Xiamen Shore & Cruise Excursion: Yongding Hongkeng Tulou Cluster

Tour Highlights
• Discover the World Heritage Site Fujian Tulou and its Hakka Culture
• Admire Zhencheng Building, double-ringed “Prince of Tulou”, built based on Eight Diagrams theory
• Visit Rusheng Building, one of the smallest existing tulou
• Visit Kuiju Building, nicknamed the Potala Place because of its Tibetan-esque design
• Visit Fuyou Building, a unique square architecture said to be shaped like a phoenix

About This Tour
• Departure: Daily departing from Xiamen.
• Duration: Approximately 8 hours.
• Guide Languages: Chinese & English.
• Pickup & Drop-off Place: Xiamen Cruise Port
• Advice on Meals: Lunch is not included. We suggest a filling breakfast and perhaps some packed snacks. For an authentic local lunch experience, simply inform your guide, who will help you find a spot.

Tour Itinerary at a Glance
• Pickup from Xiamen Cruise Port
• Drive to Yongding Hongkeng Tulou (3 hours)
• Visit Zhencheng Building (40 minutes)
• Visit Fuyu Building (40 minutes)
• Visit Kuiju Building (40 minutes)
• Visit Rusheng Building (40 minutes)
• Transfer back to Xiamen Cruise Port (3 hours)

Tailor This Tour to Meet Your Needs
• If you want to customize this itinerary, contact us via WhatsApp (+86 139 1083 0737) or email (info@GrandChinaTravel.com). We'll create a tailor-made tour package just for you.

Price Remark
• Prices are not valid during National Day (Oct 1-7), Chinese New Year, and Labor Day (May 1-5).

Price Inclusions
• Professional English language speaking tour guide.
• Air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver.
• Admission tickets to sightseeing places.
• All government taxes.

Price Exclusions
• Hotel accommodation.
• Your personal expenses.
• Meals are excluded allowing you flexibility on menu.
• Travel insurance is not included. Please purchase before your trip to provide for any unforeseen circumstances.
• Gratuities to guide & driver. They are customary and would be of great encouragement and reward for quality service.

Additional Info
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking.
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
• The itinerary is subject to change due to traffic conditions or bad weather.
• The itinerary is flexible; changes can be made upon written request from travelers.
• IMPORTANT: It is required by the government regulations that travelers must provide their name, gender, nationality, passport number and date of birth to their tour operator upon booking a tour. Failure to do so could result in being denied access or admittance to sites and attractions during sightseeing. When you book this tour, please complete all required fields at checkout. Please bring your passport with you on the tour.

Cancellation Policy
• Cancellations made 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure time will receive a 100% refund.
• Cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour's start time or after the tour begins are non-refundable.
• Cancellation request will be confirmed within 2-5 business days, with refunds issued within 14 working days.

Know Before You Go
• Please keep your passport with you at all times, as it might be needed for entrance ticket purchases.
• Pickup time, guide's name, and contact information will be confirmed via WhatsApp or email.
• Your guide will be waiting at the designated meeting place, holding a GoGrandChina welcome sign with your name.
• Meals are not included; please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations.
• If you book an Airbnb, please note that door-to-door pickup and drop-off might not be provided.
• There's a 20-minute grace period for waiting. Failure to show up will result in tour cancellation & no refund.

Xiamen Cruise Port Pickup, Transfer to Hongkeng Tulou Cluster
Your private guide will be holding GoGrandChina pickup sign and waiting for you at Xiamen Cruise Port at the appointed time. You will be transferred to Yongding Hongkeng Tulou Cluster by a comfortable air-conditioned private vehicle (3 hours)

Introducing Yongding Hongkeng Tulou Cluster
The village of Hongkeng is home to over 100 beautiful tulou of all different shapes - round, square, U-shapes; of which 13 were built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and 33 were established during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). These tulous are gigantic, fortress-like buildings made of packed earth that were initially designed to protect inhabitants from bandits and wild animals. Hongkeng Tulou Cluster used to be the residence of the Lin family. Currently there are still around 2400 poeple living in Tulou. Of the many tulous that rise up out of Hongkeng village grounds, Zhencheng Building, Fuyu Building, Kuiju Building, and Rusheng Building have garnered the most fame.

Visit Zhencheng Building
Zhencheng Building was built in 1912 according to the Eight Diagrams theory. The two wells within this tulou represent Yin and Yang, while its three gates symbolise heaven, earth and human beings respectively. The external ring of the compound is a four-storey building that has been divided into eight units. Members of the Lin family that constructed Zhencheng Building had also studied abroad in Europe and thus incorporated many Western features into their tulou to make it stand out.

Visit Fuyu Building
Fuyu Building, on the other hand, is a completely different style of tulou known as a “Wufeng” or “Five Pheonix” tulou. Built in 1882 by three brothers, it was designed to look like a phoenix spreading its wings and its appearance was heavily influenced by Han-style architecture. The exterior supposedly looks like three mountains rising towards the sky, as the brothers wanted to imply that they were as magnificent as mountains.

Visit Kuiju Building
Kuiju Building is a large, square-shaped tulou that was built to resemble a palace, earning it the alternate name “Potala Palace”. Unlike many of the other earthen buildings, the interior is bedecked with sculptures, colourful murals, and complex architectural features.  

Visit Rusheng Building
Rusheng Building is famous precisely because it is the smallest tulou in existence. It was built sometime between 1875 and 1908, and is just 17 metres in diameter, with only three-storeys and 16 rooms to house its inhabitants. The name “rusheng” means “as if to rise”; perhaps because the optimistic owner hoped it would grow over time!

Transfer Back to Xiamen Cruise Port
After visiting Rusheng Building, this Xiamen private day trip comes to the end. Your guide and driver will transfer you back to Xiamen Cruise Port (3 hours).