Unusual ancient buildings find new life in Fujian

Rusheng Lou is highlighted in the Chinese animated film Big Fish and Begonia. The tulou in Fujian were constructed by the Hakka people, a sub-group of the Han ethnic group that fled from the north to what is now Fujian in many waves to escape conflict in the central plains. According to historical records at the Fujian tulou museum, Yongding is known as the cradle of the communal dwellings. As the region was home to numerous skilled craftsmen, when the craftsmen migrated they carried sophisticated tulou construction techniques with them, thereby spreading the architectural knowledge to surrounding regions. She recalled that, at the beginning of the renovation of Shengheng Lou, "the condition of the building was quite awful, except for the solid walls".