• Quanzhou

• Name in Chinese characters: 泉州市
• Name in Pinyin: Quánzhōu Shì
• Status: Prefecture-level city

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• Quanzhou has a natural harbour par excellence and therefore has a long history as China's maritime gateway. Quanzhou's importance peaked around the time of the Yuan Dynasty as it was during the Ming Dynasty that followed that China withdrew from the international scene.

  Travel

  Quanzhou's airport at Jinjiang (Airport code: JJN) is served by only a few of the major cities in China; in particular, those of the east coast. Fujian's two other major airports (Fuzhou and Xiamen) handle the international traffic. Jinjiang airport has an interesting background, being a gift from Lai Changxing, a corrupt official who fled to Canada after a tip-off that his activities were under investigation. The Canadian authorities will not extradite him since he would almost-certainly face the death penalty if returned. Instead, he lives under house arrest.

  Quanzhou has a rail station but since the route here has to pass through very rugged terrain it is slow and therefore prroly served. There is a good express-way between Xiamen and Fuzhou that passes through Quanzhou making road travel the better land option.

  Attractions For Visitors

  Quanzhou's history has made it a cosmopolitan city with more varied interest for the visitor. It is also blessed with some gorgeous scenery, both coastal and further inland.

  Kaiyuan Temple:

  Maritime Museum:

  Luoyang Bridge

  This lovely stone structure is one of the four classic bridges in China (along with Beijing's Luguo Bridge, Zhaozhou Bridge in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, and Guangji Bridge in Chaozhou, Guangdong). It's new name is simply derived from the name of the river that it spans, though the ancient name, Wan'an Bridge, meaning 'perfectly safe', seems more apt. The bridge replaced a ferry that was notoriously dangerous in bad weather, and has held fast ever since.

  Construction on the bridge started in 1053 and lasted 7 years. Interestingly, oysters were sown over the rocks dropped down to form the bases for the piers and, over time, these added to the overall stability.

  The bridge now measures 731 metres long (by 5 wide) with 44 piers. The original bridge is recorded as having 46 piers and being 1200 metres long. It seems impossible that the two lost piers can account for the loss in length and so, perhaps, the original units used were not converted correctly. This interpretation is further supported by the fact that there are temples at either end, and these will not have changed position.

  The northern temple, the Zhaohui Memorial Hall, was a place for the worship of the Dragon King, thought to control the waether and therefore passengers' safety in the old ferry days. At the other end of the bridge is the Caixing Temple, constructed to commemorate the governor of Quanzhou who ordered the construction of this bridge. As one of the four most famous calligraphers in China the interest in this site is largely for those who can appreciate the elegant brushstrokes of the records he left for posterity.

  Tianhou Palace:

  Tumen Street:

  Mausoleums of the Islamic Saints:

  Excursions further afield can take you to:

  Dehua:

  Anxi:

  Putian:

  The following China Journeys include a stay in Quanzhou:

  • East Coast Explorer
  
  
  
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• Current Comments

  2 comments so far (post your own)

  Libby
  
  Thank you for the prompt. You will now see a full write-up added above.

  Posted by China Journeys on Wed 16 May, 2012

  I have seen pictures of Luoyang Bridge. It looks fabulous. Will you be writing more about it any time soon?

  Posted by Libby on Wed 16 May, 2012

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