Villagers from Chentang village in Ninghua county, Fujian province frolic in a muddy field on Feb 22. The mud fight is a traditional Hakka ritual celebrated each year to welcome the arrival of spring. [Photo by Shi Fuling/Xinhua]

Hakka culture has become increasingly prominent around the world in recent years, not only due to the success of overseas Hakka diasporas in Southeast Asia, Australia and many other regions, but also due to the rising interest in the group among Chinese researchers.

Often presented as a living fossil of ancient Han culture, many researchers are dedicating themselves to studying Hakka culture as a window into China's ancient cultural heritage.

Now, more and more aspects of Hakka culture are gaining worldwide recognition. The tulou, a traditional Hakka style of earthen building, was added to UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2008. These huge round or square structures were designed to house an entire clan and protect them from attack, a monument to the importance of the family in Hakka culture.