The Hakka are an ethnic group living in Fujian Province in southeastern China. One of the great peculiarities of this ethnic group its architecture is quite unique circular houses made of strange called Tulou.
An Tulou are a collective living with a circular or a square and can accommodate several hundred people. The oldest house Hakka is more than 600 years.
The Hakka minority long oppressed in China have built these houses unusual defensive structure along the lines of fortresses. The single front door, several meters thick, allowed them to fight effectively against the invaders and maintain a state of siege in these villages houses
The 4-storey round houses are more than 10m high (the largest are about 20 m) and have a diameter of up to 77 meters. Through the thickness of their walls of 1.5 m, made of dried mud and brick, it is cool in summer and mild in winter.
Tulous The focus on a court, provided or not Buildings, a real village square and meeting place for their inhabitants that could live in autarky for several months.
The Hakka maisonq windows that overlook the outside are small to prevent any intrusion. Each family occupies a vertical unit. Kitchen and bathroom are on the ground floor, the warehouse on the first floor, bedrooms on the second and third floors. Both floors of the outer circle includes 30 to 50 rooms designed to welcome guests.
Tulou At the center of the room is ancestral, public place where hundreds of people in the house celebrating weddings or funerals organized .... Everything is done so that residents of the Hakka community is hardly ever go out.
The Tulous were classified in 2008 as World Heritage by UNESCO. Still little known outside of China these unusual houses attract more Chinese tourists.
Nearly 400 houses fortresses still exist today. It is therefore quite possible to borrow roads off the beaten track, surrounded by orchards and subtropical flora, and exploring the Tulous inhabited and rarely visited. A region of China not to be missed for all those interested in ethnic minorities and unusual in China. The French agency China Roads organizes interesting tours in the region.
