Seen from above, they resemble giant doughnuts carved into the landscape.
From ground level, they look more like medieval fortresses than family homes.
Their towering earthen walls, narrow entranceways and vast wooden interiors seem designed for defence rather than domestic life.
Yet behind these imposing façades lies one of China's most remarkable examples of communal living.Known as Fujian Tulou, these enormous earthen buildings housed entire clans for generations, bringing together grandparents, parents and children within a single structure.
Built largely by the Hakka people in the mountains of Fujian Province, they combined security, practicality and social cohesion in a way that still feels surprisingly modern.
