A Christmas Bike Journey through Tea Farms and Tulous

Escape to vibrant Southern China and cycle your way across the diverse landscapes of Fujian province. From coastal beaches and colonial old towns to UNESCO-listed, historical Tulou fortresses lining tea-terraced hills, spend this Christmas on a 7-day biking adventure like no other in the Gateway of China: Fujian!

We start our journey in Xiamen, dubbed the Gateway to the Mansion meaning the entry point to the interior of China. Modern Xiamen is a confluence of historical periods of colonialism, trade, and war with traditional colonial architecture juxtaposing the island with beaches, cycling routes, and industrial ports all shrouded in rich history.

Fujian’s Tulous; multi-storied, fengshui-aligned, rammed earth fortresses built from the 13th Century, were built to protect the Hakka Clan’s and their rich culture. Three hundred of the 50,000 Tulou scattered across Southern Fujian are now UNESCO listed World Cultural Heritage gems, best appreciated on a bike and with plenty of tea. 

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.

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 over 100-KM cycling will have its fair share of hills, providing adventurers with the opportunity to appreciate the destinations as they prefer. Tea and nature lovers, serious and non-serious cyclists are all encouraged to join!

Join The Hutong on a Christmas connoisseurs’ cycle through Fujian’s famed tea fields and Tulou Roundhouses.

Our 2020 Christmas Fujian Bike Journey will run from Sunday, December 20th to Saturday, December 26th, 2020.

Day 1 - December 20 

Gulangyu

We’ll be introduced to the “Gateway of China” by cruise, learning the stories of Koxinga, Gulangyu, Robert Fortune, and the Hakka people along the way. The exploration will continue on Gulangyu Island, one of the wealthiest areas of the world in the 1920s and the home of former foreign custom houses, consulates, and overseas Chinese private mansions, with a guided walk and photo challenge. 

We’ll then take the ferry back to the Zhongshan Area of Siming District for Minnan/Cantonese Dim Sum, a guided walk of the Republican-era architecture, and a jaunt through the local seafood market. Over dinner we’ll draw for our “Secret Santa” to give people ample time to come up with the best gift ideas! 

Day 2 -  December 21

Xiamen - 20-25 kilometers

We’ll ease ourselves into the saddle of our bikes on a gentle urban exploration of Xiamen’s development on the first and longest elevated bike-exclusive path in China. The elevated bike path runs underneath the bus rapid transit system before snaking to the seaside where we will take in the beach views with Taiwan’s Kinmen island in the distance. We’ll enjoy lunch at one of the best Minnan Restaurants in Xiamen before disembarking from our bikes in the Shapowei area. From there, we can continue on foot to Hongshan Temple and Park to take in a 360 degree view of Xiamen Island before ending our evening in the hip Shapowei Art Area for dinner.  

Day 3  - December 22

Xiamen to Hong Keng Cluster - 15 kilometers

In the morning, we’ll hop on a bus and transfer out of the city and ascend past tea plantations and fruit farms into Tulou country, winding our way 120km inland to the UNESCO-listed Hongkeng Tulou Cluster. We’ll start to get initiated to the hillier terrain as we cycle 15km through tulou villages and rice fields into the back of Hong Keng Village. 

At Hong Keng, the Lin family will welcome us into their extraordinary home, the 120 year-old Fuyulou, a UNESCO-listed ‘five phoenix regal Tulou’, our accommodation for the next 3 nights. We’ll explore the village, which is home to seven of the 46 UNESCO-protected Tulou as well as numerous other earthen structures both intact and in various other states of repair.

We’ll dine in the family home. Then our host will share with us a little more about the Lin family, their lineage, and their role in the history of Yongding County over a variety of Fujian teas. We’ll start to get into the Christmas spirit with a bonfire, Christmas movies on the projector, all while making Gingerbread Tulou!

Day 4 - December 23

Fuyulou to Shiqiaocun/Tianluokeng - 28-41 kilometers

Beginning by enjoying the Lin families’ homemade coffee, porridge, and bread for breakfast, we’ll cycle back out the back of the village, off the beaten tourist trail on country roads. These roads will take us through diverse forests of bamboo, pine, banana, and palm trees with quiet Tulou villages along the way. We‘ll stop in Meilin village, a quaint, riverside village seemingly frozen in time, for lunch at Mr. Wei’s and those seeking more challenge, can choose to take on our most challenging route yet, a 3km ascent to the summit, a quiet and semi-abandoned tea plantation.

Those looking to explore the local village more, can leisurely explore the village before we finish off our route at Tianluokeng Village, the home of the iconic, “four dishes with a soup” tulou views. Upon our return to Fuyulou, we’ll enjoy a mulled wine made with local fruits and spirits while experimenting with Christmas cocktails and carols by bonfire.

Day 5 - December 24

Fuyulou to Chuxi - 38-45km

In the morning, we’ll begin with a gentle uphill from Hongkeng cluster before a slightly more testing ride, taking on challenging country lanes and farming trails. We will stop at the Princess Tulou before venturing into Nanjiang Village which is home to a beautiful covered bridge and many tulou, including UNESCO-protected Yanxianglou. Also in the village are the ruins of Libenlou, which was burned to the ground by Nationalistic forces fleeing during the civil war. 

We’ll end the day on a few killer ascents into another village fullf of more UNESCO-protected tulou: Chuxi. After exploring Yuqinglou and Jiqinglou, which was built in 1419 and is one of the most iconic tulou, we’ll head back to Fuyulou for our Christmas eve celebrations: Blind Elephant-style Secret Santa paired with mulled wine and our Christmas cocktails by the Fujian Christmas tree.

Day 6 - December 25

Hongkeng to Xiamen

We’ll spend our final morning in Fuyulou with the opportunity for Christmas exchanges and celebrations and the opportunity to check out more of Hongkeng Cluster and its many interesting tulou. We’ll then pack up and begin our return to the coast. En route, we will stop in the tea fields that cover the mountains, where local families still process their own homegrown tea. In one of these fields, we will learn the art of picking, drying, rolling, and oxidizing Camellia Sinensis leaves into the distinctive Oolongs of the region. Fruit, herbs and flowers grown in the hills will be introduced to you, which can then be used to accent their own self-made teas. 

You'll have the chance to learn how to distinguish between different teas and learn the art of the Fujianese tea brewing method. Once back in Xiamen, we’ll celebrate our final night of this Christmas adventure in one of the most highly-rated hotspring resorts in all of China. There is no better way to refresh and recharge after over 120+ kilometers of hilly cycling!

Day 7 - December 26

Xiamen

On the last day, we’ll continue our recharge at the hotspring resort with a slow morning before organizing transport to the airport for those departing in the early afternoon.

Trip Details

Cycling Info

During the course of 3 days of cycling, we will complete around 100km. 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

9,500 RMB per person.

Included: All meals (including rare Hakka delicacies like Tulou-Chicken), twin-share accommodation, mountain bike, helmet, four days supported cycling, hot springs, and vehicle transfers to and from Xiamen Airport/train station. Expect some special Christmas treats, as well!

Not included: Your travel expenses to and from Xiamen. Extra beverages. 

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: Sunday, December 20th, 2020 

This journey begins in Xiamen. Participants should plan their travel to arrive in Xiamen by midday on Sunday, December 20th. The Hutong will help to arrange a group flight option.

Return Date: Saturday, December 26th, 2020

This journey ends in Xiamen on Saturday, and The Hutong will arrange your transfer back to Xiamen Airport or high-speed rail station (where there are flights and trains back to all major cities). 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 and Guangzhou: 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.

How to book

To receive an itinerary and reserve your space, contact [e-mail]. 

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