Fuzhou

Fuzhou Overview

As the capital of Fujian Province, Fuzhou is also the political, cultural and transportation center of Fujian Province and one of the central cities in the economic zone on the west side of the Taiwan Straits.

It has a lovely nickname: Banyan City. Numerous banyan trees were planted in Song Dynasty which now provide shade for the entire city. Founded in 202 BC, Fuzhou enjoys a history for more than two thousand years. Fuzhou is also one of the first five trading ports opened in modern China. Fuzhou is the cradle of China's modern navy, the birthplace of Chinese ship culture.

Fuzhou is also renowned for its quality and quantity of the hot spring throughout China. Hot spring sights as Yuanmai Hotspring (源脉温泉园), Gui’an Hot Spring Resort (贵安温泉度假村), XiShan Hot Spring Hotel (溪山温泉酒店), Qing Yun Moutain Royal Spring (青云山御温泉), etc.

Some Facts about Fuzhou

Chinese name: 福州

English name: Fuzhou, Hockchew

Area: 1701 km²

Population: 7.66 million (2017)

Climate: Subtropical marine monsoon climate

Location: Southeast China

Attractions: Three Lanes and Seven Alleys (三坊七巷), Drum Mountain, West Lake Park, Yongquan Temple, Shangxia Hang Street, Black and White Pagoda

Administrative area: Gulou District, Jin’an District, Taijiang, Cangshan District, Mawei District, Changle District,

 

Popular sights in Fuzhou

Three Lanes and Seven Alleys (三坊七巷):
The Three Lanes and Seven Alleys is named after the ancient city square pattern of “Three Squares in the west, Seven alleys in the east, with Central Axis from the north to south”. This kind of architectural pattern was born in the Tang Dynasty (618-907AD), and reached the peak period in the Ming (1368-1635AD) and Qing Dynasties (1636-1912AD). The appearance has been extended to today. Over 400 established and important historical figures had lived here in history.
For over a century, the general, bureaucrats and scholars who ever lived here played important roles in the history of China, such as Lin Zuxu, Shen Baozhen, Yan Fu, Lin Xu, Lin Juemin. Therefore, it also enjoys the reputation of “one block of Three Landes and Seven Alleys, half of the history of modern China”. There are 15 heritage sights under the national protection, showcasing the old homes of the historical figures, gardens of the capital city and the folk art. Three Lanes and Seven Alleys belongs to “one of the first 30 historical and cultural blocks in China”. It was awarded the 2015 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards as Honorable Mention and inscribed on the World Heritage tentative list of China.
Three Lanes refers to Yijin Fang (衣锦坊), Wenru Fang (文儒坊) and Guanglu Fang (光禄坊). Seven Alleys refers to Yangqiao Alley, Langguan Alley, Anmin Alley, Huang Alley, Ta Alley, Gong Ally and Jibi Alley.
The renovation of the old street retains the historical features with the flavor of museums and historical sediment, as well as modern cultural and creative shops, etc. You can walk slowly on the old street and feel the cultural atmosphere and historical changes it brings. The Fuzhou snack here is not to be missed, too.

Drum Mountain (鼓山)
Located in east outskirt of Fuzhou city, the Drum Mountain covers an area of 48 square kilometers with the altitude of 870 meters. Places of historic interest and scenic beauties are scattered all over the mountain, such as the Millennium Hiking Trail, the Cliff Stone, the Dharma Cave, and the Yongquan Temple. With only 8kms from the city center, it is also a popular walking/hiking place for local people.

Fuzhou Twin Tower (福州双塔-乌塔白塔)
The Fuzhou Twin Tower refers to the White Tower in Yu Mountain and Black Tower in Wushi Mountain. It is the symbolic architecture of the historic and cultural city Fuzhou.
The White Tower was built in 904 AD in Tang Dynasty to memorize his parents by Seignior Wang Shen Zhi. It was burnt down by the lightning fire in 1534 and rebuilt in 1548. The out appearance was painted with white lime, hence the name White Tower.
Built in 791 AD, the black tower was originally known as Jingguang Tower in Tang Dynasty. Because the tower is made of granite bluestone, hence the name black tower.

Yongquan Temple (涌泉寺)
Situated in the half way of Drum Mountain ,the Yongquan Temple was built in the year of 908. Because of its large scale, brilliance and solemness, Yongquan Temple is comparable to Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou and enjoys the reputation as "the crown of the Buddhist temples in Fujian."

West Lake Park (西湖公园)
Located in the central area of Fuzhou City, Fuzhou West Lake Park has a history of more than 1,700 years and is the most complete classical garden in Fuzhou. Covering an area of 43 acers, it is also called “the pearl of gardens in Fujian”. The oldest architecture in the park is Kaihua Temple which built in 1037 AD during Song Dynasty.

China Chuanzheng Culture Museum(China Ship-building Museum中国船政文化博物馆)
Located in Luoxingta Park, the China Ship-building Museum is the first museum focus on the shipping history. There are a lot of precious cultural relics, pictures and models in the museum.
Fuzhou Mawei Shipyard is a modern shipyard founded by Zuo Zongtang and developed by Shen Baozhen during the Westernization Movement in Qing Dynasty. The shipyard was not only builds ships, but also responsible for scientific research, foreign language translation, and sending foreign students. Mawei occupied a very important position in the development history of the modern Chinese navy. The Fujian Navy established by the Westernization Movement had a battle with France here.

Fanchuanpu Catholic Church (泛船浦天主教堂)
Located in Xinmin Road, Fanchuanpu Catholic Church was firstly built in 1864. The current church was rebuilt in 1933. Facing the Minjiang River, it is the largest Catholic church in Fujian Province. The church building is of Gothic style. At the northern end of the main building, there is a clock tower of more than 20 meters high, and a 3 meter high cross is erected on the roof. It is said that the sound of the big clock can be heard over ten miles away.