A Bike Journey through Tea Farms and Tulou Fortresses
Escape to tea studded hills and UNESCO listed fortress-homestays for 6 days of biking and hiking in stunning rural Fujian!
Reportedly once mistaken by US officials poring over satellite photos for missile silos, Fujian’s Tulou turned out to be far more interesting: multi-storied, fengshui-aligned, rammed earth fortresses built from the 13th Century onward to protect the “newly” arrived Hakka Clan’s and their rich culture. 300 Tulou scattered across Southern Fujian are now UNESCO listed World Cultural Heritage gems, best appreciated on a bike, with plenty of tea.
On this program we will actively support heritage conservation by staying in two of these UNESCO listed Tulou. Our high-value low-impact tourism will contribute in a meaningful way to preserving these increasingly delicate and abandoned buildings, helping them to survive through the 21st century and beyond.
Over the trip, we will cycle approximately 100 km kilometres on beautifully paved country back roads, and tiny village pathways (some of the latter less than beautifully paved, but providing intimate access to the Tulou villages and fields!).
On our journey through one of China’s most famous tea regions, we will have plenty of time to rest and sample the freshest and best of Fujian’s Green and Black teas. The cycling will have some hills, but won’t be overly demanding and we’ll have support vehicles with us the whole time: Tea lovers and non-hardcore cyclists are encouraged to join!
Join The Hutong on a connoisseurs’ cycle through Fujian’s famed tea fields and Tulou Roundhouses.
Our 2020 Summer Fujian Bike Journey will run from Thursday July 30th to Tuesday August 4th 2020.
Starting with dinner on Thursday night in the beautiful coastal city of Xiamen, we will set off for the hills and the tour-proper the next morning. After a short coastal ride in Xiamen we’ll be on the bus, easing out of the city as we ascend past tea plantations and fruit farms. Arriving to Tulou country we’ll end the day sipping Oolong tea as we settle into the first of our Tulou homestays in the Chuxi Tulou cluster.
Longer cycles await us over the next two days as we make our way firstly to Hongkeng, where we will meet our host Stephen and his family, guardians of one of the most impressive Tulou in all of Fujian. Later we will explore the quaint (and off the beaten path!) riverside village of Yunshuiyao. Throughout both days we will enjoy stunning scenery, pretty roads and lanes, great fun and loads of tea!
Our final night will be in Zhangzhou where we’ll get a chance to explore a beautiful old town, before finishing with craft beers and delicious food.
We are currently only taking tentative reservations, as we await domestic Mainland travel restrictions to ease. To receive an itinerary and tentatively reserve your space, contact morgan@thehutong.com.
Trip Details
During the course of 3 days of cycling, we will complete 100km, give or take. Our itineraries often vary slightly, given the chance of a minor adjustment to provide an extra opportunity for exploration and discovery.
Biking Difficulty
3.5 out of 5 (you do not need to be a Tour de France rider, but you will need to be able to take on some hills).
Price
6,900 RMB per person.
Included: All meals (including rare Hakka delicacies like Tulou-Chicken), twin-share accommodation, mountain bike, helmet, three days supported cycling, and vehicle transfers to and from Xiamen Airport/train station.
Not included: Your travel expenses to Xiamen. We recommend arriving in Xiamen on Thursday, early afternoon. On Friday, we will transfer directly to the tulous (3 hrs).
For participants who arrive earlier and would like to remain in Xiamen for another couple days, The Hutong will provide tips on what to do, see and eat while exploring on your own.
Start Date: Thursday, July 30th, 2020
This journey begins in Xiamen. Participants should plan their travel to arrive in Xiamen by the afternoon of Thursday, July 30th. The Hutong will help to arrange a group flight option.
Return Date: Tuesday, August 4th, 2020
This journey ends in Zhangzhou on Tuesday morning, and The Hutong will arrange your transfer back to Xiamen where there are flights and trains back to all major cities (Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai). Please check ticket availability for your return before you book.
Departures
Departing from Beijing: There are many daily direct flights from Beijing to Xiamen. The 12 hour train ride is truly for aficionados.
Departing from Shanghai: The new bullet speed D-Trains take about 8 hours from Shanghai to Xiamen. There are also several direct flights.
Departing from Shenzhen, Guangzhou or Hong Kong: Flights are roughly 1 hour to Xiamen. For the eco-minded with a little more time there is a fantastic new bullet train that takes just 4.5 hours from Kowloon East, and 4 hours from Shenzhen north.
Return options: The Tea and Tulou Eco Cycle trip finishes in Zhangzhou on Tuesday morning, and The Hutong will arrange your transfer back to Xiamen where there are flights and trains back to all major cities (Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai). Please check ticket availability for your return before you book.
Cultural Tidbits
Xiamen means Gateway to the Mansion, which is a metaphor used to describe Xiamen’s geographic importance as a port and entry point to China. The officials that named it, viewed the whole island port of Xiamen as a gate to the interior. The word mansion was a metaphor for China - a land of silk, tea, fine porcelain and many other treasures (including the people themselves).
How to book
We are currently only taking tentative reservations, as we wait for domestic Mainland travel restrictions to ease. To receive an itinerary and tentatively reserve your space, contact morgan@thehutong.com
Where else can we take you?
Take a cooking class at our venue courtyard
Our Beijing cooking classes provide the opportunity to learn about Chinese and global food culture, cooking techniques and regional cuisine. In each 2.5 hour class, you will learn how to prepare 3 dishes including recipes to take home, followed by a meal of your creations.
Some upcoming cooking classes:
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