Longyan: The Hakka Epic of the Tulou Kingdom

🌟If you haven’t felt the warm rammed earth in the corridors of Yongding Tulou, or tasted the fresh Hakka flavor of Xiayang beef meatballs bouncing on your tongue, then Longyan, Fujian is your best choice!
This "Hakka Ancestral Land · Red Holy Land" weaves an immersive epic of the collision between mountains, sea, and culture through the Oriental code of the World Heritage Tulou, the Danxia wonders of Guanzhi Mountain, and the glorious years of the red soil in western Fujian. Here is a 48-hour hardcore guide to unlock Longyan’s soul trio—from Tulou morning light to cave starry nights—

🏨 Accommodation Recommendations: Tulou Enthusiasts · Landscape Lovers · Red Culture Fans
World Heritage Immersion First Choice:
Yongding Tulou Jianqing Inn: Stay beside the "Tulou Prince" Zhencheng Lou, open the window to see terraced fields and sea of clouds, listen to Hakka mountain songs at night (¥380+/night).
Longyan Guanzhi Secret Valley Baixiang Resort Hotel: Enjoy the private valley of Guanzhi Mountain, infinity pool overlooking the Danxia sunset (¥800+/night).
Cost-Effective Options:
Shanghang Zijin Hotel: Four-star facilities, walking distance to Tingjiang Greenway, family rooms with slides (¥350/night).
Meihuashan Guilai Villa: Forest cabins for night viewing of South China tigers, hot springs under the starry sky (¥500+/night).
🍜 24-Hour Taste Adventure Map
**⏰7:00 Early Awakening**
Changting Boiled Pig Kidney: Yellow wine and ginger slices stewed pig kidney slices, served with warm soup noodles (Sanyuan Pavilion Old Street).
**⏰12:00 Intangible Cultural Heritage Hit**
Xiayang Beef Meatballs: Hand-pounded beef, springy and juicy, dipped in garlic chili sauce with beef offal soup (Yongding Food Street).
**⏰19:00 Night Market Code**
Xinluo Food City: Hotpot with nine types of beef offal paired with Hakka stuffed tofu, bursting with lively atmosphere.
🌙22:00 Mountain and Wilderness Healing
Liancheng White Duck Soup: Medicinal herbs stewed tender duck meat, a warming late-night remedy (foot of Guanzhi Mountain).
⏰ Timed Hardcore Itinerary
🚩Day 1: Tulou Code · Red Imprint
8:00-11:00 World Heritage Wonder
Touch the "Tulou King" Chengqi Lou’s rings at Yongding Gaobei Tulou Cluster, climb the viewing platform to photograph the "Four Dishes and One Soup" morning mist (ticket ¥50).
12:30-14:00 Hakka Feast
Taste the Tulou Grand Blessing Banquet: rice wine braised whole pig + taro buns, bamboo tube rice soaked with wild mountain fragrance (Chengqi Lou farmhouse).
15:00-18:00 Years of Fire
Read "A Spark of Fire" at the Gutian Conference Site, lay flowers at the Chairman’s Garden; dress in military uniform and take "time-travel photos" in the Wu region Red Army town.
20:00-22:00 Night Banquet by Tingjiang River
Nibble on lantern cakes on Changting Diantou Street, enjoy the light and shadow show at Jichuan Gate, drink sugar ginger egg flower tea on Shuidong Street.
🚩Day 2: Danxia Poetry and Painting · Cave Exploration
7:00-10:00 Guanzhi Secret Realm
Take the cable car up Guanzhi Mountain (free for college entrance exam students!), touch the "Root of Life" stone pillar, boat on Shimen Lake through the "Water Guilin."
11:30-13:00 Mushroom Feast
Eat Lingzhi mushroom stewed chicken soup and fresh red fungus tofu at Wuping farmhouse (foot of Liangye Mountain).
14:00-17:00 Adventure to the Earth’s Core
Explore the 180-million-year-old Longkong Cave in Xinluo, marvel at the stalactites "Dragon Umbrella" and "Dragon Bed" in a light and shadow fantasy (ticket ¥50).
18:30-21:00 Hakka Finale
Learn puppet finger techniques in the ancient village of Peitian, Liancheng, stay overnight in a century-old house and enjoy white duck soup hotpot.
💡 Ultimate Tips
Transportation: High-speed rail to Longyan Station; Tulou scenic area car rental ¥400/day; Guanzhi Mountain cable car ¥60 for college entrance exam students.
Secret Spots: Zhangping Yongfu Cherry Blossom Garden (spring cherry blossoms all over the mountain), Liangye Mountain Waterfall Cluster (stream tracing and rainbow watching).
Souvenirs: Changting dried tofu, Liancheng red-skinned peanuts, Hakka Tulou models.
When the last beef meatball slides into the moonlight on the Tingjiang River, when the rammed earth of the Tulou blends into the spark of Gutian, you will understand—
The magic of Longyan is turning the thousand-year-old enclosed houses into the earth’s rings, composing the Red Army’s bugle into Hakka mountain songs, and at the meeting place of Danxia and caves, growing a never-ending mountain and sea family feast.
Your story in western Fujian is waiting for you to start your journey amidst the shimmering waves of Shimen Lake and the sizzling hotpot of nine types of beef offal.