Hakka architecture

Home with hakka

The Hakka culture is especially famous for the unique architecture of its ancient residential buildings. The houses have several impressive and innovative defensive features.

Strange looking multi-function buildings

There are many different types of earth buildings in the Hakka area. While the most common are round or square, others are rectangular,D-shaped,semi-circular or in the shape of horseshoes,umbrellas,windmills, or Ba Gua.

Hakka: the guest people

The Hakka people are not an ethnic minority. They settled in Fujian from the Central Plains of China over a long period from the Qin (221-207 BC) to the Song (960-1279) dynasties.

Hundreds of people share communal houses

The earth buildings are group-oriented residences with dozens or even hundreds of rooms. Two thirds of the houses are used to accommodate roughly 20 families or a clan of ...

Miniature fortified castles

As most Hakka traditionally lived in the mountains, these communal houses made of compacted earth were built to provide protection against bandits and wild animals - almost like small fortified castles.