Quanzhou, a captivating city on the southeast coast of China in Fujian Province, was once celebrated as the โEmporium of the Worldโ during the Song and Yuan dynasties (10th to 14th centuries). This vibrant port city was a central hub along the Maritime Silk Roads, drawing traders, explorers, and scholars from across the globe. Today, Quanzhou stands as a testament to its rich cultural legacy, boasting a unique blend of religious landmarks. Within the city, visitors can explore Confucian temple, Taoist temple, Buddhist temple, Islamic mosque, and other sacred sitesโeach representing the diverse cultural tapestry woven by centuries of exchange and collaboration. Quanzhou is an interesting city for all to see.
Personal Thoughts
“Walking through the streets of Quanzhou, I felt transported by the charm of the old town, where traditional buildings and local ways of life beautifully preserve the cityโs heritage. Exploring the temples, mosque, and historic streets, I could almost sense the echoes of Quanzhouโs pastโa once-thriving port along the Maritime Silk Road, shaped by diverse cultures and traditions.
What to plan before your trip
- Getting there
- Documents required
- Accommodation
- Internet access
- Forms of payment
- Transportation within
- Sites to see
- Food to eat
- Points to note
Getting there
China High-speed Rail
If you are flying into another city in China, you can take the high-speed rail and / or local rail to Quanzhou. Book your high-speed rail tickets to Quanzhou at the following websites:
Depending where the starting destination is, the cost and time will vary. When booking the train ticket, there are seat options to choose from:
| Cost | Number of Seats per Row | Power Outlet | Can Recline | Others | |
| Business (only available in long-haul trains) | $$$ | 2 or 3 (2 on one side, 1 on the other) | Yes | Yes | Leather chairs, blanket, waist pillow, entertainment screen, lamp |
| First | $$ | 4 (2 on each side) | Yes | Partial | pillow, small table, foot rest, back cushion |
| Second | $ | 5 (3 on one side, 2 on the other) | Yes | Slightly | small table |
Second class seats are comfortable and the most affordable. However, ear plugs or headphones are suggested as children gets impatient, people talk loudly. The environment maybe too disruptive if travelling for long hours and need to rest.
There are food and beverages that can be purchased on the train. The train attendant has a cart where she walks to each train cart saying what is for sale. There seems to be rice sets, noodle sets, drinks, snacks and duck neck, feet etc.
Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport
Alternatively, one can fly to the Quanzhou JinJiang Airport from major airports in China such as Beijing, Shanghai or from Hong Kong.
Setting up Didi (ride hailing app in China) or other ride hailing app before arriving is a good idea as it lets you quickly call for a ride upon arrival. Trying to set up ride hailing apps upon arrival takes a lot of time and may lead to sign-in problems. In addition, many eager drivers will try to convince you to go on their ride with them and make up their own cost. See below for how to set up Didi or other ride hailing apps in China.
Documents required
Do I need a visa to visit China? Depending where you are coming from, a Visa may have to be applied a head of time.
Requirements: China Visa Application Service Center
Application Procedure and Forms: Visit your home country website
Accommodation
Licheng District (้ฏๅๅ) in Quanzhou is a good district to stay in as it is walkable to a lot of tourist attractions. There are many hotels and homestay within this district and most have very good reviews.
Explore hotels and homestay in Quanzhou.
Within the Licheng District, one can walk to Kaiyun Temple and stroll down West Street then walk down Zhongshan road to Tumen Street and visit the Confucian Temple, Qingjing Mosque and Guandi Temple for the rest of the day.
Internet access
SIM/eSIM
Klook has an eSIM for China and Macau: 30 days, 15GB, data only for US $13.95
Trip.com also has an esim for China, Hong Kong, Macau 4G eSIM with daily total high speed data for 1-30 days where users can customize the GB and days according to there travel needs.
If stopping by Hong Kong, one can get a sim card that works in Hong Kong and China for a reasonable price at China Mobile.
