Fuzhou---Travel In China

Fuzhou (福州, Hanyu Pinyin: Fúzhou, Wade-Giles: Fu-chou, also seen as Foochow or Fuchow) is a city on the coast of China, the largest city in and capital of Fujian province.

Its GDP was ¥31582 (ca. US$3800) per capita in 2003, ranked no. 21 among 659 Chinese cities.

History
The exact foundation date of this city is not known.

When Yue to the north of Fujian was annexed by Chu in 306 BC, a branch of the royal family of the defeated Yue fled Fujian and became the Minyue tribe.

The first city wall of Fuzhou was built in 202 BC when Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, gave permission to Wuzhu, the king of Minyue, to set up his capital in Fuzhou. And the city was named Ye, meaning "The Beautiful". The name has changed many times, but the city has been continuously occuppied since 202 BC and has never suffered major destruction by wars or natural disasters.

The Minyue was annexed by Han in 110 BC and became a part of China, and Fuzhou became Ye County.

During the Jin Dynasty, West Lake, East Lake (now silted up) and numerous canals in the city were constructed (282 AD).

When the Jin Dynasty collapsed, the first wave of immigrants of the gentile class arrived in Fujian (308 AD).

During Tang Dynasty (725 AD), it started to be called Fuzhou.

More immigrants arrived from the north in 892 BC when the grand Tang Dynasty collapsed. The Wang family managed to established a kingdom called Min (909 - 947 AD) with its capital in Fuzhou. Min is still used as another name for the province of Fujian, in names of dialects such as minnan, and the river that runs through Fuzhou is called Min Jiang.

New city walls were built in 282 AD, 901 AD, 905 AD, and 974 AD, so the city had many layers of walls - more than the Chinese capital!

The emperor of the Song Dynasty ordered destruction of all the walls in Fuzhou in 978 AD but new walls were rebuilt later (the latest wall was built in 1371 AD).

During the Southern Song Dynasty, Fuzhou became more prosperous; many scholars came here to live and work. Among them were Zhu Xi, the most celebrated Chinese philosopher after Confucius, and Xin Qiji, the greatest composer of ci (a specialized form of poem). After them came Marco Polo, who transcribed the placename in Italian as Fugiu according to the local dialect.

Hualin Temple in the original Ye city, which has been declared a national heritage site, was built in 964 AD according to the document, but was Carbon-dated to the 4th or 5th century AD. It is probably the oldest existing wooden structure in China.

Between 1405 and 1433 AD, the Chinese (Ming) navy fleet, led by Zheng He, sailed from Fuzhou to the Indian Ocean seven times; on three occasions the fleet landed in the East coast of Africa. Before the last sailing, Zheng erected a stele dedicated to Goddess Tian-Fei near the seaport.

Recent research 1421 suggests that Zheng He's fleets explored much more widely than has traditionally been believed, reaching both coasts of North and South America and also Australia and New Zealand.

In the 19th century, Lin Zexu, a native of Fuzhou, led an unsuccessful attempt to resist the British fleet at Canton Bay, and Lin was exiled to the Russian border. At the end of the First Opium War, Fuzhou became one of the five Chinese treaty ports opened by the Treaty of Nanjing (signed in 1842).

On November 8, 1911, revolutionaries staged an uprising in Fuzhou. After an overnight street battle, the Qing (Manchu) army surrendered.

On November 22, 1933, the leaders of the 19th army set up a short-lived Republic of China in Fuzhou (compare the name to Jiang’s “Republic of China”, which literally means “People’s State of China”); it collapsed in two months.

Tourism

West Lake (an artificial lake built in 282 AD)

Hualin Temple (founding date uncertain)

Dizang Temple (founded in 527 AD)

Xichan Temple (founded in 867 AD)

Wu Ta (Black Pagoda) (originally built in 799 AD, rebuilt in 936 AD)

Bai Ta (White Pagoda) (originally built in 905 AD, 67 m in height, collapsed in 1534 AD, rebuilt in 1548 AD, 41 m in height)

Yongquan Temple (founded in 915 AD)

Located in the lower reaches of the Min River, Fuzhou is the capital city of Fujian Province. Situated in the eastern part of Fujian, Fuzhou serves as the economy, politics, culture and transport center of the province. It is so named after a mountain situated in the north called Mt. Fu. Additionally, many banyans were planted in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and now provide shade for the entire city giving it another name - Rong Cheng (Banyan City). Besides, the city is renowned for both quality and quantity of hot springs throughout China. The cultured sights of Fuzhou are not as overwhelming as many of the top attractions in China, but the modern infrastructures of supporting establishments for tourism are complete, and a dazzling array of local dishes and snacks await your patronage.


Fuzhou is both a historic and a cultural city with an over two-thousand-year of history and in 908, Fuzhou was expanded. This expansion included Mt. Yu, Mt. Wu and Mt. Ping within its jurisdiction. The city is also prosperous in culture, from the Tang (618-907) through to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911); there were thousands of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) from Fuzhou. Many celebrated figures from Chinese history also hailed from this land, and thus, the birth of heroes also brings glory to such a place. Because of its long and flourishing history, there are many arts related industries represented, including the Three Treasures of Fuzhou (lacquer work, stone sculpting and cork cutting), a featured dining culture, and also traditional arts including Min Opera, etc. which still take an important role in today's Chinese culture.


The climate of Fuzhou is comfortable, affording tourists the opportunity to visit the city all the year round, especially between April and November. Fuzhou is a tourist city that boasts both natural and manmade sights. Famous mountains include Mt.Gu, Qi, Shizhu, Baiyan and Xuefeng etc. Famous temples include Yongquan, Xichan, Linyang, Fahai and Yunju etc. Famous tombs like Tomb of Lin Zexu etc. Famous gardens include West Lake etc. Famous towers include the White, Wu and Luoxing etc. and famous bridges including Wanshou and Longjiang etc. and also many former residences of celebrated historical figures. More attractions are: Earth Towers of the Hakkas, Minjiang Park and Mount Wuyi. You may find that there are far too many things to see here in one short trip.


Here we have a simple introduction of orientation for guiding tourists' first trip through downtown Fuzhou. In terms of geography, the center of Fuzhou City is Wuyi Square and Dongjiekou is the commercial center of downtown Fuzhou. From railway station bus No. 20 will take tourists to Dongjiekou, Bus No. 51 will bring tourists to the crossing of Wusi Lu and Hudong Lu - the financial center of Fuzhou, and bus No. 821 will take tourists to Jinshan, the new expanded city area.


The tourism industry of Fuzhou with its sustainable, fast and healthy development is being perfected day by day. In this coastal city, the reception establishments related to tourism are modern. At present, there are over 80 stared hotels, and the recreational facilities are too numerous to mention. The transportation network of Fuzhou is well developed and incorporates the road, rail, water and aviation networks, providing your trip to Fuzhou with convenient all-around access.


Fuzhou will continue to develop its prosperous, modern and well rounded tourism industry. With its ancient culture and exquisite sights, the city welcomes the global tourist and we hope Fu (meaning good fortune in Chinese) zhou will both bless you and bring you back.