Our final stop on an epic South China adventure is Fujian province (福建省 – fú jiàn shěng). Here you can visit the coastal city of Xiamen (厦门 – xià mén) for a few days before heading out to explore the amazing tulou (土楼 – tǔ lóu) complexes.

Xiamen and the Tulou

See highlights of both Xiamen and the tulou in this short video that concludes our “Exploring South China” series:

“Next on our journey around South China is Xiamen. Located in Fujian province, this is a popular vacation destination. Hop on the ferry and head over to Gulangyu. This small island has no motor vehicles, so goods are moved by wheelbarrow.  Enjoy the lack of car horns and take a stroll to check out the funky statues and the architecture. There are even a few beaches if you want to go for a swim. Continue walking around the island until you get back to the pier.

There’s a great night market here in Xiamen, so go wander around and find something tasty to eat. A local favorite is grilled squid on a stick. I really enjoyed these huge baked potatoes. Of course, there’s also plenty of seafood. Grab a drink in a local bar then check out all the neon lights on the beach before calling it at night.

A few hours from Xiamen out in the Fujian countryside, you can visit the amazing tulou – fortified earthen buildings constructed by the Hakka and Minan people. They’re listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sight and there are several you can visit. The best one is definitely the Chuxi Tulou Group. A short hike takes you to a viewpoint where you can enjoy panoramic views of the village and the incredible tulou structures. As is the case all across China, young people are giving up life in these traditional homes and moving to high-rises in the city. Before too long, the tulou will exist solely as museums…”