Once the greatest port in the East and a start of the Maritime Silk Road, Quanzhou is a UNESCO-listed city where Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim, Hindu and Christian heritage layer into a remarkably living old town.
History & culture
In the Song and Yuan dynasties Quanzhou (Marco Polo's 'Zayton') rivalled Alexandria as a global trading hub, drawing merchants of many faiths whose mosques, temples and stone carvings still stand side by side.
What to see & do
- ◆Kaiyuan Temple and its twin stone pagodas
- ◆Qingjing Mosque, one of China's oldest
- ◆The Maritime Museum's Silk Road relics
- ◆West Street (Xijie) old-town lanes
- ◆Statue of Laozi carved from living rock
What to eat
- ●Ginger-duck stew
- ●Oyster omelette and seafood
- ●Tu sun dong (savoury sandworm jelly)
Getting there
Quanzhou Jinjiang Airport and high-speed rail (Quanzhou station) connect along the coast between Xiamen and Fuzhou.
Avoid the pitfalls
- The treasures are spread through the living old town — wander on foot and pace yourself.
- It's increasingly popular; weekends and holidays fill West Street.
- Many sites are active places of worship — be respectful and quiet.
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