Day 1 – Arrival in Xiamen

Our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Xiamen Airport and transfer you to your hotel.

Xiamen is a bustling coastal city and was among the first trading ports opened to foreign trade in 1842. At that time it was known as Amoy.

Meals: No meals provided

Day 2 – Xiamen to Chuxi Tulou

Attractions: Gulangyu Island, Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Gardens, Piano Museum, Tea Plantation, Chuxi Tulou

After breakfast you will take a short ferry ride to Gulangyu Island. This was originally a foreign enclave and there you will find much international architecture and luxurious homes. Because no cars are permitted on the island it is a very peaceful environment.

The highest point of Gulangyu Island is Sunlight Rock (92.68m) and from here you can have a good view of the entire island as well as across to Xiamen city.

You will stroll through the beautiful Shuzhuang Gardens beside the sea and also visit the Piano Museum. Gulangyu Island is sometimes called the Island of Music and has a reputation for music appreciation. In the museum you will see over 100 amazing pianos collected from all over the world.

After lunch you will take a three hour scenic drive through the hills to the Chuxi Tulou Cluster. On the way you will stop at a local tea plantation. There you will be shown how to pick tea and also learn about tea production.

You will stay overnight at Chuxi where you will have the unique experience of staying in an authentic Hakka Tulou. The facilities are basic but clean and you will have your own bathroom. When you have checked in you will have the opportunity to visit with a local family and drink tea with them before dinner.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 3 – Hakka Houses

Attractions: Chuxi Tulou, Hongkeng Tulou

The Chuxi Cluster consists of five round tulou and a number of rectangular ones. You will look inside three of them. The most famous one is Jiqinglou which was built in 1419 and is the oldest and most unique building in the area. It has 206 rooms, 72 stairways and more than 10,000 exhibits about the Hakka people and their life. After you have walked around the tulou you will go to a viewing platform from where you can see them all at once.

In the afternoon you will drive back towards Xiamen. On the way you will stop to visit the Hongkeng Tulou Cluster. This is the most concentrated of all the earth house clusters with more than 100 buildings of various shapes and sizes spread out along both banks of a river. The most impressive of these are Zhenchenglou (this building combines Chinese and Western styles), Fuyulou (Five Phoenix House), Kujiulou (a palace style building) and Rushenglou (a small circular building).

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel

Day 4 – Depart Xiamen

Today you will be transferred back to the airport for your flight to your next destination.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel