Longyan city in Fujian province is famed for being the home of the Hakka people in China, with 75 percent of the population of Hakka descent. Changting is also known as another home of the Hakka, and located in the county is an exhibition hall which preserves the ethnic group’s rich heritage in the area.

The Hakka are thought to have originated from lands bordering the Yellow River in the provincial areas of provincial areas of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhejiang, Hainan and Guizhou.

Literally meaning “guest family” in Chinese, Hakka culture does not specifically derive from a geographical region like most other ethnicities, but from the Hakka language which is spoken.

The exhibition hall in Changting contains items on display that were once used by the Hakka people, and preserved to ensure the ethnic group’s rich cultural heritage remains intact.

A model of an ancient Hakka village, which was built as a secure compound so as to protect the families and livestock inside. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]