Fujian in 5 Days: Xiamen, Quanzhou and the Tulou

Coast, Port and Earthen Castles

Fujian packs three different Chinas into a small area: the island city of Xiamen with its colonial-era architecture and seafood, the old port of Quanzhou with its temples and living crafts, and the Hakka tulou — enormous earthen communal houses — inland in the hills. Five days is enough for all three if you keep moving, and the high-speed rail makes the legs short.

Day 1: Xiamen

Start on the island: the old colonial streets and markets, the seaside promenade, and an afternoon across the channel on Gulangyu, the car-free island of lanes and villas. Seafood is the evening, in the city's night markets or along the waterfront.

Day 2: Quanzhou

An hour north by rail. Quanzhou was the medieval port from which the maritime Silk Road ran, and its old city is unusually rich: temples, mosques and shrines of several traditions within walking distance, the oldest surviving stone bridges, and a living craft scene — string puppet theatre, incense making, and the marionette tradition that deserves an evening. Stay the night here rather than returning to Xiamen.

Days 3–4: The Tulou Country

Inland to the Hakka counties, where the tulou stand: circular and square earthen buildings, up to four storeys, built as fortified communal homes around a central courtyard, with wooden galleries inside and walls a metre thick. Two days lets you see the main clusters without rushing, walk between villages, and stay a night in the countryside. Dehua, the white-porcelain town, is a worthwhile detour on the return leg.

Day 5: Back to the Coast

Return to Xiamen or fly out of the region; if time allows, add a morning in the hills for tea, or a final seafood lunch before the airport. The Fujian leg combines naturally with Guangdong's cities or with Zhejiang's coast on a longer eastern trip.

Practical Notes

Spring and autumn are the best seasons; summer is hot and typhoon-prone. The rail network covers Xiamen–Quanzhou in under an hour, and the tulou need road transport — usually a car and driver for two days. Book tulou-area accommodation ahead in holiday periods.

Frequently Asked Questions