside one of the historic earth buildings before heading back in the evening.