Quanzhou! Quanzhou!
It is known as “Look at Xi’an underground and Quanzhou above ground”. Quanzhou, a historical city, was once the largest port in the East and carries thousands of years of glory and memory.
Here, tradition and modernity are intertwined, and East and West blend, forming the unique charm of this city.
Quanzhou, with its “open and inclusive” spirit, shows the vitality of this historical old city.
There are towering mountains, vast seas, and flowing rivers and lakes here.
Visiting Quanzhou is not only to explore the footsteps of history, but also to enjoy comfort and tranquility.
From the starting point of the “Maritime Silk Road” to today’s “World Heritage City”, Quanzhou is like a big brother who works quietly and acts in a low profile.
Its amazingness is not an achievement achieved overnight, but the depth and foundation accumulated over the years.
As long as you are willing to delve deeper, you will find that the charm of this city will be discovered sooner or later.
Museum of World Religions
Kaiyuan Temple, as the landmark of Quanzhou, has an irreplaceable status in the hearts of Quanzhou people.
The history of this Buddhist giant on the southeast coast can be traced back to more than 1,300 years ago. It has gone through many vicissitudes of life, but the relics of Buddhism, Taoism, Brahmanism, and Christianity can still be seen intertwined.
The weight of history gives it an unshakable lofty status.
The morning in Kaiyuan Temple is quiet and peaceful. Devout believers burn incense and pray for blessings, citizens do morning exercises here, old people sit and meditate under the bodhi tree, birds chirp crisply, and monks clean the courtyard silently.
Every moment here is filled with peace and tranquility.
Strolling among the temples, you will see towering ancient trees. They bear witness to the passage of time and carry the awe of Quanzhou people.
The tree worship ceremony under the tree is a reflection of Quanzhou people’s awe and respect for nature, as well as a profound understanding of life and nature.
The two Song pagodas are the landmark buildings of Kaiyuan Temple.
They are like watchers of history, standing quietly on the land of Quanzhou, witnessing countless changes in spring and autumn.
Whenever the eryngium flowers are in full bloom, the east and west towers complement each other, looking simple and vicissitudes of life, as if they have traveled through the world and are full of mystery.
Although Chengtian Temple is located in the bustling “hipster street” Nanjun Road, it seems to be a pure land escaping from the world.
At the end of the road, there are four big characters “Nanquan Buddhist Kingdom”, majestic yet restrained. There is a cave inside the temple, with a 300-meter-long central axis, connected temples, and exquisite murals.
There are few tourists, and only a few locals burn incense and worship Buddha here. It is so quiet that you can clearly hear the whisking of the banyan tree’s whiskers.
Here, it seems to be a perfect combination of a garden and a Buddhist country, and every scene and everything is full of Zen.
Cao’an Temple is the only remaining Manichaean temple in China and the only existing Manichaean temple site in the world.
The temple is backed by huge rocks and hidden among vegetation, mysterious and quiet. Standing on the high platform and looking far away, you can have a panoramic view of Quanzhou’s scenery. Although it is not bustling, it is full of the unique comfort and tranquility of a small town.
Qingjing Temple, as the earliest and oldest existing Islamic temple with Arabic architectural style in China, is known as the “Four Ancient Islamic Temples in China” together with Yangzhou Xianhe Temple, Guangzhou Huaisheng Temple, and Hangzhou Phoenix Temple.
In the past, Quanzhou had a prosperous commercial port and an inclusive multi-cultural environment, leaving behind such a holy and alien world in the center of the city.
Islam does not depict images, so the overall Qingjing Temple is simple and simple.
Although the original dome on the lawn was destroyed by the earthquake, the columns and window lattice still stand, telling the vicissitudes and changes of history.
Wandering around, it is inevitable to feel sad, but it is this incomplete beauty that has also left an eternal blank space in the history of Quanzhou.
Nostalgia through thousands of years
Quanzhou, this land has its own Jianghu charm, as if every stone slab and every alley hides endless stories.
Strolling through the streets and alleys of Quanzhou, with leisurely steps and an indifferent mood, there are always little surprises that pop up in front of you inadvertently, which make people moved.
If you want to explore the charm of Quanzhou, those old streets full of fireworks are the only way to go, and West Street, as the most dazzling star in the long river of history, must be the first stop you can’t miss.
This 1,700-meter-long old street has experienced more than 1,300 years of vicissitudes and has witnessed the prosperity of Quanzhou since the Song Dynasty.
It is like a string of bright pearls, connecting the cultural relics, ancient dwellings and folklore of Quanzhou since the Tang and Song Dynasties, telling the story of the centuries-old changes of this ancient city that have gone through ups and downs, reform and innovation.
“Two towers on the east and west, and one street on the north and south.”
The east and west towers of Kaiyuan Temple stand majestically, while Zhongshan Road is the epitome of Quanzhou’s prosperity.