Travelling with just an internet only plan is fine. However if you want to be able to save/mark destinations on Baidu Map or Amap, a China phone number plus a data plan is needed for Baidu and a China/Hong Kong/Macau phone number plus a data plan is needed for Amap.
Forms of payment
The most common form of payment in China is through the mobile app and scanning a QR code. The two most common app for payment is through WeChat and Alipay. Foreigners can now link their own country’s credit card to the individual app and use that as a form of payment. Cash is rarely used. Most hotels will still be able to take the deposit through mobile payment or credit card; however for homestays, mobile payments are mainly used.
Alipay
Download the Alipay app from the app store.
When opening the app, there are four options at the top of the screen:
When ‘Scan’ icon is pressed, you can scan the merchants QR code and it will ask you to enter the price you want to pay then enter the code you created upon set up. Alternatively, some places scans your payment QR code under the ‘Pay’ icon and whatever amount the merchant set up will be deducted automatically. In smaller stores, once the payment goes through the amount of the payment is usually announced by the speaker in the background.
Download WeChat from the app store.
When opening the app, there are icons at the bottom:
WeChat’s scan function is under Discover. Press scan, then you can scan the merchants QR code and enter in the amount you want to pay. Alternatively, if you want to let the merchant scan your QR code with a preset amount, tap the ‘Me’ icon, then ‘Pay and Services’, then press ‘Money’ and the QR code will appear.
Transportation within
Navigation (Download either Baidu Map or Amap from the app store) – unfortunately most things are in Chinese. One way is to copy a list of the names of places to go in Chinese and paste into the map. Obtaining a list of the Chinese names of the places to visit before hand is a good idea.
Baidu Map
Download Baidu Map on the app store. Baidu map can be used to look up places and directions between destinations without log in . However, it requires a China phone number to login if you want to save destinations. In addition, the map only accept Chinese characters to search for destinations. When using English names for destinations, the correct destination does not show up.
Amap
Download Amap from the app store. Amap can be used to look up destinations and directions between places without logging in. However, Amap requires China, Hong Kong or Macau phone number to login to save destinations. With more options, one can get a sim card with a Hong Kong or Macau phone number to login to save destinations. In addition, when English names of destinations are typed in search area, it mostly gives accurate destinations in Chinese.
Transportation Methods
Walking
For attractions within the Licheng district, it is very convenient to walk. Most attractions are within 15 min to 20 min walk. If one is travelling with elderly or someone that has difficulty walking far, consider using Xiabai (Little White) (see below).
Little White Vehicles (ๅฐ็ฝ่ฝฆ)
Photo from: ็ฑ ๆณๅทๆๅทดๅฃซ – ่ชๅทฑ็ไฝๅ, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=134363256
Xiabai (Little White) – are little white vehicles that travel within the central Quanzhou area called ‘Ancient City’. They operate from 6am to 10pm and have two main routes that stops at different places.
Route No. 1: Tianhou Palace – Yiquan Street – Guandi Temple – Fuwen Temple – Chengtian Temple – Zhuangyuan Street – Yuanmiao Temple – Weiyuan Tower – Chaotianmen – West Lake Park – Fujian-Taiwan Edge
Route No. 2: Fujian-Taiwan Edge – West Lake Park – Kaiyuan Prosperity – West Gate of Kaiyuan Temple – Jiadi Gate – Xinmen Street – Goldfish Lane – Zhuangfu Lane – Pan Palace – Zhihui Lane – Tianhou Palace
One can waive at the Xiaobai to get on and show the driver the destination in Chinese with your phone or if you speak Chinese can directly tell the driver where you want to go. Each ride cost 2 yuan. Accepted payment include Alipay, WeChat and coins.
An alternative is downloading the Little White App via WeChat under ‘Discover’ then ‘Mini Program’ and search for ‘ๅฐ็ฝ็บฆ็ง’.
