Hua'e Tulou, Tulou in Dabu County, China

Hua'e Tulou is a circular rammed-earth and timber Hakka dwelling built in 1608 in Lianfeng Village, Dadong Town, Dabu County. It stands 11.9 m high with walls 2 m thick at the base tapering to 1.3 m at the top, and holds 210 rooms in three concentric rings: 30 on the inner level, 60 on the second, 120 on the third. A single granite-framed iron-clad gate opens onto a 283.4 sq m cobbled courtyard with a 3 m coin motif at its centre.

Built in 1608, the 36th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty, Hua'e Tulou was home to the Lin family. It was listed as a Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Unit in 2002 and as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2019.

The name comes from a line in the Shijing meaning 'flowers and calyx shine together', a wish for harmony among brothers; the Lin family lived here. The pebble-paved courtyard of 283.4 m² holds a 3 m coin motif for prosperity, and a well and rice-pounding tools remain.

The thick earthen walls maintain a constant temperature throughout the year, making it comfortable without modern climate control systems. When exploring, take time to move through the different levels and rooms to understand how the space is structured.

The building was designed for defense with a single entrance, reinforced wooden doors, and gun ports built into the upper levels. These features show how residents created security through architecture.