Live in a growing Eco-Community
Tianyuan Bang is an eco-learning farm center in Huizhou, Guangdong where you can experience authentic rural China, Hakka culture, and sustainable living. We invite you not just to visit, but to live, learn, create, and belong.
What we offerAbout us
Welcome to Tianyuan Bang !
Hi everyone, I'm Weihe, the founder of Tianyuan Bang. I've learned biodynamic farming at Emerson College in the UK and spent some time abroad. That's how in 2015, I had the idea of creating this learning center, following the concept of “Life is education”: a place where children and families learn by doing, connect with nature, and carry on Hakka traditions, the culture where I come from.
Indeed, Tianyuan Bang is located in Huiyang city, in the heartland of Hakka people, one of China's most influential and widely spread ethnic groups, with communities across the globe. This area is famous for its unique Hakka walled houses (围屋), ancient fortified villages that blend architecture, family culture, and wisdom of living in harmony with nature.
Our goal and values
Tian Yuan Bang (田园邦) literally means “field and garden community”, which perfectly reflects who we are: an ideal community in the countryside, a living school rooted in nature. Today we are a growing community of 60+ families.
Our core values guide everything we do, and they are the foundation of TYB:
Land as Teacher
We believe that nature and the land are the best teachers. We advocate learning from nature, understanding the origin of food and feeling the laws of nature through close contact with the land.
Learning by Doing
Practice is the best way to learn. We encourage everyone to participate in farming, traditional crafts and community construction, so as to gain knowledge and grow in practice.
Community & Care
Mutual assistance, inclusiveness, co-construction and sharing are the soul of our community. We respect every individual, care for each other and build a warm and harmonious living environment together.
Rooted & Forward
We are deeply rooted in Hakka culture and local ecology, inheriting traditional wisdom while integrating modern educational concepts. We aim to protect traditions and embrace innovation, guiding people to move forward with a sense of roots.
What we do
We are committed to show rural life so that urban people, especially children who are far away from nature, know agriculture and ecology: understand how food is produced and reaches their plate, learn traditional crafts, and cherish the precious environment and resources. Families and groups come during weekends or summer camps, and participate in farm activities together.
For more than 10 years, we've been sharing our love for nature, welcoming families and volunteers from all around the world. We found that the richest experience our community could get is when cultural exchange happens between volunteers from abroad and local families. Learning from each other's experiences helps us grow together.
What we offer
An authentic rural immersion.
What kind of experience
We welcome foreigners to live in our lovely farmstay, participate in our daily farm life, eat organic products from field to table, and make meaningful encounters with locals.
Join us for a 1 to 4 weeks all inclusive and immersive stay!
- Everything is included: accommodation, three meals a day, and all daily hands-on activities and experiences.
- The price range per night per person is from 130 to 215RMB, depending on the room type (simple and shared room/private guest rooms).
- If you are more than one person, a discount can be applied. And if you would like to stay a shorter time, this can be arranged. Simply contact us for exact prices and to custom duration of the stay.
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'Meals will be prepared mostly with ingredients that come from our own organic farm! Please let us know your dietary preferences, allergies, or special needs. We will prepare carefully to make you feel at home.
What will you be doing?
While staying in our farmstay you are free to join us into our daily farming activities according to the season and the needs of the farm, such as:
Harvesting and planting many fruits and vegetables like:
- spring: harvesting fresh bamboo, honey or tea / planting rice
- summer: enjoy fresh fruits: plums, lychees, longan and more
- autumn: harvesting rice, chestnuts, jicama, hibiscus flower
- winter: harvest sugar cane to make sugar, peanut candy and lollipops. And cassavas to eat it fresh or making homemade bubble tea by extracting the starch
Cook traditional food: Meals will be included in the stay but you can also learn the local way to make foods like:
- wood-fired clay-pot chicken, herb bread, and pizza
- fresh tofu, by grinding soy beans, cooking soy milk, and enjoying a delicious tofu feast
- hot pot and many other traditional Chinese rural dishes
Natural building: depending on the farm's needs, you can learn how to build structures like a tree house, horse stable, mud house or oven, and more!
