HISTORY
Qingxing Lou began construction in the 1950's, when the community in Tianzhong Village found a need to build a new residential infrastructure as many of the older buildings were becoming unsuitable for living. In the tradition of the Hakka Yongding tulou (which the local Tianzhong Village residents surveyed and studied to learn about tulou construction techniques), the community constructed the large, rammed-earth over the course of about ten years until 1961. In 1961, the Great Leap Forward began and halted all construction projects, so the tulou was completed with 3.5 stories instead of the intended 4. Many of the elderly residents still living in the tulou participated in the construction of the building back in the 50's and 60's.
At its peak, Qingxing Lou housed around 30 families, or about 100 people. Traditionally, the building was divided into vertical "townhouses", like slices of a bundt cake; each multi-generational family occupies one slice of the cake. The ground floor is the kitchen; the second floor is the parents/elder generations' bedroom; the third floor is for the children and their spouses. Historically, most families have worked in local agriculture; they cultivate crops and livestock in the fields behind the tulou.
In the past years, many of the younger families have moved out of the tulou, either to nearby modern developments or to the city to find employment. There are currently about a dozen local residents still living in the tulou.
At its peak, Qingxing Lou housed around 30 families, or about 100 people. Traditionally, the building was divided into vertical "townhouses", like slices of a bundt cake; each multi-generational family occupies one slice of the cake. The ground floor is the kitchen; the second floor is the parents/elder generations' bedroom; the third floor is for the children and their spouses. Historically, most families have worked in local agriculture; they cultivate crops and livestock in the fields behind the tulou.
In the past years, many of the younger families have moved out of the tulou, either to nearby modern developments or to the city to find employment. There are currently about a dozen local residents still living in the tulou.