Xiamen Essence and Tulou Combination
This 3-day tour combines the essential attractions in Xiamen with the World Heritage Site — the Fujian Tulou. We have selected three tulou clusters, which are the essence of the Fujian Tulou and help you avoid the commercial sites and tourist crowds. In this way, you can experience the authentic lifestyle and culture of the Hakka and Minnan people. You can not only appreciate the unique architecture but also feel the spirit of the Hakka people condensed in the buildings.
Tour Highlights
Wander around the romantic Gulangyu Island

Be amazed by a "missile weapon base", Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster

Find Mulan's "hometown" from the movie

Experience picking and processing tea leaves like a Hakka tea farmer.

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Albee Ning Surreal China Trip
![]() Albee Ning with China Highlights never fails to create the perfect vacation!!! She listens and understands what interests us and provides a guided tour that is surreal. We will remember and share the marvellous memories of this experience for the rest of our lives!! Thanks for everything Albee!!! (Including our dinner together by the elephant in Guilin!!) more
Oct 2024, Mike and Lucy
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Well organised and interesting
![]() Tom was very helpful and knowledgeable. The walk along the Wall was well planned and really enjoyable. The visit to the Summer Palace and Forbidden City were memorable with excellent guiding more
Oct 2024, Robin
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Tour of Beijing
![]() Tom from China tours guided us for a hike on the Jiansanling section of The Great Wall and then a one day tour of Beijing including Forbidden City Tiananmen Square and the Summer Palace. He was very friendly and accommodating from the begin. He answered all of our questions about Chinese history and culture and gave great explanations of the history of all the monuments we visited. The restaurants he chose and dishes he recommended were very tasty on both days. I would recommend him very highly to anyone looking for an English language tour in Beijing and particularly for people interested in history. more
Oct 2024, Sam M
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Suggested Itinerary
After your flight lands at the airport, your tour guide will wait for you with a welcoming smile at the arrival hall. Transfer to your hotel by a private car and driver. The rest of the day is for you to acclimatize and explore the city, or relax and recoup ready for the tour tomorrow.
Hotel options:
Ramada Hotel Xiamen
Pan Pacific Xiamen
Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster
Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster will be the first attraction you visit. It is composed of four round earthen buildings and a square one. It is one of the most magnificent and well-preserved Hakka fortresses. Your guide will give you detailed information about who built these earthen buildings, how they were built, and their advantages. We will drive you to a high vantage point so that you can enjoy a bird's-eye view of the cluster.
Yuchang Earthen Building
Yuchang Earthen Building is a skewed building. It is one of the oldest existing tulou. This five-story earth building is most famous for its tilted pillars. The most extreme one is slanted at a 15-degree angle. There are five highlights in this building for you to discover. Let your guide uncover its secrets for you.
Hekeng Tulou Cluster
Hekeng Tulou Cluster is one of the six tulou clusters belonging to the World Heritage Site, the Fujian Tulou. It is an authentic and less touristy Hakka village full of earthen buildings in different shapes. It is Mulan's "hometown" in the movie Mulan. You will see the real earthen building where Mulan is depicted as living in the movie. The Hakka people are happy to invite you into the living room of their earthen building and show you the upstairs floor. This might not be available in other tulou clusters. Have a cup of local tea and listen to the stories about their families. It is a great chance to get close to the Hakka people's lifestyle and culture.
Taxia Village and Tea Plantation Experience
Taxia Village is a distinctive Hakka village located in a valley in Nanjing County. It was built by the Zhang family about 600 years ago and many famous overseas Chinese people can trace their history back to this village. From April to November, you can pick tea leaves at a local tea plantation just like a local Hakka tea farmer and learn to process the tea leaves. You can take the tea you make back home with you. You can also taste some black tea that has already been prepared by the local farmers.
Hotel options:
Nanjing Qingdelou Inn (original tulou with a private toilet)
Hongkeng Tulou Cluster
Hongkeng Tulou Cluster includes most kinds of earthen buildings. There are about 100 earthen buildings of various sizes and styles in the long and narrow village. Besides the rectangular and round-shaped tulous, you will also see the palace and villa styles as well as the smallest round-shaped tulou.
After lunch, you will be transferred to the airport or train station. Your private guide will make sure that everything goes smoothly before saying goodbye.
Trip Notes
1. About the Hotel in Nanjing
We have selected the best-value hotel in an original tulou for you to have a unique experience of staying in an earthen building. The facilities in the original tulou accommodation are limited. They are not as good as the facilities found in accommodation in the city. There is, however, a private bathroom and air-conditioning in the room. If you would like to upgrade to a boutique hotel in Nanjing, please let your travel advisor know.
2. About an Ancestor's House or Visiting Relatives
We know that some of our customers have a Hakka or Minnan origin. If you would like to find your ancestor's house or look for your relatives, we are happy to use our relationship with the local association of the family clans to help you.
3. Tailor-Make Your Tour
This is a suggested itinerary. It can be customized according to your interests and needs. Let your travel advisor know what you prefer to do and he/she will make a unique trip for you.
Price includes: