Southern Fujian travel guide
闽南
Zhangzhou boasts tens of thousands of mu of 'lychee sea', banana plantations and narcissus fields. It is famous for the 'Five Famous Flowers': narcissus, camellia, orchid, red plum and wintersweet.…
8 places · In the guidebook: pages 1564–1573
Southern Fujian, Fujian Province · AI illustration for China Trip
Quick itinerary
Southern Fujian in 5 days
- Day 1
- Zhangzhou city→
- Huoshan Island→
- Dongshan Island (overnight on Dongshan Island)
- Day 2
- Dongshan Island (leave in the afternoon)→
- Zhangzhou Ancient City
- Day 3
- Zhangzhou city (leave in the morning)→
- Yunshuiyao Ancient Town→
- Nanjing Tulou Cluster→
- Longyan
- Day 4
- Longyan→
- Yongding Tulou
- Day 5
- Longyan→
- Changting Ancient City
The feel of the place
- Land of Fish, Rice, Flowers and Fruit
- Zhangzhou boasts tens of thousands of mu of 'lychee sea', banana plantations and narcissus fields. It is famous for the 'Five Famous Flowers': narcissus, camellia, orchid, red plum and wintersweet. Its 'Ten Famous Fruits' are tangerine (luogan), lychee, banana, longan, pomelo, pineapple, loquat, bayberry, peach and guava. The region also produces seafood delicacies such as prawns, grouper, abalone, lobster, red sturgeon, scallops, oysters, mud clams and squid.
- Tulou
- The unique architecture of the tulou has left the global architectural world in awe. For generations, the Hakka people have lived and thrived within these distinctive buildings. Visitors to Longyan will marvel at how rich and colourful the world is, and how wise humankind can be. Of course, this is also where your camera's memory card will be put to the test.
- Hakka People
- It is said that the Hakka consider themselves the true Han Chinese. Since they settled as 'guests', they gave themselves this identity. The tulou clusters where they live reflect their hospitable and friendly character. Although the area is remote, many scholarly top-scorers (zhuangyuan) came from here in former times.
Hakka Clothing
The Hakka cool hat (liangmao) has a history of over 1,000 years. It is woven from thin bamboo strips or wheat straw, and the crown is sewn with cloth. Around the brim, except at the front, hang coloured cloth strips about 5 cun long. Unmarried young women attach multicoloured ribbons to the ends of these strips, which signal whether a Hakka woman is married. Besides shading from the sun and protecting against rain and dust, the cool hat is a distinctive headpiece of Hakka women.
Preparation and Advice
Language
Residents generally speak Hokkien, and a few speak Hakka and Teochew, but Mandarin will get you by without any problems.
Climate and Best Travel Seasons
The climate is mainly central subtropical monsoon, warm and humid, and suitable for travel all year round.
Things to see
Besides the most famous Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster in Nanjing County, there is also the Hekeng Tulou Cluster. Hekeng comprises 14 large tulou and is the most concentrated group of tulou in Fujian. Seen from above, the buildings form a 'double Big Dipper' pattern that is grand and beautiful. Hekeng is much more low-key than Tianluokeng, so it attracts fewer visitors and is better for quiet appreciation.
Nanjing Tulou
2–5 hours · ¥90
“If you haven’t seen Tianluokeng, you haven’t really seen the tulou” is a well-known saying about Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster in Nanjing County, the most representative of the Nanjing tulou. Tianluokeng is one of the most spectacular tulou clusters in southwestern Fujian. Locals jokingly describe its five buildings as “four dishes and a soup,” and their arrangement across the hillside is both imposing and striking. The cluster includes Hegui Tulou, the oldest; Shunyu Tulou, the largest; Cuilin Tulou, the smallest; and well-known structures such as Yong’an Tulou and Yuchang Tulou. Visiting the tulou in Nanjing also offers a glimpse of everyday life for the Hakka people.
Yongding Tulou Cluster
Hakka Tulou Folk Culture Village ¥90; Gaobei Tulou King Scenic Area ¥50; Chuxi Ancient Village ¥65; Tulougou Scenic Area ¥50; Zhongchuan Ancient Village ¥30
Hakka tulou are unique mountain dwellings in the world and are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They come in three forms: five-phoenix, square and round. Their structures reflect the unity and mutual care that the Hakka people have passed down through generations. As soon as you step inside, you feel a profound sense of history and a warm atmosphere. Yongding has more than 360 well-known round tulou and more than 4,000 square tulou, concentrated mainly in the towns of Gaotou, Hukeng and Xiayang. The main developed sites that visitors tend to see are the Hongkeng Tulou Cluster (Hakka Tulou Folk Culture Village, Hukeng), the Gaobei Tulou Cluster (Gaotou), the Nanxi Tulou Cluster (Hukeng) and the Chuxi Tulou Cluster (Xiayang).
Dongshan Island
Dongshan Island is the second-largest island in Fujian Province. Its main island is shaped like a butterfly, which is why it is also known as “Butterfly Island.” The island has broad bays, gentle sandy beaches and shady trees, giving it a distinctly southern seaside character. Three bays on the island, Wujiao, Dongshen and Maluan, are linked together, and each has its own character. Wujiao Bay has a wide beach of fine, soft sand and is a protected fishing bay, known for its natural scenery. Maluan Bay is famous for its seaside bathing beach and has water sports clubs, where visitors can enjoy the sun, sea and sand while also trying windsurfing and surfing.
