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Exploring South China – Fujian Posted by on Jul 25, 2018 in Culture

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.

Exploring South China - Fujian

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…”

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About the Author: sasha

Sasha is an English teacher, writer, photographer, and videographer from the great state of Michigan. Upon graduating from Michigan State University, he moved to China and spent 5+ years living, working, studying, and traveling there. He also studied Indonesian Language & Culture in Bali for a year. He and his wife run the travel blog Grateful Gypsies, and they're currently trying the digital nomad lifestyle across Latin America.


Comments:

  1. Paul:

    Yo, Sasha, looks like you’re living the life my old friend. Long way from the Wangjing WSE. I moved to Cambodia, then Hangzhou, and now Shanghai for three years. Hope you’re well. Nice writing

    • sasha:

      @Paul Thanks, Paul! Good to hear from you! Three years in Shanghai now? I enjoyed it both times I visited but never tried living there. I’m itching to get back to China for a visit soon, though… could really go for some jian bing, xiao long bao, huo guo… all the favorites!


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