Fujian

Fujian is a province in South China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capital is Fuzhou and its largest prefecture city by population is Quanzhou, with other notable cities including the port city of Xiamen and Zhangzhou. Fujian is located on the west coast of the Taiwan Strait as the closest province geographically and culturally to Taiwan; as a result of the Chinese Civil War, a small portion of historical Fujian is administered by Taiwan, romanized as Fuchien. While the population predominantly identifies as Han, it is one of China's most culturally and linguistically diverse provinces. The dialects of the language group Min Chinese are most commonly spoken within the province, including the Fuzhou dialect and Eastern Min of Northeastern Fujian province and various Southern Min and Hokkien dialects of southeastern Fujian. The capital city of Fuzhou and Fu'an of Ningde prefecture along with Cangnan county-level city of Wenzhou prefecture in Zhejiang province make up the Min Dong linguistic and cultural region of Northeastern Fujian. Hakka Chinese is also spoken in Fujian, by the Hakka people. Min dialects, Hakka, and Standard Chinese are mutually unintelligible. Due to emigration, much of the ethnic Chinese populations of Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines speak Southern Min (or Hokkien). With a population of 41.5 million, Fujian ranks 15th in population among Chinese provinces. In 2022, its GDP reached CN¥5.31 trillion (US$790 billion by nominal GDP), ranking 4th in East China region and 8th nationwide in GDP. Fujian's GDP per capita is above the national average, at CN¥126,829 (US$18,856 in nominal), the second highest GDP per capita of all Chinese provinces after Jiangsu. Fujian is considered one of China's leading provinces in education and research. As of 2023, two major cities in the province ranked in the top 45 cities in the world (Xiamen 38th and Fuzhou 45th) by scientific research output, as tracked by the Nature Index.

One-Day Anhui Tour Itinerary Recommendations

Theme:

Ancient Huizhou Culture + Majestic Landscapes + Authentic Flavors

Suitable for:

Short trips to Huangshan/Hongcun/She County, ideal with self-driving/high-speed rail + shuttle bus

Practical Tips

Tickets:

Gulangyu ferry ¥35 (book 3 days ahead), Wuyishan pass ¥140 (includes shuttle)

Transport Hacks:

Xiamen BRT faster than taxis, Quanzhou old town restricts car access

Wuyishan South Gate most time-efficient

Must-Try Flavors:

Xiamen: Satay noodles, oyster omelet

Quanzhou: Thread noodles, sea jelly dessert

Wuyishan: Mini baked cakes, Zhu Xi filial piety cakes

Optimization Tips:

Xiamen alternative: Xiamen Botanical Garden mist period (9:30-11:30)

Short on Quanzhou time? Skip Xunpu for old town's 22 UNESCO sites

Wuyishan tea-picking season (Apr-May) adds hands-on tea experiences

(Note: Each route captures Fujian's diverse charms—coastal, cultural, and mountainous!)

Option 1:

Xiamen Island Loop (Artsy Vibes)

Best for:

Couples, besties, art lovers

Transport:

Bike-sharing + bus

07:30-09:30 Morning on Gulangyu Island

Sanqiutian Pier → Most Beautiful Corner → Shuzhuang Garden Piano Museum (arrive before 8am to avoid crowds)

10:00-11:30 Zhongshan Road Arcades

Huangzehe Peanut Soup + Haoxiangliji Pork Skewers, retro street photography

12:00-13:30 Lunch at Shapowei Art District

Recommended: Bifengwu Seafood (sea worm jelly + ginger duck)

14:00-16:00 Zengcuo'an + Island Ring Road

Boutique shopping, Music Square beach with "One Country Two Systems" slogan

17:30 Sunset at Bay Park

Tiered ocean-view platforms with cruise ship backdrop

Option 2:

Quanzhou Maritime Silk Road

Best for:

History buffs, religious culture enthusiasts

Transport:

Old Town electric buggies

08:00-10:00 Kaiyuan Temple + West Street

Tang Dynasty twin pagodas, Yafo Runbing pancakes + Wu's glutinous rice balls

10:30-12:00 Qingjing Mosque + Guanyue Temple

Arab-style mosque meets Minnan Taoist temple

12:30-14:00 Old-Flavor Lunch

Haochengcai Beef Restaurant (beef soup + savory rice)

14:30-17:00 Maritime Museum + Xunpu Village

Song Dynasty ship relics, try the "Zanhuawei" flower headdress tradition

18:00 Luoyang Bridge Tidal Views

China's earliest sea-crossing stone bridge, glowing oyster shells at sunset

Option 3:

Wuyishan Tea & Zen Retreat

Best for:

Tea connoisseurs, nature lovers

Transport:

Scenic area shuttle

06:30-08:30 Tianyou Peak Cloud Sea

Climb 848 steps for Nine-Bend Stream panoramas (opens 5:30am summer)

09:00-11:00 Nine-Bend Bamboo Raft

2-hour float with boatman's tales of "Hanging Coffins" (¥20 tip enhances stories)

12:00-13:30 Tea Banquet Lunch

Wuyishan Villa (smoked goose + red mushroom soup)

14:30-16:30 Da Hong Pao Scenic Area

Rock & Tea Fragrance Trail, taste mother-tree tea eggs

17:00 "Impression Da Hong Pao" Show

360° rotating seats, Zhang Yimou's tea culture spectacle