1–2 days · Free admission to the island; Fengdongshi Scenic Area ¥45
Huoshan Island
Huoshan Island is known for its distinctive volcanic geology. Nanding Island, in particular, has a cluster of basalt column waterfalls that is a new frontier for adventurous travellers and photographers. The island also has classic beach scenery, with blue skies, clear water, fine sand and rows of coconut palms, making it well suited to sightseeing, relaxation and a short holiday.
1 day · ¥60
Guanzhaishan Mountain
A national key scenic area located in Liancheng County, Guanzhai Mountain is a sheer peak rising abruptly from flat ground. It takes its name from the shape of its summits, which resemble a crown (“guan”) and a ‘zhai’ (a mythical beast). The mountain’s cliffs and rock formations are striking, and it is one of the famous Danxia landforms. Together with Wuyi Mountain, it is praised as “North Yi, South Zhai: Two Danxia Marvels.” The mountain also has many notable cultural sights.
3–5 hours · ¥55 (includes shuttle bus)
Liangyeshan Mountain
One of the natural primeval forest ecosystems. Shenniu Falls, Caoxie Slope, Tongtian Falls, Xiangu Pool, Feiyu Falls, Piyun Falls, Feiyun Falls and Jingui Falls stretch for nearly 5 kilometres. Together they showcase nearly every kind of waterfall beauty, making this one of the most beautiful waterfall clusters in southeastern China.
2–4 hours · ¥55
Yunshuiyao Ancient Town
This ancient town was the filming location for the movie *Yunshuiyao* (Clouds Over the Water). The large banyan tree and the waterwheel in the town are both scenes from the film. Many tulou here are still lived in by local residents. They are not as famous as Huaiyuan or Heshun, but the town is lively and full of everyday local character, and it is worth a visit.
2–4 hours · ¥90
Changting Ancient City
Changting County is a major settlement of the Hakka people, and its long history has left a rich cultural heritage. Its highlights include the towering Tang-dynasty city gate, the city walls, ancient wells and temples. Revolutionary sites are also worth seeing, including the former site of the Fujian Soviet Government, Xinggeng Villa and the Former Residence of Chairman Mao.
1–3 hours
Getting there & around
Getting There
Zhangzhou Airport is still under planning and construction, so access to Zhangzhou currently relies mainly on road and rail.
Longyan's railways and trunk roads are well developed, and every township is now connected by road. The network links the Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangxi border areas and has greatly ended the region's historic isolation.
Railway
Zhangzhou Station and Zhangzhou East Station have become rail hubs for southern Fujian and northern Guangdong. Lines passing through the area include the Yingtan–Xiamen Railway, the Longyan–Xiamen high-speed railway and the Xiamen–Shenzhen high-speed railway.
At present, high-speed trains run directly to Longyan from cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Chongqing and Wuhan. Trains from other cities in Fujian also run straight to Longyan, making travel very convenient.
Road
Both Zhangzhou and Longyan connect with multiple expressways, national highways, provincial highways and rural roads, so road travel is convenient.
Zhangzhou Railway Station
Zhangzhou Railway Station- Address:
- Yancuo Town, Longhai District, Zhangzhou City
- Phone:
- 0596-2261729
Zhangzhou East Station
Zhangzhou East Station- Address:
- Guokeng Town, Longwen District, Zhangzhou City
Longyan Railway Station
Longyan Railway Station- Address:
- Daiyang Village, Xipi Town, near the Finance School
Eat & drink
Local Snacks
Yangyu
Local SnacksA well-known Longyan snack made from lean pork mixed with dried shrimp, duck egg, spring onion and a little MSG, then deep-fried. Soft, tasty, crisp and fragrant.
Bojiban
Local SnacksAlso called 'juanban' (rolled rice cake). Rice is soaked and ground into a batter, which is ladled into a round bamboo winnowing basket about 30 cm across and swirled so the batter spreads evenly. It is then steamed over high heat. After about five minutes, the thin sheet of cooked batter is peeled off and filled with stir-fried shredded pork, chives, bean sprouts, fresh bamboo shoot, dried shrimp and shiitake mushrooms, then rolled into a tube. Similar in shape to a youtiao, it is tender and delicious, and not greasy even when you eat a lot.
Yuzibao
Local SnacksMade with a skin of red sweet potato starch and filled with meat, mushrooms and winter bamboo shoot, then steamed. Fresh, fragrant and silky-soft, and equally good hot or cold.
Sigu Tang (Four-Fruit Soup)
Local SnacksFour-Fruit Soup is the first choice for cooling down in summer in the Zhangzhou area. Ice is shaved into fine flakes and topped with hollow sugar-coated lotus seeds, white fungus, mung beans, Job's tears, pineapple, watermelon, adazai (a cassava-flour jelly, Hokkien term), grass jelly, candied fruit and more. Add some syrup or honey when eating.
Where to stay
Accommodation in Zhangzhou and Longyan is convenient, with guesthouses, hotels and villas at every level. Prices range from ¥100 to ¥500, and can even exceed ¥1,000.
Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1564–1573. Translated from the Chinese edition; names and prices follow the guidebook. · Plain text version