From Qixian’s concrete road to today’s stone road, Zhongshan Road has gone through hundreds of years of ups and downs and still retains the charm of the South. The rows of arcades tell the story of the past glory, and every brick and tile reveals the authenticity and simplicity of life in Quanzhou.
Standing at the intersection of East-West Street and Zhongshan Road, the white bell tower comes into view.
As one of the most famous landmarks in Quanzhou, it is not only a symbol of Quanzhou, but also a landmark building in Fujian Province.
During the day, the bell tower and the Red Room complement each other like a beautiful picture;
As night falls, the lights are bright and the bell tower becomes more solemn and solemn, as if guarding the memory of this ancient city.
Xuanpu Village, as an important starting point of the Quanzhou Maritime Silk Road, carries rich history and culture.
The oyster shell house here is unique. The dense shells on the outer wall shine in the sun, as if people feel the call of the ocean in advance.
The women living here are even more charming. Their unique costumes and customs make people feel like they have traveled through time and space and feel the charm of Middle Eastern Arab culture.
Chongwu Ancient City, this coastal stone city built to resist Japanese pirates, is the only stone city that has been completely preserved among the more than 60 acropolis along the coast in the early Ming Dynasty in China.
It is not only a witness to history, but also the crystallization of the wisdom of Quanzhou people.
The romantic style of Chongwu Coast is even more memorable, and it is known as one of the “eight most beautiful coastlines in China”.
Playing here feels like being in the depths of Quanzhou, feeling the stories of that time and the splendid life.
The comfort that pervades the mountains and the sea
Quanzhou, a small coastal city, has beautiful and intoxicating natural scenery.
Among them, Xiao’an’s Windmill Island is an excellent place for fresh sea water.
The name of the place is apt for the scenery. The white windmills are like natural melodies, constantly turning. Along with the proud rhythm of the waves, even the sound of the village radio becomes melodious in this harmonious melody.
And the rare tentacle beach in China is a masterpiece of nature.
The snow-white sandy beach is like a jade belt, winding towards the sea, surrounded by the sea on three sides, narrow and curved. Viewed from a high place, it looks like the tentacles of an insect, mysterious and charming.
This beach disappears and appears as the tide rises and falls. It is a blessing to witness its beauty with your own eyes.
In addition, Jinshawan, located in Weitou Port District, Quanzhou City, makes people feel like they are in the fantasy world of Bali.
The clear water and green pine forests allow people to sit quietly on the shore, feel the undulations of the waves, and enjoy the tranquility and comfort.
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle, Qingyuan Mountain is a paradise in Quanzhou.
As the first 5A-level scenic spot in Quanzhou, it seems to be a pure place to escape from the world. Every weekend, many tourists come here to find a moment of tranquility.
There are many teahouses in the mountains, and you can taste the rich southern Fujian style with a pot of tea.
Quanzhou also has the charm of classical gardens.
West Lake Park is one of them. It not only has beautiful scenery and blooming flowers, but also each building is unique and full of elegance. Walking there, you feel like you are in a beautiful picture.
Authentic ancient taste
To be honest, when I stepped into Quanzhou, the beautiful scenery was stunning, but the food was what really fascinated me.
When it comes to “holy places to visit for food,” Quanzhou is undoubtedly among the best, and it is well-deserved to be among the top three.
Compared with the spicy excitement of Sichuan and Chongqing cuisine, Quanzhou’s cuisine is more about the delicate pursuit of the original taste of the ingredients.
A day for Quanzhou people often begins with a bowl of delicate noodle paste. The melt-in-your-mouth soup base, paired with carefully selected toppings, warms your stomach and makes you feel satisfied.
The roasted pork rice dumplings topped with sweet and spicy sauce have a mellow taste and overflowing aroma. For diners who love sweet rice dumplings, this is definitely a feast for the taste buds.
If you are looking for a light texture, the steaming pan-fried pancake will be your best choice. This is a “little cake” unique to Quanzhou people, and every bite exudes the warmth of home.
Pan-fried sea oysters are crispy and glutinous, with a simple and pure taste. Only the sweetness of the seafood and the fragrance of the green onions are intertwined, which is enough to make you endless aftertaste.
In addition, there are bamboo shoot jelly, Shishi sweet cake, ginger duck, moist cake, vinegar pork, braised duck, Jiuchong cake, Anhai tied hoof, Honglai chicken feet, salty rice… There are countless kinds of delicacies, which are dizzying and whet your appetite. Wide open.
You never get tired of fine food, and you never get tired of delicious food. Quanzhou’s delicious food feast makes people want to stop and leave endless aftertaste.
Walking in this ancient city, you often feel like you are stepping back in time, as if time has left a deep imprint here.
It seems to overlap with scenes from childhood memories, evoking endless nostalgia.
It is true that high-rise buildings are an important symbol to measure the development of a city, but what truly determines the heritage of a city is often the ancient buildings and unique culture that have accumulated over time.
Quanzhou, a city full of traces of time, doesn’t it exude an intoxicating charm?
