The Fujian Tulou, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are traditional communal residential buildings scattered throughout the mountainous regions of Fujian Province, China. Their unique circular and square architectural styles captivate many tourists, but being hidden scenic spots deep in the mountains, access information is not well-known, making them somewhat challenging destinations to reach. Based on actual experience visiting the area, this article provides detailed information about the optimal transportation methods.
To cut straight to the point, I strongly recommend using a full-day chartered car (包车) for Fujian Tulou tourism. The reasons lie in its efficiency, comfort, and cost-effectiveness.
Important Notice: Entry Tickets
As of 2025, overseas tourists cannot visit the tulou complexes directly in principle. This is because entry tickets (门票), which can normally be purchased online, cannot be bought without a mainland Chinese ID card. Therefore, you must first stop at the Tourist Service Center (旅客服务中心) to purchase paper tickets. This process alone requires additional travel time, so choosing transportation methods other than chartered cars will result in even greater time losses.
Benefits of Chartered Cars
The greatest advantage of using a chartered car is the effective use of time. The tulou complexes are scattered over a wide area, and to efficiently tour the main attractions, mobile transportation is essential. Most drivers are locals familiar with tourist routes, so they can avoid traffic jams and take you to scenic viewpoints with great views – unexpected bonuses. Additionally, you can travel comfortably even in rainy weather without worrying about luggage.
The standard rate is 600-800 yuan per day (approximately $85-115), but with negotiation, they may agree to reduce the price to around 450 yuan. In any case, it’s much more affordable than taking taxis for the same distance. If multiple people split the cost, you can achieve efficient sightseeing at an even more reasonable price.
The Reality of Public Transportation
The situation has changed significantly from a few years ago, and motorcycle taxis are rarely seen
Using public transportation is more difficult than you might imagine. What’s particularly important to note is the reality that there aren’t as many taxis or motorcycle taxis (摩的) as online information suggests. More importantly, there are regulations preventing regular vehicles from entering the tulou complex areas, making it extremely difficult to find taxis.
Some might think, “Can’t I catch taxis at each tulou to move around flexibly?” but in reality, you could end up spending the entire day just trying to catch a car. Additionally, this region is so locally-oriented that even ride-hailing apps like “DiDi” cannot be used.
Tips for Arranging Chartered Cars
An important point when arranging chartered cars is choosing the departure location. Chartered cars from Xiamen are difficult to find because the distance is too far, and even if you find one, they tend to be very expensive day tours. However, if you try to take public transportation too close to the tulou, that journey itself takes considerable time.
Many drivers are always waiting at the Nanjing Station entrance
The most recommended method is to take the high-speed train to Nanjing Station and use a chartered car from there. Chartered cars are always on standby at Nanjing Station, making arrangements smooth. This method optimizes both travel time and costs.
Actual Visit Plan
For some reason, this map has east and west reversed. We toured around the θ-shaped Nanjing Tulou area in a complete circle.
In my case, I was able to tour efficiently with the following route:
Departing from Nanjing Station after 10 AM, we first enjoyed a delicious local lunch in the Shuyang Town area. Then, as a mandatory procedure, we purchased tickets at the Fujian Tulou (Nanjing) Scenic Area Tourist Service Center. From there, we toured the Nanjing area counterclockwise, tracing a θ shape.
Shunyu Lou, renowned as the largest tulou
We visited Yunyao Water Tulou Cluster, Shunyu Lou, Hekeng Tulou Cluster, Taxia Village, Xiaban Village and Yuchang Lou, finally arriving at Tianluokeng Tulou. We had sufficient viewing time at each tulou and didn’t miss the best timing for photography. The compatibility with the driver was also good, so we decided to have the same person guide us through the Yongding area tulou tour the next day.
We arrived at Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster during golden hour and captured the sunset!
Conclusion
Fujian Tulou tourism should be a once-in-a-lifetime valuable experience. To create maximum memories in limited time, I strongly recommend using chartered cars. Using the method of chartering from Nanjing Station offers good cost performance and time efficiency, enabling efficient tourism. Please fully enjoy the magnificence of this World Heritage Site and create memorable travel experiences.
Also, I have written a detailed accommodation report about staying at Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster in a previous article, so if you’re considering visiting Nanjing Tulou, please read it together as a reference for your tulou journey!
