Unusual ancient buildings find new life in Fujian

Chengqi Lou is known as the king of tulou due to its immense size. [Photo by Li Jing / chinadaily.com.cn]

In Fujian, 46 tulou were listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2018, including 23 in Yongding. Since then, at least 800 million yuan has been invested for the maintenance and improvement of World Heritage buildings in the Yongding area.

While non-World Heritage tulou like Shengheng Lou are being transformed to suit modern needs, the World Heritage tulou remain under strict protection to preserve the traditional lifestyle.

Lin Shangkang, a 52-year-old resident of the World Heritage-listed Zhencheng Lou, is one of the tulou owners. He starts his day with black tea, a Hakka staple. When visitors arrive in the morning, Lin, with his knowledge of tulou history and architecture, serves as a tour guide and shares stories of his ancestors, along with information about the building's construction and the Hakka people's way of life.

"I never get tired of telling visitors about the history of this place; I enjoy it," Lin said with a sparkle in his eye. The four-story clay building, which covers an area of nearly three-quarters of a soccer pitch, was built a century ago by his great grandfather's brothers. As tourism breathes new life into the tulou, Lin and his family have embraced the changes.

"We are richer. Our life is better. So is our living environment," he said.

It's not just a building; it's the legacy. Today, it continues to house 18 families — about 80 people.

The tulou's fame was further boosted when it was featured as the heroine's home in the Disney live-action movie Mulan and in the Chinese animated feature film Big Fish and Begonia. The movies have brought more young people to experience the buildings, as well as the history behind them.

Zeng Jieshan, a 16-year-old high school student from Shenzhen, Guangdong province, traveled four hours by high-speed train to experience the tulou firsthand. "I used to think ancient buildings were mostly temples or royal residences, like the Forbidden City, but here in the tulou, people still live and thrive."

As evening approaches, the tourists depart and the tulou returns to its peaceful state. This is the time that Lei Xueping likes most, because now she can focus on her paintings. Three months ago, the 24-year-old art graduate from Ningde, Fujian, joined a local tourism company in Yongding to design tulou-themed cultural products.

"People here are simple, warm and unpretentious," she said. "Life moves at a slower pace, allowing me to pursue my artistic dreams and support myself."

The four-story Zhencheng Lou still accommodates 18 families, totaling approximately 80 individuals. [Photo by Li Jing / chinadaily.com.cn]