Most tulou buildings are circular or square shaped, but "there are other special shapes, such as oblongs -- it just depends on the landscape," according to architecture student Lin Weicheng, who has worked on tulou restoration.<br />
Most tulou buildings are circular or square shaped, but "there are other special shapes, such as oblongs -- it just depends on the landscape," according to architecture student Lin Weicheng, who has worked on tulou restoration.
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All Chinese tulou buildings are found in Fujian province, mainly in its southwestern area.
All Chinese tulou buildings are found in Fujian province, mainly in its southwestern area.
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Out of an estimated 3,000 tulous, 46 are recognized as World Heritage sites by UNESCO and are renovated, but many are in states of disrepair.<br />
Out of an estimated 3,000 tulous, 46 are recognized as World Heritage sites by UNESCO and are renovated, but many are in states of disrepair.
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Many <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.christravelblog.com%2Fchina-xiamen-2014-07-07-2014-07-30-china-tour%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">tulou</a> buildings are three or four stories, but "they can sometimes have five, or even six floors," according to Lin Lusheng, who had led a tulou restoration project.<br />
Many tulou buildings are three or four stories, but "they can sometimes have five, or even six floors," according to Lin Lusheng, who had led a tulou restoration project.
© by Chris Travel Blog / CTB Global™ 2009-2017
By usually being circular or square and only having one main entrance, tulous were well-designed for defense.<br />
By usually being circular or square and only having one main entrance, tulous were well-designed for defense.
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Larger tulous often had farm resources in the courtyards, so they could be self-sustainable during times of conflict.<br />
Larger tulous often had farm resources in the courtyards, so they could be self-sustainable during times of conflict.
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The shape of tulous encourages families to interact a lot in the main courtyard. Sometimes entire Hakka clans would live in one tulou and share a collective name.
The shape of tulous encourages families to interact a lot in the main courtyard. Sometimes entire Hakka clans would live in one tulou and share a collective name.
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Facilities inside tulous often included shrines at which clan members could worship dead ancestors. Weddings were often held in them, too.<br />
Facilities inside tulous often included shrines at which clan members could worship dead ancestors. Weddings were often held in them, too.
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Tulous were often built at the foot of hills and close to rivers. "It just made it convenient for everyday life," Lin Weicheng says.<br />
Tulous were often built at the foot of hills and close to rivers. "It just made it convenient for everyday life," Lin Weicheng says.
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Lin Lusheng runs education projects in Fujian province to teach schoolchildren about the cultural history of tulous.<br />
Lin Lusheng runs education projects in Fujian province to teach schoolchildren about the cultural history of tulous.
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Many tulous are becoming empty as residents move to cities. "Young people don't live in tulous anymore," Lin Lusheng says.<br />
Many tulous are becoming empty as residents move to cities. "Young people don't live in tulous anymore," Lin Lusheng says.
© by Chris Travel Blog / CTB Global™ 2009-2017
Lin Lusheng, who grew up in a tulou, says: "It was common to see kids knocking on each other's doors to ask friends to eat and play."<br />
Lin Lusheng, who grew up in a tulou, says: "It was common to see kids knocking on each other's doors to ask friends to eat and play."
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Many of the earliest tulous were built by people from the ethnic group Hakka, who settled in Fujian having come from the north.<br />
Many of the earliest tulous were built by people from the ethnic group Hakka, who settled in Fujian having come from the north.
courtesy of Biju bukumaran
Tulous built by Hakka people had corridors running by all the different houses so it was easy for people to be connected -- those built by people from the Hokkien group do not have these corridors.
Tulous built by Hakka people had corridors running by all the different houses so it was easy for people to be connected -- those built by people from the Hokkien group do not have these corridors.
© by Chris Travel Blog / CTB Global™ 2009-2017
Lin Lusheng hopes to start a project that would allow families who used to live in tulous, but who have moved to cities, to send children back to their old tulous for school holidays.
Lin Lusheng hopes to start a project that would allow families who used to live in tulous, but who have moved to cities, to send children back to their old tulous for school holidays.
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Tulou walls were thick -- sometimes over a meter in width -- and built using a mixture of clays.<br />
Tulou walls were thick -- sometimes over a meter in width -- and built using a mixture of clays.
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