The Fujian Yongding Tulou, one of the original sites for the roundhouses depicted in the animated film 'Big Fish & Begonia'

The Hakka people's earthen buildings serve both residential and defensive purposes, safeguarding the foundation of family lineage through generations, and witnessing the historical changes of the Chinese nation. The Hakka people's heritage from the Central Plains is reflected in the architecture, the family maxims on the couplets, the layout of the landscape, and the nuances of daily life. 'Rather sell ancestral fields, than forget the words of ancestors.' The Hakka people have inherited the Central Plains culture's reverence for education and literature, while also embracing the pioneering and innovative spirit of maritime culture. They are neither blindly traditional nor excessively admiring of foreign things. The moment you step inside a tulou, it's as if you've returned to childhood. I remember my grandfather's courtyard had the same atmosphere, with the house enclosing a safe space. My grandfather would sit under the eaves, watching me play in the center of the yard.