Meet local families and join the party: we receive families on weekends or during summer/winter camps, and prepare outdoor activities for them like: games, fishing, hiking, and so many other things. You are more than welcome to join and spend time with locals.
Outdoor Fun: Our yard is very child-friendly, with swings, trampoline, sandpit, water play area, hand-cranked well, and tree house. Children love to play here all day long.
You can also get close to our lovely farm animals: dogs (including our cute Doudou), cats, sheep, goats, cows, and horses.
Who is it made for?
Perfect for gap-year adventurers, family holidays, cultural lovers, or anyone seeking genuine connection. We customize programs to your group size, age, and interests. Then adapt it according to the seasons and what's available at the farm.
If you are not sure when to come, or you have special interests, we can give you suggestions for the best experiences for your travel dates.
Work exchange
If you want to live here longer and contribute with your hands and skills, you are welcome to join us as a volunteer.
We provide free accommodation and meals. In return, you can help with:
- daily farm work, gardening, or taking care of animals
- or/and share your skills: English teaching, photography, painting, design, website building, international promotion, etc.
Volunteers can fully join community life, experience rural culture, make friends and grow with us.
For more information in, let's chat
Contact UsExtra Activities
Beyond the included farm activities, we can arrange others for you ! Just ask.
Chinese Mandarin/Hakka language lessons
With certified teachers who have taught overseas. We can arrange private or small-group classes for you.
Museums of General Ye Ting and Yap Ah Loy
These local heroes (a Japanese war general and a prominent Malaysia businessman) have their own museums and cultural centers you can visit for free.
Horse riding
We can arrange horse riding outings with our neighbor's horses or our ponies. Fit for all ages and skill levels.
Visit Hakka walled houses
Several walled houses in the area are free to explore. Discover Hakka culture's most enduring architectural treasures.
Hot springs
L'Hirondelle Villa Hot Springs features clean modern infrastructure and plenty of bathing basins for a luxury, relaxed feel
Village Restaurants
Try our village's local restaurants! You can taste special Hakka snacks and local dishes.
Accommodation
Immerse yourself in nature with simple but cozy farm accommodation. Contact us to find what's best for you !
Treehouse
2 treehouses with a camping-style setup right next to the field to feel closest to nature. Both are equipped with single beds and wifi. Shared facilities are available for guests: bathrooms with plant based shower products, hairdryer, washing machine, drinking water and other daily necessities. Mat, mosquito net and fan can be provided if needed.
Capacity: 2 people
Dormitory
2 simple dormitories keeping the original warmth of countryside life. Both are equipped with bunk beds, air conditioner/fan, mosquito net and wifi. Shared facilities are available for guests: bathrooms with plant based shower products, hairdryer, washing machine, drinking water and other daily necessities.
Capacity: 1 to 6 people
Comfortable private rooms
5 comfortable guest rooms with queen beds or bunk beds. All guest rooms are equipped with private bathrooms and air conditioning.a5 comfortable rooms with queen beds or bunk beds to make your stay more cozy. All are equipped with: private bathrooms, air conditioning, wifi, hairdryer, plant based shower products. Shared facilities are available for guests: washing machine, drinking water and other daily necessities.
Capacity: 1 to 2 people
More options in the village
8 local homestays and a brand-new five-star hotel with natural hot spring. Contact us to arrange the stay.
Capacity: 80 to 90 roomsPictures
Reviews
Hear directly from volunteers and travellers who stayed with us.
Our volunteer kindly documented her 2025 stay, allowing other volunteers to find us and come contribute. Watching her video, you can get a sense of how staying here feels like.
This video documents a weekend activity for groups of families at TianYuanBang. Made by a swiss volunteer, it beautifully shows what our activities offer to children.
In this english-language Weixin article, Jana describes her volunteering at TYB, the activities she did and how she feels about life at the farm.
Zavier came in 2017 and helped us to renovate buildings and create a geodesic dome. Chinese language Weixin article (can be translated in browser)
Contact us
Reach out to plan your stay, ask about farm experiences, or for any special request.
Located in Huizhou, Guangdong — just a stone's throw from Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou — Tianyuan Bang is effortlessly accessible by high-speed train, plane, and car.