Tulou

Fujian, China

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Tulou in Fujian, China, are large, multi‑story, fortified communal houses made of earth, wood, stone, and bamboo, built mainly by the Hakka people between the 12th and 20th centuries in the mountainous interior of southern Fujian. These structures are usually round or rectangular with very thick load‑bearing walls, a single heavily guarded entrance, and an open courtyard in the center, designed to protect entire extended families from bandits and conflict. A single tulou can house dozens or even hundreds of people, sometimes up to several hundred across several families, with living quarters, kitchens, storage, and wells arranged in interconnected rings around the central space. Scattered clusters of tulou in places like Yongding and Nanjing counties were collectively listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, recognized as a unique example of Chinese vernacular and defensive architecture that blends communal living, local materials, and striking visual forms into a living cultural landscape.