Fujian Tulou is a type of Chinese rural dwellings of the Hakka and Minnan people inhabiting the mountainous areas of Fujian Province. From the 12th century to the 19th century, armed bandits plagued southern China and the people of Fujian first built strongholds on top of the mountains as a defense. These early strongholds later evolved into Fujian Tulou.

[China.org.cn/Photo by Wang Jun]

The layout of Fujian Tulou followed the Chinese dwelling tradition of the "closed outside, open inside" concept: an enclosure wall with living quarters around the peripheral and a common courtyard at the center.

[China.org.cn/Photo by Wang Jun]

A Tulou is usually a large, enclosed and fortified earth building, most commonly rectangular or circular in configuration, with very thick load-bearing rammed earth walls between three and five stories high and housing up to 100 families. A total of 46 Fujian Tulou sites were inscribed by UNESCO on the World Heritage Site listed in 2008.

[China.org.cn/Photo by Wang Jun]