Things to do in Longyan

These are very distinctive Hakka residences, quite large. Historically, they were large, round or square earthen buildings where Hakka people, migrating from the north, lived together as family units. They are architecturally unique, taking into account functions such as water access and defense, and represent traditional architectural culture. Worth seeing.

Due to time constraints, we could only choose one Tulou (Hakka earthen building), so we chose the King of Tulou 😄. There weren't many tourists, and the whole tour with the guide took less than 2 hours, making it very friendly to elderly people and children!

The scenery at Guanzhai Mountain is decent, but the routes are quite complicated, with three different routes that can be confusing for first-time visitors. Compared to other scenic spots, it doesn't feel like great value for money.

Wolong Academy, founded during the Shaoding era of the Southern Song Dynasty, is located at the southern foot of Wolong Mountain. It is the oldest academy in the eight counties of Tingzhou and the highest institution of learning in western Fujian. Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian philosopher Zhu Xi and Ming Dynasty scholar Wang Yangming both lectured and taught here, nurturing the cultural heritage of Tingzhou. Over 300 scholars from the area have passed the imperial examinations here throughout history. The academy is conveniently located on the west side of Xinmin Street in the ancient city of Changting, a 5-minute walk from Sanyuan Pavilion. The grounds feature pavilions and towers, as well as introductions to the academy and Neo-Confucianism, offering both fun and educational opportunities, making it ideal for family visits. Walking out of the academy towards the river leads to Jichuan Gate, the most bustling area of ​​the ancient city of Tingzhou.

We visited Chuxi Tulou (初溪土楼) on a day trip after exploring Tianluokeng Tulou, and it was a nice experience overall. The traditional Hakka buildings and mountain scenery are beautiful, and the 晒秋 displays are especially attractive for taking photos. However, some areas feel a bit too commercial, which takes away a little from the original village atmosphere. Still, it’s worth visiting if you enjoy photography and want to capture some beautiful traditional Fujian scenery.

The Hakka Tulou (earthen buildings) are very distinctive. The Prince Scenic Area blends seamlessly with the ancient village, creating a unique atmosphere. The Tulou King Scenic Area is relatively small and can be seen quickly; the Tulou itself is filled with shops selling local specialties. Visitors can only tour the first floor of the Tulou; going upstairs is not permitted.

Several scenic spots seem to be carefully built by the local cultural tourism. They are clean and sanitary, and the environment decoration is as beautiful as possible, which is refreshing. However, the traces of the ancient buildings are very heavy, and everything looks very new, lacking the ancient charm. Another fatal point is that the content is too thin and too little. It is not worth visiting specifically, but you can come and see it on the way.

This is a fantastic ancient village; the ancient architecture is amazing. However, it needs more development in both its infrastructure and services. With such excellent resources, I suggest finding a professional tourism company to manage it—look at how Wuzhen manages it!

It's definitely worth a visit. The lush green tea gardens and pink cherry blossoms complement each other beautifully, and there are red, blue, and pink trains running through the park, creating a strong spring atmosphere. The only downside is that there are no places to buy bottled water along the way.

It was fun, and the two kids had a great time. There were rides, interactive animal activities, and beautiful scenery to explore. You could easily spend a whole day there. We didn't go rafting because it was too cool, but we plan to come back next summer.