5 Days Fujian Xiamen & Tulou& Wuyi Mount Tour

Welcome to Xiamen, the Garden City on the Sea! Clear the customs and retrieve your baggage by yourself upon arrival, be greeted by our tour guide in the airport or train station who is holding a sign which says your name. A comfortable vehicle (non-smoking) with an experienced driver will transfer you directly to your hotel. Your guide will help you check-in. The rest of today is on your own to explore this beautiful city.

After breakfast, take a 3-hour scenic drive to see the earth buildings in Nanjing County, Zhangzhou City.  You'll visit the Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster, which is composed primarily of four round and one rectangular earthen house. It is one of the most magnificent and well-preserved Hakka Castles in the area. The village is also listed as a Famous Historic Cultural Village in China for its typical cultural regional system.

Next, visit Yuchanglou. Built in 1308, it is one of the oldest existing Tulous. This five-story earth building is most famous for its tilted pillars, with the most extreme slanted at a 15-degree angle.

Then, go to Taxia Village, an exquisite Hakka village located in a valley in Shuyang Town. There are more than 20 earthen buildings of different shapes built along the bank of a clear brook that flows through the entire village. Another major attraction is Zhang's Clan Ancestral Hall. Next to a pond, 20 stone flagpoles rise like a stone forest in front of it. Zhang's Clan Ancestral Hall is listed among the key cultural relics protected at the national level and is one of the most well-preserved ancient clan houses in China.

Following this, drive 30 minutes to Gaobei Tulou Cluster to visit Chengqilou. It is the largest of the earth buildings located in Gaobei Tulou Cluster, about three hundred years old, and made up of four concentric circular buildings. This "King of Round Earth Buildings" has altogether 400 rooms and used to house 80 families, more than 600 people in its prosperous days.

After the tour, transfer back to Xiamen.

In the morning, we will take a 20-minute ferry trip to Gulangyu Island from Xiamen City. We will take a stroll in Shuzhuang Garden, a beautiful seaside garden, and visit the famous Piano Museum, which houses a collection of 80 rare old pianos from all over the world.

Next, we will head to South Putuo Temple, first built in the Tang Dynasty. It is known for its collection of Buddhist cultural relics, including a Burmese jade carving of the Buddha and some important Buddhist texts. From the top of Wulao Peak, we can enjoy a bird’s eye view of Xiamen University and Xiamen Port.

After the tour, we will be escorted to Xiamen North Railway Station to catch the 3-hour G train to Wuyishan East Railway Station. We will stay at a hotel in the Wuyishan resort district.

After breakfast, you will spend the full day exploring the essence of Wuyi Mountain. First, you'll take a bamboo raft fitted with rattan chairs to float down the Jiuqu Stream (Nine Bends Stream). During the approximately 2.5-hour journey, you can appreciate the natural scenery along the banks, observe the hanging boat coffins on the cliff, and enjoy the beauty of the land. Afterward, you will visit the Wuyi Palace, the most ancient Taoist temple at Mount Wuyi. Next, you'll stroll the nearby Song Street, an imitation street full of structures in the style of the Song dynasty, to experience the charm of ancient Song architecture. Then, you'll climb up Tianyou Peak (Heavenly Tour Peak) to have a bird's-eye view of the magnificent mountain scenic area. You can also explore the multiple caves of Yunwo and the extraordinary Tea Cave, and experience the misty scenery when in the right time and season.

As an optional evening activity, you can appreciate the world's large-scale live performance of Impression Da Hong Pao directed by Zhang Yimou. This performance will provide you with an opportunity to learn more about the culture of tea, admire the charming night view of Mount Wuyi, and witness the perfect combination of natural mountain and water in the performance.

This morning, you'll visit the Dahongpao Scenic Area (Big Red Robe Scenic Area) to see the plantation of the Dahongpao tea trees, and admire the overseed tea trees of 1000 years old there. Then go to the Shuilian Cave (Water Curtain Cave) area to appreciate the fancy waterfalls and the flying springs. After that, drive about 10 minutes to Xiamei Village to enjoy the featured old dwellings built about 1400 years ago.

After the tour, your guide and driver would send you to the airport/train station to catch the flight/train to your next destination or back home. Tour ends.