Fujian is a coastal province in southeast China facing Taiwan, known for the UNESCO tulou earthen buildings, Gulangyu island, Quanzhou's Maritime Silk Road heritage and the Wuyi Mountains.
Fujian looked outward for a thousand years: Quanzhou was a major Song-Yuan port on the Maritime Silk Road, Fuzhou was a provincial capital and treaty port, Xiamen and Gulangyu opened as foreign settlements in 1842-1903, and Hakka communities built defensive earthen tulou in the hills of Longyan and Zhangzhou.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Fujian.
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1
Minyue kingdom
Han dynasty takes the region after the Minyue state.
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2
Qingjing Mosque founded
Arab merchants build the mosque in Quanzhou.
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3
Quanzhou peak
Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta describe Quanzhou as one of the world's greatest ports.
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4
Treaty ports
Xiamen and Fuzhou open to foreign trade after the Treaty of Nanjing.
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5
Tulou listed
Fujian Tulou inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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6
Gulangyu listed
Gulangyu: a Historic International Settlement is inscribed by UNESCO.
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7
Quanzhou listed
Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China is inscribed by UNESCO.
Historical eras
The chapters of Fujian's past.
Song-Yuan maritime era
Treaty-port era
Historical sites
Places where Fujian's past comes alive.
Quanzhou Maritime Silk Road Sites (UNESCO)
Where: Quanzhou
Admission: Most sites ¥2-35 (approx. $0.30-5)
Qingjing Mosque
Where: Quanzhou
Admission: About ¥2-5 (under $1)
Kaiyuan Temple and twin pagodas
Where: Quanzhou
Admission: About ¥5 (under $1)
Luoyang Bridge (Wanan Bridge)
Where: Quanzhou
Admission: About ¥15 (approx. $2)
Sanfang Qixiang historic district
Where: Fuzhou
Admission: Free; selected houses ¥20-50 (approx. $3-7)
Gulangyu International Settlement
Where: Xiamen
Admission: Island free; Sunlight Rock ¥50 (approx. $7)
Hongkeng Tulou Cluster
Where: Longyan
Admission: Combined ticket about ¥90 (approx. $12.50)
Zhenchenglou (Prince of Tulou)
Where: Longyan
Admission: Included in Hongkeng ticket
Chongwu Ancient City
Where: Hui'an, Quanzhou
Admission: Walls ¥40 (approx. $5.50)
Fujian Museum
Where: Fuzhou
Admission: Free with passport reservation
Wuyi Palace and Song Street
Where: Wuyishan
Admission: Around ¥60 (approx. $8.50)
Museums
Curated collections that tell Fujian's story.
Quanzhou Maritime Museum
Hours: Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00
Admission: Free
Gulangyu Piano Museum
Hours: Daily 08:30-17:30
Admission: About ¥30 (approx. $4)
Historical tours
Guided experiences that bring history to life.