Quanzhou Attractions

As one of the historic cities of China, Quanzhou boasts many ancient cultural and religion relics. It is also blessed with beautiful scenic spots because of its special geographic location. Here, we just mention a few of the most important tourist destinations.

Kaiyuan Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province, is located on West Street in the Licheng District. It is a major historic and cultural site and is under state protection. It has a history of over 1,300 years. The buildings in the temple are magnificent, of which the most attractive is the Grand Prayer Hall which has 86 huge stone pillars. The most famous attractions are two pagodas standing west and east of the temple. They are the highest stone pagodas in all of China, and measure over 40 meters (131 feet) high. As a precious example of Chinese stone sculpture, they are the symbols of the Quanzhou City.

Qingjing Mosque, located on Tumen Street in the Licheng District, is the oldest example of Moslem architecture in China. It was built in the year 1009 and since then has been repaired several times. Now the gate, the main prayer hall--Fengtian Tan--and the second prayer hall--Mingshan Tang--are still well kept, presenting the traditional architectural style of Arabic Islam. The stone inscription of the Koran written in Arabic is also preserved in the main prayer hall. This temple bears witness to the friendship and cultural exchange between China and Arabic countries.

Heavenly Empress Palace is located on Tianhou Street near the south gate of the city. Heavenly Empress (Tianhou in Chinese)--also called Mazu--is a goddess who is believed to watch over sailors at sea and provide for their safely. In southern China, there are many temples built solely for making sacrifices to her. This palace is the oldest and largest one. The magnificent main hall and back hall have stood for thousands of years and are still in good condition. In the main hall, you can see vividly carved patterns in the windows and various reliefs showing the culture of Taoism. There is also a newly opened museum showing the development of ties between the mainland and Taiwan.

Luoyang Bridge, China's earliest stone bridge built in the seaport, spans the Luoyang River in the east of the Quanzhou city. It was built in 1053 and is one of the most famous ancient bridges in China; even Marco Polo described it in his journey notes. Built from light grey granite, the bridge resembles a silver dragon lying above the green water. The method of reinforcing the foundation of the bridge is very unusual. Thousands of oysters were bred around the footstones and piers so that their secretions would act as kind of cement. This was the world's first example of the use of biology in bridge building and shows the great wisdom of the ancient Chinese people.

Mt. Qingyuan Scenic Area lies in a northern suburb of the city. It combines natural beauty with the religious cultures of Buddhism and Daoism. Walking along the trails, you'll be charmed by the various streams, ponds, and strange-shaped rocks. The mountain boasts thousands of ancient trees which make it green all year round.

Water Rock Temple is a Buddhist temple built high on Penglai Mountain in Anxi County. The architecture is a three-layer tower style built with blue bricks and red tiles. Hiding in the emerald bamboos, green pines, hazy mist, and clouds the temple looks grand and imposing. Around the temple, there are many unusual natural wonders as well as cultural relics, such as the ancient tree with all its branches growing northwards, the four stone bamboo shoots towering to the sky, and the precious Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) stone tablets showing the map of the mountain.

Mt. Xiangong is another well-known tourist spot which is located in the northern part of the city. The mountain is characterized by its majestic features which include perilous cliffs and secluded forests. Many beautiful legends surround the mountain. On the mountain, nearly every temple or pavilion tells you a fairytale. Modern tourist facilities including cable cars, winding blacktops, and other amenities will make your travel more convenient and interesting.

Quanzhou Maritime Museum, located in the Fengze district, is China's only museum dedicated to the history of Chinese overseas exploration. The old exhibition hall, designed like a huge ship, was set up in 1959. It exhibits the components of a Song Dynasty (960-1127) ship discovered in the seaport of Quanzhou. The new East Lake exhibition hall was opened in 1991 and focuses on the history of overseas exploration, religious stone sculptures, and the folk culture of the seaside. The museum shows people the importance of Quanzhou in the development of China's overseas exploration.

Quanzhou is also a modern city that has lots of leisure and entertainment facilities. The Golf Club near the south gate of the city is a good place for you to relax. Encircled by a beautiful natural environment, it has a playground, a meeting hall, a swimming pool, European-style villas, and other entertainments. Additionally, you can go to the Above-Water Paradise outside of the north gate of the city. Just like a Disneyland, it has different facilities for people of different ages. The Outer Space Film City, the Ferris wheel, the Kating Automobile Racing Arena, the Children's Paradise, together with the colorful music fountain, will please you to no end.