China - Fujian - Gaobei village - well preserved earth dwelling structure

Chengqi round earth dwelling is considered the "king of Hakka earth buildings", Gaobei village, Fujian province, The bulding consists of four storeys plus four inner circles containing a total of 400 rooms. These are some of the most extraordinary multistory structures in China built exclusively out of earth and timber (they are known as tulou). From the outside they look and protect like fortresses, built principally by the ethnic minority group known as the Hakka. They where built principally in the 17th till the early 20th centuries. In all about 1000 remain standing today mostly centered around the mountainous regions of the provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi and Guandong. They where constructed in various shapes from circular, square, oblong, even rhomboid. Chengqi was built sometime in the Qing Dynasty ( 1644-1912) estimated at about 300 years old and still remains well preserved and lived in by a hand full of residents. Cooking and eating facilities are at ground level and all bedrooms and storage are spread over the upper floors.

Add to Cart Add to Lightbox Download

Filename: chihakarou_038_1.jpg
Copyright: Christopher Pillitz
Image Size: 3043x1971 / 593.9KB; http://www.christopherpillitz.com; Blue Collar CONCEPTS Chengqi China Construction Inner OCCUPATION OUTDOORS Photography Protect Protection Qing REPUBLIC Structure WEATHER adobe ancient architecture art asia built character christopher circles circular color colour community culture dwelling dynasty earth ethnic ethnicity evening families fortress fujian hakka heritage horizontal housing impenetrable impressive in inscriptions like made man minorities minority of out peoples pillitz province reportage residents round storeys three tiles timber traditional tulou village water weathered well
Contained in galleries: Christopher Pillitz - All pics

Chengqi round earth dwelling is considered the "king of Hakka earth buildings", Gaobei village, Fujian province, The bulding consists of four storeys plus four inner circles containing a total of 400 rooms. These are some of the most extraordinary multistory structures in China built exclusively out of earth and timber (they are known as tulou). From the outside they look and protect like fortresses, built principally by the ethnic minority group known as the Hakka. They where built principally in the 17th till the early 20th centuries. In all about 1000 remain standing today mostly centered around the mountainous regions of the provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi and Guandong. They where constructed in various shapes from circular, square, oblong, even rhomboid. Chengqi was built sometime in the Qing Dynasty ( 1644-1912) estimated at about 300 years old and still remains well preserved and lived in by a hand full of residents. Cooking and eating facilities are at ground level and all bedrooms and storage are spread over the upper floors.