Anxi, Fujian

Anxi Facts

Chinese Name: 安溪 (ān xī)
Population: 1,025,000
Area: 3,057.28 square kilometers (1,180.4 square miles)
Location: on the southeast coast of Fujian Province, southeast China
Area Code: 0595
Zip Code: 362400
GDP (2018): CNY57.43billion (USD 8.68 billion)

Chinese Tea Capital

Anxi China lies in the southeast coast of Fujian Province, northwest of Hokkien Golden Triangle (Quanzhou, Xiamen and Zhangzhou) and is subordinate to Quanzhou City. Due to the special geographical location and good natural ecological conditions, Anxi is the origin place of Chinese oolong tea-Tieguanyin tea and also one of the largest green tea producing areas, known as the Chinese tea capital. It is also the “hometown of Chinese rattan iron crafts”, and its handicrafts are sold in more than 50 countries and regions around the world.

Best Places to Visit & Top Things to Do in Anxi

Trying picking tea leaves is one of the top things to do in Anxi. It is also a “national-level garden county” with rich tourism resources, including Qingshui Yan, Confucius Temple, Fengshan Forest Park and Putuo Temple. You may need 3-4 days for Anxi travelling.

Huaxiangyuan Ecological Tea Estate is a good place where you can not only picking tea leaves, understand the production process of the tea, but also enjoy the beauty of the tea estate and indulge in the cultural history of the tea.

Qingshui Yan, located on the Penglai Mountain, is a scenic spot which takes Qingshuiyan Temple as its main body, featuring Qingshui ancestral culture and integrates religious pilgrimage, ecotourism, folk customs and leisure together. The mountain top is often misty, beautiful as the “Penglai Wonderland”.

Confucius Temple is located in the south of Anxi Fujian. The hollow wood carving in Dacheng Hall is mythological, which is rare in the history of domestic architecture. At the same time, this temple is relatively a complete-existing Confucian temple in China. You can not only visit the architectures with Chinese characteristics, but also experience Confucius and Chinese traditional culture.

Qiyuanyan, as one of the “Anxi Eight Scenes”, was built in the late Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). The most famous is a sloping stalagmite on the north side, which rises from the ground. And there is a natural cave, the sunshine just shines through it, very marvelous. Qiyuanyan is famous for producing white tea in history. Now, it is a tourist resort featuring pastoral scenery, farmhouse food, farming experience, leisure and entertainment.

Best Time to Visit Anxi

The best time to visit Anxi Fujian is May and October, when is the season of picking tea leaves. The climate in Anxi belongs to tropical maritime monsoon climate. The climate varies from region to region due to differences in topography and geomorphology. The eastern part of Anxi belongs to the southern subtropical zone. The annual average temperature is 19-21 °C. The summer is long and hot, and almost takes up half a year, and the winter is short and not cold.

The terrain in the west of Anxi is intricate, and there are many thunderstorms in summer and autumn. The average annual temperature is 16-18 °C. The four seasons are distinct, and the summer is not hot. The autumn becomes cold rather earlier, and the spring comes later.

Anxi Weather Forecast

Transportation

Anxi China is about 200 km from the capital city of Fujian Province, Fuzhou City, and 70km from Quanzhou Jinjiang. So travelers can take a flight to Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport first and then take a bus to Anxi. No direct airport bus is available now. But frequent buses from Quanzhou An’hai Bus Stations, Quanzhou Passenger Transport Center Station, Hui’an Bus Station, Quanzhou Bus Station and Hui’an East Gate Bus Station are also in service now. Anxi railway station does not handle passenger transportation, so travelers can take trains to transfer bus at Quanzhou.

Within the city area, no metro is in service now, but buses and taxies are very convenient. The taxi charges CNY 6 for the first 2 km and CNY 1.6/km for subsequent distance. The taxi charges about CNY 30-40 from Anxi Bus Station to city center

Best Anxi Food to Try

There are many delicious local snacks including Hutou Rice Noodle, Anxi Dried Persimmon, Longmen Peanut Cheese and Stuffed Bitter Melon.

Guanqiao Dried Bean:
It is rich in flavor and chewy. Now, people often cut them into strips or small pieces and then fry or put them into soup.

Hutou Yubao:
As a traditional snack in Anxi, it is made of rice, white taro, pork, onion and fried peanuts. It goes on sale in the August of the lunar calendar every year.

With unique natural environment, Anxi is rich in Tea resources. In addition to exquisite local snacks, travelers should have a tea-tasting. There are more than 50 varieties of tea trees, so you must have a taste of local tea. There are 6 most representative tea including Tieguanyin, Huangjingui, Benshan, Maoxie, Meizhan and Daye-wulong.

Must-buy Local Products

Tieguanyin tea

- Last updated on Oct. 18, 2019 -