One can reserve a ride with Little White with this app. However, the app did not function properly during my trip.
Didi
Didi is a popular ride hailing app in China. One can directly download the Didi app or download it via Alipay so it directly links to your Alipay account. Enter the pickup and dropoff destinations, then different ride options shows up.
The yellow is where the pickup location will go or if location is turned on, it should automatically determine the pick up location. If entered manually, it first ask you to choose the city ‘Quanzhou’ then enter the name of pick up location which the Chinese characters of the destination can be paste in.
The green is where the name of the destination location should be entered or one can paste the destination Chinese characters in.
After entering in the destinations and press search or enter. The next screen appears with different options. The options above the yellow line ‘ๆผ่ป’ is if you want to share a ride with other people. If your travel group don’t want to share a ride, choose the options below the yellow line with out ‘ๆผ่ป’. The white cars are drivers signed up with Didi and the yellow cars are Taxi associated with Didi. Once the option is chosen by checking the box on the right, press the orange button at the bottom to confirm.
Sites to see
Kaiyuan Temple (ๅผๅ ๅฏบ)
Kaiyuan Temple (ๅผๅ ๅฏบ) is a significant Buddhist temple build in Tang Dynasty (686 AD). It was originally named “Lotus Temple” as a wealthy man who own the land was visited by a monk who asked him to built a temple. The wealthy man is willing to if his mulberry tree grew lotus which it did. The temple was then built and called “Lotus Temple” until the emperor Xuanzong renamed to Kaiyuan Temple during 739 AD. Kaiyuan temple has been rebuilt many times due to fire during war around the end of the Yuan Dynasty. Renowned for its immense size and architectural grandeur, the temple is home to the iconic twin pagodas of Zhenguo and Renshou which are the tallest stone pagodas in China. These twin pagodas withstood the magnitude 8 earthquake. Its serene atmosphere and intricate carvings offer visitors a glimpse into China’s Buddhist heritage and cultural exchange with other civilizations. Kaiyuan temple is located on West street also called Xiejie.
West Street ‘Xiejie’ (่ฅฟ่ก)
Xiejie – Quanzhou’s West Street’s history is intertwined with the rise and fall of dynasties. Dating back to the Tang Dynasty, it is the earliest developed block in Quanzhou. It once served as a vibrant commercial hub, attracting merchants from all over the world. Today, the street retains its old-world charm, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience the past. Walking down this street, one can indulge in delicious local cuisine, including traditional snacks and seafood delicacies. This is a street where you can try most of the local cuisine in one place. See the ‘Food to Eat’ section.
With Kaiyun Temple on the west, one can walk down Xiejie to the bell tower on the right where it crosses with Zhongshan Road. From the cross-section at Xiejie and Zhongshan Road, one can walk down Zhongshan Road to Tumen Street (~13min). Tumen Street is the street with the richest cultural heritage in Quanzhou. On Tumen street from west to east, there are Fuwen Temple representing Confucian culture, Qingjing Mosque representing Islamic culture, as well as the important representatives of folk beliefs – Guandi Temple.
Quanzhou Confucian Fuwen Temple (ๆณๅทๅบๆๅบ)
Quanzhou Confucian Temple (ๆณๅทๅบๆๅบ) also called “Fuwen” Temple is a significant cultural relic in Fujian Province as it is the place where Confucius is worshipped since the Tang dynasty. Its architectural grandeur, blending Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing styles, showcases the evolution of Chinese temple architecture. The temple’s main hall, the Dacheng Hall rebuilt during the Song Dynasty (1265-1274), houses a revered statue of Confucius and serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of Confucian philosophy. The temple also houses exhibitions including the historical and cultural characteristics of Quanzhou City, the Quanzhou Confucian temple history and the Quanzhou education history. As a designated national key cultural protection site, the Quanzhou Confucian Temple continues to captivate visitors with its historical significance and architectural beauty.
