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Qujiang Village, Shuyang Township, Nanjing County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province
Feel the original Hakka customs and architectural art here; enjoy the beauty of the landscape and idyllic scenery
Located in Qujiang Village, Shuyang Township, Nanjing County, Zhangzhou City, the Heceng Tulou Cluster (河坑土楼群) consists of thirteen Tulou buildings of different ages and shapes, distributed among the valleys surrounded by mountains on all sides. From the earliest Chaoshuilou (1549-1553) to the completion of the latest Yongqinglou (1967-1972), they reflect the historical evolution of the formation and development of earth buildings in different eras. Among them, there are six round buildings, six square buildings and one pentagonal building, and the whole cluster of earth buildings is in the shape of the Big Dipper (北斗七星状). The earthen buildings are the traditional dwellings of the Hakka people, reflecting their history, culture and lifestyle.
Tulou is a special kind of residential building built by the Hakka people in order to defend themselves against foreign enemies and wild animals, as well as to embody the ideal of living together as a large family. It uses rammed earth as the main material, has a thick outer wall, only one big door, and the interior is divided into multi-story rooms and a centralized patio. Tulou has both defense and living functions, and is the crystallization of the wisdom and art of the Hakka people.
Hekeng Tulou Cluster is the densest and most representative one of the Tulou clusters in Fujian. It was built from the Ming Dynasty for more than 700 years, forming earth buildings of different ages, types and styles. There are square, round, pentagonal and other shapes, three-story, four-story, five-story and other heights, and different names, such as Chao Shui Lou, Yang Zhao Lou, Yu Chang Lou, Chun Gui Lou, etc. In 2008, Heceng Tulou Cluster, as a typical representative of Fujian Tulou, was listed as a World Cultural Heritage.
The most attractive thing about Heceng Tulou Cluster is that they present the arrangement of the seven stars of the Big Dipper. Among them, 7 square earth buildings built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and 7 round earth buildings built in modern times form two groups of "Big Dipper" astrological wonders on the ground. These earth buildings according to the "法天象地" planning and layout concept, complement each other, square and round matching yin and yang, reflecting the traditional Chinese architectural style and planning ideas. You can go to the Lion Mountain Observation Deck to overlook the whole landscape of this cluster of earth buildings, which is the best viewing place of Hekeng Tulou cluster.
When you visit Hekeng Tulou Cluster, you can start from Chaoshuilou (潮水楼), which is the starting point of the square Big Dipper formation and the oldest square earth building of Hekeng Tulou Cluster. Chaoshuilou is reborn with only three floors, but it still retains the characteristics of the Han architectural style of the Ming Dynasty. To the right front and left front of Chaoshuilou, there are seven round and square earth buildings scattered on both sides of two small rivers respectively, and to the left rear of Chaoshuilou, in the natural village of Qujiang, there are 11 other types of earth buildings.
Each earth building has its own story and characteristics. Yuchanglou is one of the oldest surviving high-rise apartment buildings in the world. It was built by five clansmen with a total of 270 rooms on five floors. Chunguilou is the largest round earth building in the Hekeng Tulou Cluster, it has 5 floors and 288 rooms, and there is a three-storey ancestral hall in the building, which is the sacrificial center of the Zhang Clan. Nanxunlou is the only pentagonal earth building in the Hekeng Tulou Cluster, it has four floors and 200 rooms, the exterior is like a castle and the interior is like a labyrinth.
The Hekeng Tulou Cluster is located in Nanjing County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province—a mountainous area in southwestern Fujian. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, this region was remote, with dense forests and poor transportation. Local residents faced constant threats: bandit raids, clan conflicts, and wild animal attacks. Additionally, farmland was scattered across hills and valleys, making collective living essential for resource sharing and risk defense.
Tulou (earthen buildings) were essentially "defensive communal fortresses." The construction of Hekeng’s tulou began in the mid-Ming Dynasty. The oldest one, Chaoshui Lou (Facing-Water Building), was built during the Jiajing reign (1522–1566) by the ancestors of the Zhang clan. After migrating south from northern China and settling in Hekeng, the Zhangs built this first square tulou to protect their family and strengthen clan bonds. Over time, as the clan grew, more tulou were added.
The 13 tulou in Hekeng (6 round, 6 square, and 1 five-pointed) were not built at once. They took over 300 years to complete, with a thoughtful layout inspired by ancient astronomy:
Ming Dynasty (Foundation Stage): Besides Chaoshui Lou, early tulou like Yangzhao Lou (Sunny Building, square) and Yongsheng Lou (Eternal Prosperity Building, round) were constructed. These focused first on defense: their walls were 1–1.5 meters thick, with no windows on the ground floor (only narrow loopholes for shooting) and watchtowers on the top floor.
Qing Dynasty (Golden Age): After the Kangxi-Qianlong Flourishing Age (1662–1795), the Zhang clan grew richer and more populous. They expanded the tulou complex, blending defense with feng shui (traditional Chinese geomancy) and order. Notable tulou from this period include:
These tulou improved living spaces (with separate bedrooms, kitchens, and grain storage areas) and formed a layout based on the Big Dipper constellation: 7 main tulou correspond to the 7 stars of the Big Dipper, while 6 others act as "auxiliary stars." This design followed feng shui principles (to "gather positive energy") and ensured mutual defense—if one tulou was attacked, others could quickly support it.
Hekeng Tulou Cluster has a primitive state of earthen buildings, without any commercial atmosphere. The earthen buildings are well preserved and very lively. Visitors can feel the original Hakka customs and architectural art here, enjoy the beauty of the landscape and idyllic scenery.
Transportation: Since it is located in the countryside and the scenic area is not very developed, there is no direct public transportation, so it is recommended to join a group tour, charter a car or drive by yourself to He Keng.
The entrance fee of Heceng Tulou Cluster is 40 RMB. It is recommended to visit the place for one to three hours.
From $ 512
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