Tulou

Tulou (Chinese土楼/土楼, Pinyin tǔlóu ) is the name of a fortified house form that is traditionally used by Hakka in Fujian Province in southeastern China.

Most of these houses stand in a circle Yongding on the border with the province of Guangdong.

Architecture

The Tulou are large, usually circular houses that hold up to several meters thick outer walls made ​​of mud. They usually have three to five floors and can accommodate up to 800 people. As a defensive buildings they have almost no windows to the outside and only a single input. The rooms are built around a large courtyard, the roofs are tiled and have overhanging eaves. Contrary to the simple external appearance they are often rich decorated inside.

History

Tulou be built since the 12th century to the present. The most elaborate buildings date from the 17th and 18th centuries.

2008 46 of the Tulou of Fujian by UNESCO were included in the list of world cultural heritage.