4 Dishes and a Soup

The Fujian Tulou is described as, "A large multi storey building in southeast Fujian mountainous region for large community living and defense, built with weight bearing rammed earth wall and wood frame structure."

This particular picture of, TianLuoKeng, is cluster of 5 tulous (pronounced "two-low"): one squared tulou surrounded by three round tulous and one oval tulou. Because of the way the 5 tulous are placed, they are known as "4 Dishes and a Soup," what a Chinese meal at home commonly look like.

We've heard about this World Heritage place since we moved to Xiamen last year, and we finally got the chance to go there today. It never stopped raining, what we thought was just a 2 hours bus ride turned out to be 4 hours one way, and we took a total of 8 vehicles to get there and back. BUT it was worth it! The view was breathtaking - mountains covered with clouds, rice terraces, and the reemergence of old China. We had a lot of fun and this is another time where i wish we were allowed about 10 blips a day! So glad to be home and dry! :)

Another view