Chuxi Tulou cluster

Welcome to the Chuxi Tulou Cluster, one of the most remarkable architectural landscapes in the world. As we stand here in Yongding County, you are looking at a living testament to the Hakka people’s ingenuity and resilience. …

To truly appreciate the scale and intentionality of the Chuxi cluster, one must ascend the 351 steps to the primary viewing point. From this elevation, the logic of the Hakka settlements becomes clear. …

We now enter the Jiqing Building, referred to in some records as the 'G building.' This is the oldest Tulou in the cluster, boasting a history of 601 years. As you step through the single, heavily fortified main gate, you are…

To understand the daily life of a Hakka clan, we must examine the vertical organization of the Tulou. Each building is a self-contained ecosystem. …

If you look closely at the upper windows of the circular buildings, you will notice a peculiar design. These windows are 'small on the outside and large on the inside'. …

Near the clusters of Tulou, you will invariably find a small, humble structure: the Earth God Temple. While the ancestral hall inside the Tulou is the center of family worship, the Earth God Temple serves the entire village…

While the circular buildings capture most of the attention, the square tulos of Chuxi are equally significant. One such square structure was built in 1799, and although very few people live inside today, it remains a vital part…

Our journey through the Chuxi Tulou Cluster concludes here, at the intersection of history and modern life. We have seen how these 'earthen UFOs' are actually sophisticated responses to the harsh realities of migration and…