Series of Mountain (9): Travel to Mount Wuyi

Welcome to Wuyi Mountains! located at the northern border of Fujian province with Jiangxi province, China. Described as "fairyland on earth", offering exquisite mountains, winding water and outstanding scenery. It’s a place featured with typical red rock formation.

The key scenic area of Wuyi Mountains covers 70 km2, boasting of 36 peaks, 72 caves, 99 rocks and 108 scenic spots as well. The magnificent and exquisite mountains and waters are the real delight. The whole area can be subdivided into many scenic spots.

The first spot you should not miss must be Nine Bend river, which is the most sophiscated charm of Wuyiu Mountains. It is winding its ways amidst the jungle of peaks and rocks. Take a drifting down the river, you can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery but the mysterious Boat-coffins and many ancient rock inscriptions along the banks. A raft trip down the Nine-bend River is the most popular activity followed by a visit to the "Thread of Sky" caves, where the narrowest walkway is only 30cm. Visitor access to the biodiversity protection area is controlled.

Have you ever got the feeling of traveling upon a sea of clouds high up the sky? No? Then you won’t miss Tianyou Peak , Peak of Sky Tour, Which is frequently shrouded in clouds and mist, it towers aloft over clusters of peaks. Ascending to its top, I’m sure you can get that feeling. The pavilion on the top, the highest among myriad peaks commands a panoramic view of Wuyishan encircled by well-known peaks and the Jiuqu Stream(Nine Bend river)on its three sides.

If you are interested in the tea culture of China, Wuyi Mountains offers a great opportunity, which abounding in teas growing on rocks with a bright color, strong scent, and pure taste, It’s called Wuyi Rock-essence Tea . Wuyi Rock-essence Tea has many types. Among them Dahongpao (Grand Red Robe)is the most famous and precious.

Other famous attractions include: Peach Blossom Cave, Tiger Roaring Peak, Tianxin Rock, Water Curtain Cave, Lianhua Peak, YulinTing Kiln Site.

In addition, The Wuyi Mountains is the largest and most representative example of Chinese subtropical forests and South Chinese rainforests' biodiversity. Its ecology has survived from before the Ice Age around 3 million years ago. In 1999, Mount Wuyi entered UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, both natural and cultural. It is the most outstanding biodiversity conservation zone of Southeast China.

If you love nature, landscapes, and biodiversity, take a travel to Wuyi Mountains. It won’t disappointed you in any terms.

Fujian Tulou,Misunderstood As Nuclear Reactor By FBI

Tulou has some other names, like Hakkas’ Earthen Buildings, The Earthen Buildings of Hakkas, Round-Dragon House, Round house.

A brief introduction
Tulou is a traditional communal residence of the Hakka and other people in the mountainous areas in southwestern Fujian, China. They are mostly built between the 12th to the 20th centuries. Tulou is usually of a circular configuration surrounding a central shrine. These vernacular structures were occupied by clan groups. There is something funny about it. It is not famous, until FBI and spy’s satellite found it and considered it as a kind of secret nuclear reactor in China for its unique look.

Although most tulou were of earthen construction, the definition "tulou", is a broadly descriptive label for a building type and does not indicate construction type. Some were constructed of cut granite or had substantial walls of fired brick. Most large-scale tulou seen today were built of a composite of earth, sand, and lime known as sanhetu rather than just earth.

Tulou are mostly located in the mountainous regions of Yongding County of Longyan City and Nanjing County of Zhangzhou City, both in the Fujian province of Southern China. 46 Fujian Tulou sites including Chuxi tulou cluster, Tianluokeng tulou cluster, Hekeng tulou cluster, Gaobei tulou cluster, Dadi tulou cluster, Hongkeng tulou cluster, Yangxian lou, Huiyuan lou, Zhengfu lou and Hegui lou have been inscribed in 2008 by UNESCO as World Heritage Site, "as exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular type of communal living and defensive organization, and, in terms of their harmonious relationship with their environment".

Effective Defense Function

Besides living, Tulou has some other Effective Defense Function for its special physics structure and building material. It can be used to defense against bandits, and play an important role in quakeproof, fire prevention, guard against theft etc.

The Most Famous Fujian Tulou

Zhengcheng lou

Zhenchenglou, nicknamed "the prince of tulou", belongs to Hongkeng Tulou cluster. It is located in Hongkeng village, Hukeng township of Yingding county. Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage 1113-002 It was built in 1912 by the descendents of a rich tobacco merchant. Zhenchenglou is a double ring tulou, its outer ring is 4 storey high, total 184 rooms, the inner ring is 2 storey with 32 rooms. The outer ring was partitioned into four segments according to Bagua concept of Chinese Fengshui.

Western influence is evident in the Greek style columns of the ancestral hall, and in the wrought iron railing of the second level corridor.

