Quanzhou

Quanzhou is a prefecture-level city in Fujian Province, southeastern China, located on the coast near the Taiwan Strait. The municipal government is seated in the Fengze District. The city covers a coastal region and surrounding areas that together form an important economic and cultural hub in the province.

Historically, Quanzhou was one of China’s great maritime trade centers during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Its port attracted merchants from the Islamic world, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and beyond, contributing to a cosmopolitan urban culture and earning it the historical name Zayton in various foreign sources. The urban fabric from this era includes major religious and commercial monuments that reflect its diverse heritage.

Among its notable sites are the Kaiyuan Temple, one of China’s largest and oldest Buddhist temples, and the Qingjing Mosque, built in 1009 and among the early mosques in China. The Luoyang Bridge, a Song-dynasty stone bridge, is another well-known landmark. The port area and associated historic components are part of UNESCO’s designation Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China, recognized for the city’s role as a global hub of commerce and culture during that period.

In modern times, Quanzhou remains an important industrial and logistics center in Fujian, with sectors such as textiles, footwear, electronics, and shipbuilding. It is served by Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport and high-speed rail connections that link the city with regional centers. The city is a major center of Minnan (Hokkien) culture and language, and it maintains a rich tradition of cuisine, religion, and traditional architecture.