Hakka Tulou is referred to the either round or square buildings made by earth that found in the mountainous areas of the western part of Fujian Province. In fact, these buildings are the very specific architectural style of the Hakka, one of the ethnic groups of Han people. The architectural structure, carvings, pillars of these houses has reflected the wisdom and creativity of the ethnic.
The earth buildings were built with the combination of good points of various kinds of Chinese residential buildings. They are the brilliant pearls amongst the architectural beauties in the world. According to the early settlers’ philosophy of heaven and earth, which held that the heaven was round and the earth was square, earth buildings in Yongding include varieties of square and round houses combined together. Thousands of these buildings were built in the Qing Dynasty, with thick walls, ingenious structures and various functions such as protection against high winds, earthquakes and hot and cold weather. They also served as a guard against enemies. All these buildings were furnished for living, storage and cooking and can accommodate a clan of hundreds of family members to live a happy life together.
Among all the earth buildings, Zhencheng Building which built in year 1912 is the most magnificent. With the combination of various round buildings into one, it is regarded as a miraculous wonder by thousands of experts, scholars and tourists who have been enchanted by its beauty. The overall design of the building is a combination of the traditional style of local residential buildings and that of typical Beijing and Western architecture.