Qingjing Mosque (ๆธ ๅๅฏบ)
Qingjing Mosque (ๆธ ๅๅฏบ) is an Arab-Islamic mosque built for Muslim merchants from Persia, Arabia during Song and Yuan Dynasty. The Qingjing Mosque is a significant historical and cultural landmark in Quanzhou, Fujian Province. Qingjing Mosque is the oldest existing Islamic mosque founded by Arab Muslims in China. Built in 1009 during the Northern Song Dynasty, the mosque’s architecture is inspired by Islamic chapels in Damascus, Syria. The mosque’s key features include the gatehouse, prayer hall, and Mingshan Hall. Recognized as a national key cultural relic protection unit, the Qingjing Mosque stands as a testament to China’s rich Islamic heritage and its historical connections with the Islamic world.
Guan-Yue (Guandi) Temple (ๅ ณๅธๅบ)
Guan-Yue Temple (ๅ ณๅธๅบ) also called Guandi Temple is a Taoist temple dedicated primarily to Guan Yu, the deified general of the Three Kingdoms period. Originally constructed during the Song Dynasty, the temple complex comprises of several buildings, including the main temple, Sanyi Temple, and Chongxian Temple. These structures, each with three deep halls, exhibit a blend of traditional and modern architectural styles. Renowned for its spiritual significance, the temple attracts devotees from Southeast Asia and Taiwan throughout the year. Today, it serves as the headquarters of the Quanzhou City Taoist Culture Research Association.
The following locations are located farther from the central city center of Quanzhou.
Laojun statue (่ๅๅฒฉ)
From Kaiyun Temple, it talkes 15 min car ride, 30 min bus ride or 1 hour of walking to get to the Laojun statue. From Kaiyuan Temple and West Street, one can call for Didi to get to Qingyuan Mountain to see Laojun Statue.
Laojun statue (่ๅๅฒฉ) along with other Taoist stone statue at Qingyuan Mountain (ๆธ ๆบๅฑฑ) are a collection of exquisite stone sculptures dating back to the Song and Yuan Dynasties. Located in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, these statues showcase a diverse range of religious figures, including Taoist deities and Buddhist (including Tibetan Buddhist) representations. Laojun Rock statue is the largest existing Taoist stone statue from the Song Dynasty in China. Recognized for their historical and artistic significance, these statues stand as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Quanzhou Maritime Museum (ๆณๅทๆตทๅคไบค้ๅฒๅ็ฉ้ฆ)
From Laojun statue, it takes about 12 minute by car to get to the Quanzhou Maritime Museum. Alternatively, from Guandi Temple, it is also 12 minute by car to get to the Quanzhou Maritime Museum.
Photo from: Iswzo, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Quanzhou Maritime Museum (ๆณๅทๆตทๅคไบค้ๅฒๅ็ฉ้ฆ) was built in 1959 and renovated in 1991 to showcase the history of the ancient overseas transportation and the history of Quanzhou during the Maritime Silk Road. The museum houses a vast collection of ancient religious stone carvings and Song Dynasty sea ships. Some permanent display include Quanzhou Bay Ancient Ship Exhibition Hall, Quanzhou and Ancient Overseas Transportation History Exhibition Hall, Quanzhou Religious Stone Carving Museum, China’s boat world and Arab-Persian exhibition hall in Quanzhou.
Possible Day Trips
These attractions are a bit farther away from the Quanzhou city but still worth seeing. One can book a day trip tour from sites such as Trip.com where the driver picks up at the traveler’s accommodation in the morning and drive them to the locations selected and drops off at the traveler’s desired destination within the Quanzhou city center.
Alternatively, one can just pick a few desired destinations and call Didi or a ride through the ride share apps to go to the next destination. See section on ride-hailing.
