Quanzhou

Quanzhou

Quanzhou has acted as an important port city as far back as the Song Dynasty (960-1279) As the starting point of the Sea Silk Road the maritime history of the region is immense. A pleasant city with great local seafood!

Kaiyuan Temple

Dating back over 1400 years, Kaiyuan Temple is one of the oldest temples in Quanzhou. The temple has suffered numerous disasters over its life time. The most recent was during the cultural revolution.

Qingjing Mosque

A fascinating mosque dating back to 1000 AD. As a port city with traders from across the globe, the mosque was built by Arabian visitors and restored 300 years later. Very much Islamic without the fusion of Chinese architecture - rare indeed.

Guandi Temple

Located close to the Qingjing Mosque, the temple is dedicated to the God of War - Guan Yu.

Mazu Temple

The temple is dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea - Ma Zu.

Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum of Quanzhou offers an insight into the incredible and rich maritime history of Quanzhou. Exhibits include the development of Chinese Ship building.

Chongwu

50 kilometres from Quanzhou is Chongwu the ancient stone walled town. Dating back over 700 years, the area had been at the heart of fierce battles between the Chinese Ming Dynasty and Japanese Pirates.