Hey everyone, it’s Ori again! After an emotional journey in Yancheng (盐城), I was thrilled to receive another invitation from TripAdvisor—this time to explore Zhangzhou (漳州). The journey to Zhangzhou was, let’s just say, quite an adventure. 🚗 First, I took a train from Yancheng to Shanghai 🚄. Then, a flight from Shanghai to Xiamen ✈️. Finally, it was another hour-long car ride to Zhangzhou. The whole way, I kept asking myself, “What could possibly make Zhangzhou worth such a long trip?” The answer? I found it the next morning, standing before the Hakka Tulou (土楼 – 客家土楼), centuries-old earthen buildings that took my breath away. 📍 Hakka Tulou – a living legacy The Hakka Tulou are incredible earthen structures built by the Hakka people 🏯. Made entirely of rammed earth, wood, and stone, these buildings are not just homes—they are fortresses designed to protect entire communities. You may recognize the Tulou from the movie Mulan (2020), and if you were as obsessed with the film as I was, standing among these historic structures feels like stepping right into a scene from the movie. Unlike other ancient towns I’ve visited, the Tulou have a unique charm. They’re simple yet monumental, humble yet awe-inspiring. Walking through the narrow paths and seeing these circular structures up close gave me the sense of being transported back in time. What struck me most was the atmosphere. The faint aroma of hand-rolled tobacco 🚬, the smell of smoke drifting out from tiny kitchen chimneys 🔥, and the warm laughter of locals filled the air. Everyone I met had a smile on their face, and their kindness made me feel like I truly belonged there. 🎭 String puppets and dragon dances As soon as we arrived, we were welcomed with a lively String Puppet (提线木偶) performance 🎎 and an exhilarating Dragon Dance (舞龙) 🐉. The artists were nothing short of amazing, bringing their puppets to life with such precision and artistry. The rhythmic beats of the drums, the traditional music, and the timeless backdrop of the Tulou created a performance that felt both magical and unforgettable. 🥁 📍 Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster (田螺坑土楼群) After the performances, I climbed a small mountain to take in a bird’s-eye view of the Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster. Let me tell you, the view was absolutely worth it. From above, the Tulou formed perfect circular patterns, surrounded by lush green forests 🌳 and cascading rice terraces 🌾. Standing there, I felt an overwhelming sense of connection to both nature and history. Every brick, every layer of earth seemed to tell a story of the generations that had lived there. This wasn’t just a trip—it was a journey through time, a chance to see the world through the eyes of the past. 📍 Yunshuiyao – a dreamlike ancient town As night fell, we made our way to Yunshuiyao (云水谣), a small, peaceful ancient town 🏮. Yunshuiyao at night is indescribably beautiful. The red lanterns lining the stone-paved streets, the reflections of old houses on the still water 🌊, and the gentle sound of the flowing stream—it all felt like a scene from a dream. Walking across the stone bridge, I stopped to watch the lantern lights shimmering on the water. There were no noisy crowds, just the soft rustle of leaves 🍃 and the earthy aroma of the surrounding nature 🌾. If you’re looking for a destination that’s rich in history and deeply connected to nature, Zhangzhou should be at the top of your list. This place isn’t just a destination—it’s an experience, a journey that stays with you long after you leave. A huge thank you to TripAdvisor ! #fujian #zhangzhou #Tripadvisorchina #中国年味世界共享 #ChineseNewYearGlobalAffection #chinatravel #travelwithtripcom

The driver was punctual but non-conversational. It is not important to book transfers on a foreign app as there are tons of domestic chatty drivers who will give you an idea of the country on the drive

Our English speaking guide, Jane, who was Hakka, was interesting and informative, we visited 3 of the Tulou, each one slightly different, and such a unique style of communal living - where some are living to this day, I can see this style of living will cease to exist in generations to come as it is isolated and lacks some basic facilities, at a certain age the ‘young’ are leaving for the towns and cities. The countryside is interesting with its rice terraces, banana and fruit plantations. There were racks of Persimmons and vegetables sun drying outside the fortified walls, and we got to taste some of these at the Hakka style food lunch in a restaurant in one of the villages. Janes part of the private tour we were on was a 5/5, we were picked up by car at our hotel, the driver did not speak English, and the car was a medium size sedan (with bright red interior), so there was not much leg room for my husband who is reasonably tall, and the drive is 2-3 hours each way, Jane met us nearer the villages. You will want to be warned about the driving...the drivers drive these roads daily, so know what they are doing, but it is terrifying to someone not used to the aggressive style, weaving in and out of traffic, the continual use of the horn....Wouldn’t recommend the private driver for nervous passengers.

The experience was terrible from the word "GO" - we were told to queue up in a wrong queue for starters when we already had tickets, there were no seats on the upper deck and the so-called VIP areas with better viewing spots and seats were all chargeable. There were seats on the lower deck but you can't see anything at night. The cruise basically just brought all one along the bridges and Gulangyu but during the night, no one could see anything as the lighting was inadequate. 30 mins into the journey and the staff started playing silly games with the customers to pass time and to win small packets of food. OMG. The staff also shouted into their microphones on constantly hard-selling their VIP seats and souvenirs they were selling onboard. Try harder please. The 1 hour onboard was a total waste of time. Don't go for this tourist trap.

The 3hour drive from Xiamen was all worth it! Very insightful, the hakka houses are so interesting! Very rich in history and culture.