Luoyang Bridge (ๆด้ณๆกฅ)
Luoyang Bridge (ๆด้ณๆกฅ) is a renowned historical landmark in Quanzhou, Fujian Province. It is China’s oldest surviving cross-sea beam-style stone bridge. Luoyang Bridge is constructed during the Song Dynasty (1053-1059) and it is a monument to the ingenuity of ancient engineers and the region’s maritime glory. The bridge’s elegant design, featuring 45 stone piers and intricate carvings, has earned it the title of “No. 1 Bridge in the Country.” In 2021, Luoyang Bridge was recognized as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Xunpu Village (ๆณๅท่ณๅๆ)
Xunpu Village, a historic coastal town in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, has been a bustling port since the Tang and Song dynasties. Situated on the north bank of the Jinjiang Estuary, it played a crucial role in the Maritime Silk Road, with ships setting sail to distant lands. Interestingly, the villagers are believed to be descendants of Arab traders. This heritage is reflected in their unique cultural traditions, including the distinctive flower circle hairpins worn by women. Another unique feature is that the walls of the houses are made with bricks and oyster shells. If you’re curious to experience this tradition firsthand, be sure to pay a visit to Xunpu Village.
Wulin Village (ๆๆฑๆขงๆๅณ็ตฑๆ่ฝ)
Wulin Traditional Village is a historic site in Jinjiang City, Fujian Province, with a history spanning over 600 years. It’s known for its well-preserved traditional architecture, blending elements of southern Fujian and Western styles. The buildings of Wulin Traditional Village include traditional Hokkien style houses, Gothic buildings, ancient Romanesque buildings and Fanzilou. There is a “five-storey house” that belongs to Cai Deyao, an overseas Chinese in the Philippines built in 1936. This house has a Romanesque art style exterior mixed with traditional southern Fujian structure. Wulin Traditional Village is recognized for its rich cultural heritage, particularly its connection to the overseas Chinese community. In 2023, it was officially designated as a national 4A-level tourist attraction.
YongNing Town (ๆฐธๅฏงๅค้ฎ)
Yongning Town, a historic coastal town in Shishi City, Fujian Province, boasts a rich history dating back over 600 years. Its strategic location has made it a vital port and defense outpost. “Yongning town was established for defense in Southern Song Dynasty. “Yongning Village”, built during the Southern Song Dyanasty, means eternal peace. During the Ming Dynasty (1387), the imperial court established the acropolis “Yongning Wei”.
Luojia Temple (ๆดไผฝๅฏบ)
Luojia Temple (ๆดไผฝๅฏบ) is located on Gongyu Island, east of the Gold Coast of Southern Fujian , Shishi City. Luojia Temple covers an area of โโmore than 20 acres facing the Taiwan Strait . The temple was donated by Hong Kong Youbang Group to the Shishi City Buddhist Association as a place for the construction of Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Cao’an – Manichaean Temple (่ๅบตๆฉๅฐผๅ ไฝ้ ๅ)
Cao’an is the world only remaining Manichaean Temple. It was built during the Southern Song Dynasty and rebuilt as a stone structure in the Yuan Dynasty. Cao’an is home to a rare Mani Buddha statue carved into a cliff wall and was used for Buddhist practices during the Ming and Qing dynasties due to suppression of Manichaeism. Manichaeism, a dualistic religion blended elements of Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Buddhism, was introduced to China in the 7th century. The site also features ancient inscriptions with Manichaean teachings. Cao’an offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, connecting China to the broader history of religious and cultural exchange along the Maritime Silk Road.
Food to eat
Along West Street ‘Xiejie’, one can try all of the following foods along the street. Alternatively, there are many stores specializing in each of these food around the city as well.
Mian Xian Hu (้ข็บฟ็ณ)
Mian Xian Hu is a thin noodle soup that originated in Quanzhou. It contains thin noodles in a some what of a thick soup and can be eaten as breakfast, snack or late night snack. When you order this dish, you usually get a variety of fillings to choose from such as fried meat, pork intestine, fried dough, duck blood and others.
