A fortress for the whole clan
The Fujian Tulou are massive, multi-story rural dwellings built by the Hakka and Minnan people between the 12th and 20th centuries. These structures, whose name translates to "earthen building," are primarily found in the mountainous regions of southeastern Fujian. Built as self-contained worlds, a single tulou could house an entire clan of up to 800 people. The design is inward-facing, with a large central courtyard and a single, heavily fortified entrance. The imposing outer walls, which can be up to three meters thick at the base, are constructed from rammed earth mixed with local materials like sand and lime. Some builders even incorporated sticky rice and brown sugar into the mixture to improve adhesion.
The primary function of this design was defense against armed bandits who were common in southern China for centuries. The lower sections of the walls, sometimes reinforced with granite blocks, were immune to arrows and early gunfire. Windows were absent on the first floor and only appeared on the upper levels, which also featured gun holes for defense. The main gate was a formidable barrier, constructed from 10 to 13 centimeters of wooden planks reinforced with an outer iron plate. This construction made each tulou a self-sufficient fortress, enclosing halls, storehouses, wells, and living quarters within its protective walls.