Tulou: Life Inside China’s Giant Communal Homes

Tulou: Life Inside China’s Giant Communal Homes

Get 5% off your travel eSIM (and support the channel in-turn): https://holafly.sjv.io/191eA9

Ever wondered what life is like inside China’s giant communal homes? Well, we did too—so we packed our bags and headed straight to Fujian Province to see for ourselves. These tulou, or “earth buildings,” have been home to the Hakka people for centuries, and they’re basically real-life roundhouses—but on a ridiculous scale. If you’ve ever seen Disney’s Mulan, you might recognise the architecture.

#tulou #china #travel

This adventure starts with a long, winding journey deep into China’s remote countryside, where I get my first look at these massive communal homes from a scenic observation deck. Then, I dive headfirst into tulou life, grabbing a meal at a local village, wandering through hidden alleys, and even managing to find a place to sleep inside one of these villages.

Inside, I meet the locals—some lifelong residents, some just passing through (including, surprisingly, a viewer of the channel!). I also stumble upon an old-school Hakka wedding preparation, explore the upper floors of a tulou, and try some village snacks.

Towards the end of our trip, (and this video) we explored Chengqi tulou, the biggest tulou ever to be built… wow, it’s impressive!

By the end of the trip, after immersing myself in the daily rhythms of tulou life, I couldn’t help but reflect on what makes these historic communal homes so remarkable. Beyond their sheer size and fortress-like design, it’s the strong sense of community that truly defines them—a way of life that has thrived for centuries but is now slowly fading as younger generations move away in search of modern opportunities.

Spending time with the locals, hearing their stories, and witnessing their traditions firsthand made me appreciate just how rare and special places like this are. While tulou living comes with its challenges, there’s something undeniably comforting and resilient about the idea of entire families, even whole villages, sharing a home built to last lifetimes. As more and more residents leave for the cities, one has to wonder—what will happen to these incredible roundhouses*in the future? Would you choose to stay, or is this a way of life destined to become a memory?

—————————————-
SUPPORT ME HERE:
💰 Patreon (early access & extended cuts): https://www.patreon.com/OliBarrett

—————————————-
SERVICES I USE:
📱 My travel eSIM (HOLAFLY 5% OFF): https://holafly.sjv.io/191eA9
💳 My travel debit card (WISE): https://transferwise.com/c/olibarrett
🏥 My digital nomad insurance (GENKI): https://genki.world/with/olibarrett

—————————————-
FIND ME HERE:
🌐 Website: / https://www.oli-barrett.com
📷 Instagram: / https://instagram.com/oli.barrett
🔵 Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/OliBarrettFB
🎥 TikTok: / https://www.tiktok.com/@olibarretttravel?_t=8oHrodntwJc&_r=1

—————————————-
CHAPTERS:
0:00 – Introduction
1:04 – Journey up to Fujian’s mountains
5:11 – Tulou observation deck
6:20 – Local village lunch
7:47 – My first impression of inside the Tulou
10:30 – Wandering around the remote Tulou village
15:24 – Finding our hotel in the village
17:36 – What does upstairs of the Tulou look like?
19:01 – Meaningful chat with Tulou resident
20:03 – I met a fan!
20:54 – Trying the local snacks
22:03 – What do locals get up to in the morning?
23:50 – Tulou Wedding preparation
25:16 – The biggest Tulou ever to be built (Chengqi)
29:03 – Reflecting on my experience

*Occasionally, subtitles are added for comedic effect only.*

* This description contains affiliate links. I will earn a small commission if you purchase something using them (at no extra cost to you), so thank you! *