Suggested Restaurant: TingTing Mian Xian Hu (ๅฉทๅฉท้ข็บฟ็ณ) – Address: ็พๆบ่ทฏ55ๅท
Oyster Omelet (่ไป็ )
Oyster Omelet is a food from southern Fujian, Taiwan and Chaoshan area. It is a dish made with oyster, flour and water. It is said to have invented as a food during poverty as oyster were available along the coastal regions. The recipes for oyster omelet now varies with some versions including egg, green onion and coriander.
Suggested Restaurant: Fu Kee Ah Meng Fry Oyster ็ฆ่ฎฐ้ฟๆๆตท่็ (ๅคๅฐๅๅบ) – address: ๆฐๅ่ทฏๅคๅฐๅ10ๆ AๅบF02้บ
Vinegar Pork (้่)
Vinegar Pork is a traditional dish of Quanzhou. It consists of fried vinegar-marinated lean meat. It is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It is a very common dish in the homes of Quanzhou.
Suggested Restaurant: ๅถๅ้่ – address: ็ฆๅปบ็ๆณๅทๅธ้ฒคๅๅบๆถ้จ่ก51ๅท109
Taro Cake (่้ ญ้ค )
Taro has been used to make many specialty cuisines in Quanzhou. Taro cake has been a traditional snack for a long time. Taro cake is make by sandwiching taro paste in between two biscuits, dipped in batter and fried until golden. The outer is crispy with soft taro filling on the inside. Nowadays, besides the traditional taro filling, there are ingredients such as egg yolk, pork floss, mochi or cheese for a larger variety.
Suggested Restaurant:
Qin Ah Yee Cake ๅค้ฟๅงจ่ๅคด้ฅผ(่ฅฟ่กๅๅบ) – address: ่ฅฟ่ก315-3ๅท
Ginger Duck (ๅงๆฏ้ธญ)
Ginger duck is a traditional dish in Quanzhou. It is thought to have originated from Shang Dynasty as a dish for the royal. Ginger duck is cooked with ginger and other Chinese herbal ingredients. It is said to improve blood circulation for those people that easily get cold hands and feet in the winter.
Suggested Restaurant: Shi Quan Ginger Duck ้ฃๆณๅงๆฏ้ธญ(ๆๅบๅบ) – address: ๆถ้จ่ก62ๅท
Meat Dumpling (่็ฒฝ)
Meat dumpling is a traditional food in Quanzhou. It is custom to make meat dumplings during the Dragon Boat festival and offer them to gods and ancestors. Meat dumplings are usually made of glutinous rice, braised pork and chestnut wrapped in bamboo leaves and cooked until soft.
Suggested Restaurant: Hou Ah Yee ไพฏ้ฟๅฉยท็ง่็ฒฝ(้ๆฅผๅบ) – address: ้ฒคไธญ่ก้ไธ่ก59ๅท๏ผไธญๅฝๅทฅๅ้ถ่กๆๅฏน้ข)
Four Fruit Soup (ๅๆๆฑค)
Four Fruit Soup seems to have been originated from Zhangzhou, Fujian; however, it is still a traditional food in Quanzhou. It is suppose to help relieve heat during the summer. Four fruit soup usually consists of lotus seeds, white fungus, mung beans, grass jelly with sugar / honey water combined with gypsum paste.
Suggested Restaurant:
Lao Cheng You Wei ่ๅๆ ๅณ – address: ็ฆๅปบ็ๆณๅทๅธ้ฒคๅๅบ้้ฑผๅทท13ๅท
Points to note
Bathroom – bathrooms in Quanzhou usually consists of the squatting style toilet and not the sitting down toilet. It is also important to bring soap and toilet paper as some bathrooms lack those supplies.
Mopeds – mopeds are commonly used in Quanzhou. Mopeds drivers goes on the road with other cars and on the pedestrian road with pedestrian. It is important to be on the lookout where they are heading but most mopeds drivers drive around pedestrians.