Fujian Earth Building Photography Tour

Upon arrival in Xiamen, you’ll be picked up at the airport or railway station. The rest time of the day is up to you to relax or explore this beautiful city.

Travel Tips:
1. Photographic Gears: It’s necessary to prepare 16mm or 30mm wide-angle lens as the space limitation inside earth buildings.
2. Best time to go:  June - July

Highlights: earth buildings(tulou), local people life

After breakfast, take a 3-hour scenic drive to see the earth buildings in Nanjing County. There will be a short break before lunch. The afternoon is focus on the photography of earth buildings. Visit the world famous Huaiyuan Lou– a fine example of the exquisite rammed-earth architecture in China. It’s composed of two rings, each with a diameter of 38 meters. Then you’ll explore the Hegui Lou, which is rectangular and has 5 storeys. It is almost 22 meters high making it the tallest of all the rectangular tulou in the area. Its survival is deemed miraculous as it was built on a swamp. Overnight in the tulou guesthouse.

Shooting Tips:
The time to take iconic images of earth building is of great importance. It’s too rainy in spring, cloudy and unclear in autumn. June and July are the best time. You can get singular images of the earth buildings covered by the shining sun and clear cloud.

Hightlights: earth buildings

Today you’ll explore Tianluokeng Tulou cluster after breakfast. It consists of five tulous with a square “Buyunlou” at the center, surrounded by three rotunda tulous and an oval tulou.Then proceed to Yuchang Lou, a five-storey tulou. After lunch, head for Yongding to shoot Chengqi Lou, nicknamed “the king of tulou”. At dusk, you’ll arrive in the Hongkeng Hakka Tulou village. Overnight in Tulou guesthouse.

Shooting Tips:
It is very dark inside the earth buildings without windows. Sometimes, you need to adjust the focus of your camera by yourself as the focus cannot be found by auto focus.

Highlights: earth buildings

Your first destination of today is the Zhencheng Lou, nicknamed “the prince of tulou”, sitting in Hongkeng village. This tulou enjoys the largest of area of Yongding County. Then after lunch, you’ll shoot Fuyu Lou, the outstanding representative of Yongding Tulou mansion. Following up is Guiju Lou, the “Potala Palace” among earth buildings, with inside palace structures. Overnight in tulou guesthouse.

Shooting Tips:
As you photograph in sunny days, it is need to adjust the light exposure degrees as the inter-effects of tulou complex, people and shadows. Or use the flash to supplement the lack of light.

Highlights: earth buildings, idyllic natures

Free time to photograph earth buildings or idyllic nature landscapes of the village until see-off at the railway station or airport after lunch. Tour service ends.

Shooting Tips:
The shots inside earth buildings may not be very neat as there are locals living in. Under the permitting of the host, you can displace small farm tools or other stuffs of the room when you shoot. For the large ones, it is wise to adjust your shooting position or use photographic techniques for good images.