Day 1 Xiamen - Hongkeng - Chuxi
You will be picked up from your hotel at 8:30AM. You will then be transferred to Chuxi Tulou in Yongding County. It takes approximately 3 hours to drive to Chuxi from Xiamen.
The first stop is to visit Toulou clusters in HongKeng.
Zhenchenglou Cluster
Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage 1113-002. It was built in 1912 by the descendents of a rich tobacco merchant. Zhenchenglou is a double ring tulou, its outer ring is four storeys high, total 184 rooms, the inner ring is two storeys with 32 rooms. The outer ring was partitioned into four segments according to Bagua concept of Chinese Fengshui.
The 2nd stop is Chuxi.
Chuxi:
Located in Yongding County, Xiayang township, Chuxi village. Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage site 1113-001.
In Chuxi Village, there are five round clusters and many square clusters, scatted on mountains. A small path made of cobblestones links these clusters. Behind the buildings are terraced hills and dense forests. The most well-known clusters are Jiqinglou, Yuqinglou, Gengqinglou, Shengqinglou, Shanqinglou and, Xiqinglou.
Jiqinglou Cluster
The largest round tulou, and also the oldest in this cluster, built in 1419 during the reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming dynasty. It consists of two concentric rings, the outer ring building is four storeys tall, with 53 rooms on each level. The outer ring has 72 staircases. The second ring is a one-storey building.
Yuqinglou Cluster
Three massive round clusters are situated near the entrance of Chuxi village, Yuqinglou is the one on the left. It was firlst built in 1900. Last renovation was in 2010. The house owner Mr. Xu turned it into a family-runned hotel, simply facilities for bed and breakfast. Some rooms have shower and toilet, many rooms do not have, you need to go to the first floor for public toilet. Rooms are quite clean anyway. It is quite an experience to live there.
Highly recommend you to find a good place for photos of sunset.
You will stay in a room in Yuqinglou for tonight.
Day 2 Chuxi - Xiamen
Transfer to Xiamen by coach.
