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Magnificent castles, grand and splendid, can be found all over the world but a castle made of clay stands unique only in The Marvelous Mud Castles. This architectural wonder has stood for centuries in China. The Marvelous Mud Castles made a prominent appearance in the backdrop of the 2020 movie Mulan starring the fairy-tale beauty Liu Yifei. If you've watched this movie, you're surely familiar with these unique houses. Let's explore the clay kingdom with '1-0-2' with Mytour.
About The Marvelous Mud Castles in China
Mud Castles is the common name for unique houses shaped like squares, ovals, and pentagons in The Marvelous Mud Castles, China. According to the Chinese interpretation, Mud Castles mean houses made of clay. In reality, Mud Castles are concentrated in two major cities, Longnan and Zhangzhou. Longnan has around 20,000 mud castles, while Zhangzhou has 15,000. The mud castles in The Marvelous Mud Castles are collectively known as the heritage complex. In July 2008, The Marvelous Mud Castles were officially recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage.
The mud castles resemble sturdy fortress walls, helping people fend off external invasions (Image Source: Collected)
The clay castles, resembling solid fortresses, are like giant sand fortresses in Chinese historical dramas. Although The Marvelous Mud Castles are architectural wonders that have existed for centuries, scholars have only discovered them in recent years. Thanks to their unique architecture, the mud castle complex has attracted many tourists both domestically and internationally. Among them, mention must be made of 10 houses with a 600-year history, dubbed China's 'living fossils'
Who Owns The Marvelous Mud Castles in Phukien?
The owner of The Marvelous Mud Castles is the Khach Gia people. According to ancient explanations, the Khach Gia people are an ethnic minority in China. In reality, the Khach Gia people are the Han ethnic group today. The term 'Khach Gia people' originates from the migration of the Han people from the North to the South. Despite settling in 'foreign land,' they still consider themselves as guests living far from their homeland.
The Guest Khach People conceived the design idea and implemented the construction of this monumental architectural project (Image Source: Collected)
From a historical perspective, the Han people from the North had three major migrations to the South. However, during the migration, people from the North encountered relatively few difficulties in adapting to the new environment and culture. They even engaged in strong conflicts with the indigenous people. This is also the main reason that motivated the Khach Gia people to construct unique mud castle architecture and culture.
The most impressive feature of mud castles is a large community consisting of many families living together in a large building. However, the rooms in each family's mud castle still have independent and equal spaces, similar to modern apartments today.
History of the Formation of Mud Castle Architecture
The history of the formation of the Marvelous Mud Castles is closely associated with the arduous migrations of the Khach Gia people to settle in the South. The Khach Gia ethnic group often lives with the Bach Viet people upon arriving in the South. Here, they face difficulties in cultural and linguistic barriers, leading to conflicts with the indigenous people, bandits, and wild animals. This is also the reason why the Khach Gia people created houses shared by many. This not only helps them deal with external forces but also stabilizes their long-term life.
Unique Architecture of the Marvelous Mud Castles
Exterior Architecture of Mud Castles
Due to external threats, The Marvelous Mud Castles often have robust architecture. Mud castle buildings are not only places to live and gather but also sturdy fortresses to protect the Khach Gia people. Therefore, mud castles typically have 4 to 5 floors with a height of tens of meters.
Furthermore, mud castles only have a single main door and no windows under the ground floor. This is explained by the fact that the main door (or gate) becomes a crucial point, often made of stone or iron to prevent fires and attacks from the outside.
The exterior architecture of the fortress is designed quite simply with the function of a 'defense line' (Image Source: Collected)
The mud walls are built very robustly, with a thickness of up to 2 meters. Once the gate of the fortress is closed, no external force can attack. Moreover, mud castles are even able to withstand strong earthquakes.
Interior Architecture of Mud Castles
Inside the mud castle is divided into individual rooms for each family to live in. Unlike the exterior architecture, the interior rooms are intricately designed with a good wind-blocking system. This not only provides a cozy space in winter but also a cool environment in summer.
Typically, the first floor of the mud castle is used as a kitchen cum living room. The second floor serves as a food storage room. Meanwhile, from the third floor onwards, it is arranged as bedrooms. And from the third floor upwards, mud castles start to have windows for ventilation as well as observing enemy attacks.
The interior design of the mud castle bears a resemblance to modern-day apartment buildings (Image Source: Collected)
Currently, The Marvelous Mud Castles have thousands of mud houses of various sizes. Some notable large mud castles include Chau Thanh Castle, Thua Khai Castle, Vinh Xuong Castle, Dien Loa Khanh,... Among them, Thua Khai Castle is considered the largest mud castle ever. This entire mud castle accommodates up to 6000 people living together with 400 rooms and over 80 families. It is also the first round-shaped building constructed in Phukien in 1371.
The Significance of the Marvelous Mud Castles to Popular Culture
Although The Marvelous Mud Castles were built centuries ago, this ancient relic is a unique combination of Chinese beliefs and modern vision. Besides its profound historical significance, the lifestyle represented by mud castles is also a cultural symbol of ancient Chinese people. It's no exaggeration to say that Phukien Mud Castles are the first ancient condominiums in China.
In reality, the population living in Phukien Mud Castles has been steadily declining over the years. The main reason is that the younger generation seeks opportunities for development in big cities. However, thanks to the local government's promotion and tourism policies, The Marvelous Mud Castles always brim with vitality, hosting lively festivals.
When is the Best Time to Visit the Marvelous Mud Castles?
Phukien enjoys a mild climate throughout the year. However, from March to August, rain and storms may occur. Stepping into the dry season (from September to December) is the ideal time to visit the Marvelous Mud Castles.
Despite the ups and downs of time, The Marvelous Mud Castles still retain the beauty of traditional Chinese culture. If you have the opportunity to visit Phukien, don't miss the chance to explore and admire the unique and only clay kingdom in China. Contact Mytour via hotline Mytour to book affordable China tours!
