Found some of my answers here: amoymagic.com/longyanyongding.htm#itinerary

However, any other input / experiences appreciated.

LP 2007 says that there are two fast trains from Xiamen to Yongding (0830 and 1330) taking 3 hours. Can anyone confirm this?

If I spent the night in or around Yongding, what would be the options for getting back towards Hong Kong? I know there are some overnight trains to Guangzhou, but any details on earlier morning trains?

Thanks

Nope, guidebook is wrong.

Xiamen -- Yongding:

K230/K231 (1600--2228) 6h28min

K298/K299 (1629--2249) 6h20min

Yongding -- Shenzhen:

K638/K635 (0803--1518) 7h15min

Yongding -- Guangzhou:

K230/K231 (2230--0706) 8h36min

K298/K299 (2251--0652) 8h01min

There're also buses going directly to Longyan, from Xiamen airport. Information as of last February shows departures at 0845/0945/1045/1155/1305/1345/1455/1535/1645/1805/1925/2015, fare 60 RMB.

From Xiamen's Hubin long-distance bus station, there're apparently buses to Hukeng at 0630; to Yongding at 0615/0700/1100/1240; and also plenty more to Longyan.

Thanks ellyse

No problem, hope the bus information is accurate enough. I can only vouch for accuracy of train information.

I'm doing the same trip, and was curious as to which is quicker- bus or train?

Bus is quicker but is still a long journey. There are some day tours from Xiamen to the Hakka tulou but they seemed to involve a lot of time on the bus so I didn't try them.

drumbrake - Have you already finished your tour to Yongding or still planning it.

It has been many years since I visited and wanted to learn from your experience. My son and I might just use a couple of our days off here in May to go see everything.

john

Sorry - I never got there on my last trip.

I do plan to go - maybe when the present visa problems have improved - and will probably do so in a weekend trip from Hong Kong. From what I have read I think it is worth spending a night in Yongding or near it - that's why I wasn't keen on doing a day trip from Xiamen.

Thanks. When I was there about twelve years ago, the bus ride to the one round house that was being displayed passed several others that looked like they were still being used by local families.

It is your understanding that just one building is available for tourists to visit? Does one just look for a bus to "tu lou" and you get to the one used as a tourist attraction?

Also, at the time I visited, it was indicated that they were going to fix up several parts of the building so as to rent out hotel rooms to anyone wanting to stay in the building over night. Do you know if that is now available and under what name? Did you locate and decide on what might be a good hotel to stay at in Yongding?

john33, seen on other forums too