Quanzhou Attractions
Quanzhou lies in the southeast of the Fuijian province on the Jinjiang estuary. From Xiamen and Fuzhou it is accessible by air or by sea.
Already in the 6th C Malayan ships docked in Quanzhou, and it was founded in about 700. Quanzhou grew until in the 10th C, under the Tang, it had become with Canton and Yangzhou one of the three largest Chinese international trading ports. From the 11th C to the 14th C the city had its greatest flowering. At this time the woven satin which was manufactured here was even sold in the European market. Some expert linguists think that the word satin is taken from ''Zaiton'', which is the name Marco Polo gave to Quanzhou in his work ''Millions''. The Venetian traveled back to Italy from Quanzhou in 1292, and noted in his travel journal: ''Zaiton is the biggest port in the world''.
During the following centuries, the city attracted many foreign dealers, missionaries, and travelers, many of whom finally settled here. In the 15th C the city lost its status as a trading center.
Already in the 6th C Malayan ships docked in Quanzhou, and it was founded in about 700. Quanzhou grew until in the 10th C, under the Tang, it had become with Canton and Yangzhou one of the three largest Chinese international trading ports. From the 11th C to the 14th C the city had its greatest flowering. At this time the woven satin which was manufactured here was even sold in the European market. Some expert linguists think that the word satin is taken from ''Zaiton'', which is the name Marco Polo gave to Quanzhou in his work ''Millions''. The Venetian traveled back to Italy from Quanzhou in 1292, and noted in his travel journal: ''Zaiton is the biggest port in the world''.
During the following centuries, the city attracted many foreign dealers, missionaries, and travelers, many of whom finally settled here. In the 15th C the city lost its status as a trading center.
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Temple of the Beginning of the New Age
One of China's largest temples, the Temple of the Beginning of the New Age at one time held more than 1,000 monks. The structure dates to the 7th C.
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Mosque of Peace and Clarity
Quanzhou's Mosque of Peace and Clarity was built in the early 11th C and features a lovely and well preserved main gate.
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Museum of the History of Foreign Trade
Stone tablets and numerous ceramic pieces are two of the main attractions in the Quanzhou Museum of the History of Foreign Trade.
Quanzhou Surroundings
Holy Islamic Grave Yard
On the Mountain of Souls (Lingshan) on the eastern edge of Quanzhou, are buried two students of the prophet Mohammed. They came here in the early 7th C to spread the word of Islam. Behind the graves is a marble plate dating from 1323 inscribed in Arabic.
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Ninth Day Mountain
Ninth Day Mountain, located near Quanzhou, has a 10th C, 4.5m high Buddha sculpture on a lotus-flower throne on the western summit.
Luoyang Qiao Bridge
The bridge, erected in the years 1053 to 1059, which spans the Luoyang river 10km/6mi to the northeast of the city is 843m/2765ft long and 7m/23ft wide. The pavilion on the middle of the bridge is covered with many stone tablets, with inscriptions up to 1000 years old. The 46 pylons were part of the original structure which was seriously damaged by an earthquake in 1607.
Mountain of Clear Springs
The 490m/1608ft high Mountain of Clear Springs is also known as the Beishan (north mountain), its name being taken from Quanzhou ''city of springs''. It is said that there were once many Daoist temples here.
The 5m/16ft high Rock of Laotse (Laojun Yan), a figure of the philosopher, dates from the Song period (960-1279).
In a building on the Amitabha rock (Mituo Yan), can be seen a tall statue of the Amitabha Buddha.
The 5m/16ft high Rock of Laotse (Laojun Yan), a figure of the philosopher, dates from the Song period (960-1279).
In a building on the Amitabha rock (Mituo Yan), can be seen a tall statue of the Amitabha Buddha.
Shijing - House of General Zheng Chenggong, China
In the little village of Shijing stands the House of General Zheng Chenggong (42km/26mi) to the south of Quanzhou). He was born here in 1624. Zheng freed Taiwan from the Dutch rulers on February 4th 1662 and died only three months later. His body was buried in the family graveyard of Shuitou, some 10km/6mi to the north of this house. In 1962 the house was converted into a museum in order to keep the memory of the national hero alive.