Chengqilou

Chengqilou, nicknamed "the king of tulou", of Gaobei Tulou cluster at Gaotou village was built in 1709. Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site 1113-003 in 2008. It is massive rotunda tulou with four concentric rings surrounding an ancestral hall at the center, the outer ring is 62.6 meter in diameter and 4 storey tall 288 rooms, with 72 rooms on each level, circular corridor on 2nd to 4th floor, with 4 sets of staircases at cardinal points connecting ground to top floors. A big roof extending out ward covers the main ring. The ground floor rooms are kitchens for family branches, the second level rooms are grain storage rooms, and the 3rd and 4th floor rooms are living quarters and bedrooms. The second ring of 80 rooms is 2 storey high, with 40 rooms on each level, the third ring served as community library, one storey with 32 rooms; there are 370 rooms in all. The 4th ring is a circular covered corridor surrounding the ancestral hall. If a person stay only one night in each room, it would take more than a year to go through all the rooms[4]. The ancestral hall is at the center. Chengqilou has two main gates and two side gates. 15th generation Jiang clan with 57 families and 300 people live here. At its heyday, there were more than 80 family branches lived in Chengqilou.

Chuxi Tulou cluster

Located as Yongding county Xiayang township Chuxi village. Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage site 1113-001.

Jiqinglou

The largest rotunda tulou also the oldest in this cluster, built in 1419 during the reign of Emperor Yongle Ming dynasty. It consists two concentric rings, the out ring building is 4 storey tall, with 53 rooms on each level. The outer ring has 72 staircases. The second ring is one storey building.

My Travel in Xiamen,Fujian

Xiamen is a beautiful coastal city in Fujian Province, which was recently voted China's cleanest city and has many attractions for the tourist. It’s praised as Xiamen and its surrounding countryside provides spectacular scenery and pleasant tree-lined beaches.

International Marathon in Xiamen

Xiamen International Marathon, one of the two leading marathon competition in China co-organized by Xiamen Municipal Government and Chinese Athletic Association, is registered with International Marathons and Road Races in 2004.It is held on the last Saturday of each March.
Consistiong of full marathon, half marathon, 10-km and 5-km races, Xiamen International Marathon attracts over 20000 participants. The Whole course runs largely through the scenic sections of the city, including Huandao Lu(Ring Road) and large landscaped areas, which are flat and considered to be ideal for a marathon race. In particular the scenic Huandao Lu is regarded among the most beautiful marathon courses in the world.

Gulangyu

Gulangyu, is one of the most beautiful attractions in China, also known as Piano Island, for every 100 people have 3 pianos and the Piano Prince Kong Xiangdong was born here. It’s a romantic place, with a piano port, a concert hall, a musical school, a museum of piano, even the roads are lettering by musical note. It is also a popular, peaceful weekend getaway with amazing views of the city and features many Victorian-era style European edifices.

Botanical Garden

It is a nature lover's paradise. There are Several botanic garden zones and many significant and historical commemorative plants.

Bailuzhou Park

A beautiful scenical park, with the satue of egret goddness in it.

Nanputuo Temple

The Buddhist Nanputuo Temple, dating back to the Tang Dynasty, is a famous ancient temple construction built along the moutains, higher gradually from the bottom to the top ,solemn and venerable. It is close to Xiamen University. Set up in the period of YongLe (1403-1424).

Kinmen

Xiamen is also famous for its history as a frontline during the war with Kinmen (also known as Jinmen or Quemoy) 50 years ago. One attraction for tourists is to view Kinmen island, a few kilometres away and under Taiwanese control, from Xiamen island.

Zhongshan Lu

This is the main commercial street in Xiamen. It includes traditional shophouses with the latest fashion, shoes and wide variety of products. A large section of the street (between the ferry landing and Siming Street) has recently been fully pedestrianized.

Xiamen University

Xiamen University is very famous for its beautiful campus. Located at the foot of the green mountains, facing the blue ocean and surrounded by Xiamen bay. The main campus is picturesque with beautiful scenery and parks. The university has campuses at Jimei and Zhangzhou in addition to the Xiamen campus located in the southern part of Xiamen Island.

In 1919 Mr. Tan Kah Kee (Chen Jiageng), the well-known overseas Chinese leader, donated millions of dollars to establish and endow Xiamen University, officially founded in 1921. It is regarded as one of the most prestigious and selective universities in China.
Mr. Tan handed over Xiamen University to the government in 1937 due to lack of funds, and the institution subsequently became a national university.
In 1938, at the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the university temporary relocated to Changting in Min Xi county, western Fujian.
At the end of World War II in 1946, Xiamen University moved back to Xiamen and resumed normal operations.
In 1952, Xiamen University became a comprehensive university, and has been designated as a national key university since 1962.
When the Cultural Revolution began in 1966, daily operations at the University were suspended and a subsidiary of faculties moved to Fuzhou, forming the initial polytechnic departments of Fuzhou University.