Quanzhou
East Asia · China
Did you know?
- Dumplings cost ¥4 for six, while noodle dishes run ¥5-15.
- Marco Polo sailed home from this port in 1292.
- The 1,000-year-old Qingjing Mosque is the only surviving mosque from seven historic mosques.
See also
Overview
Quanzhou was a major Maritime Silk Road port, and its surviving temples, mosques, and museums preserve that maritime history. The city offers a quieter heritage stop than nearby Xiamen or Fuzhou.
Languages: Chinese
Why Go
Quanzhou was once the world's busiest port and the main eastern terminus of the Maritime Silk Road, where Marco Polo sailed home in 1292 and Chinese treasure ships traded with Southeast Asia, India, Persia, and beyond. Today the city preserves this rich history with surviving temples, mosques, and museums that few tourists visit, unlike nearby Xiamen or Fuzhou. The UNESCO-listed port offers a rare glimpse into China's maritime golden age at a fraction of the crowds found in major tourist destinations.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
When To Go
Quanzhou has a subtropical climate with hot, humid summers (June-August, 30-32°C) and mild winters (December-February, 10-17°C). The Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month transforms the city with hundreds of competing lanterns downtown and a major fireworks show by the river. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures for sightseeing.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting In
Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport serves the city with domestic flights. Quanzhou Station is 12 km northwest on Highway S307, connecting by high-speed rail. Long-distance buses depart to Fuzhou (¥60-70, 3 hours) from the main tourist street, with additional services to Xiamen and overnight routes to Shenzhen from the Overseas Chinese Hotel area.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting Around
Taxis start at ¥8 and most rides within the city cost under ¥20. Local buses serve major attractions including Zhenwu Temple (Routes 1, 14, 21, K503, K505, K510, K606, Tourist Bus 1 or 3), Kaiyuan Temple area, and Qingyuan Mountain (Routes 15, K203, K205, Tourist Bus 1, 5, or 7).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Where To Stay
Quanzhou is not a tourist-oriented city with relatively few hotels compared to Xiamen. Budget travelers can try the Baiyun Hotel at 157 Zhongshan South Road (around ¥60 after bargaining) or the Overseas Chinese Hotel on Baiyun Road near Confucius Temple (¥300 for a single after bargaining). Mid-range options include the Carp City Hotel on Nanjun Middle Road (from ¥240-370). By 2015, several hosts had registered on Airbnb.
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Food And Drink
Local specialties include the inexpensive 淳百味 (Chun Bai Wei) on Xinhua Nan Lu corner with dumplings (6 for ¥4) and noodle dishes ¥5-15. Xiaolongbao at 381 Zhongshan Road serves Shanghai-style buns with sweet chili sauce. Mr. Chiu's Chiu Chau beef brisket noodles on Hu Xin Jie offers slow-cooked beef in curry sauce. Several vegetarian restaurants cluster near Chengtien Temple on Nanjun Road. Western food and buffets are available at Bart's Kitchen (¥20-60 per head) and Amazon BBQ buffet (¥40 lunch, ¥60 dinner).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Things To Do
The Kaiyuan Temple complex (¥10) houses two famous pagodas and the Maritime Museum's Ancient Ships Pavilion. The 1,000-year-old Qingjing Mosque (¥3) is the only surviving mosque from Quanzhou's seven historic mosques. The Guan-Yue Temple is a warrior temple dedicated to Guan Yu and Yue Fei. Qingyuan Mountain (¥70 standard adult ticket) offers hiking with a Lao Tse statue near the entrance, dense tree canopy, and city views. The Quanzhou Maritime Museum (Free, 08:30-17:00) displays ship models, nautical artifacts, and stone inscriptions from India, the Middle East, and Europe.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Connectivity
The area code for Quanzhou is 595. Standard Chinese SIM cards and mobile networks from providers like China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom are available. Power outlets use the standard Chinese Type A/I plugs (2-3 pin, 220V).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Day Trips
Chongwu is an old walled town near Quanzhou with good beaches. The Cai Family Residence in Zhangli Village, Guanqiao Town, Nan'an City (¥15, 09:00-17:00) features 16 houses built between 1862-1911 covering 15,300 m². Meizhou Island in Putian houses the most important Mazu temple on Earth, accessible as a longer day trip.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Go Next
Buses to Fuzhou (¥60-70, 3 hours) depart from the bus station at the southern end of the main tourist street. Additional buses to Fuzhou and Xiamen, plus overnight buses to Shenzhen, operate from the small station next to the Overseas Chinese Hotel. Several times weekly, early-morning buses go to Mount Wuyi and Jingdezhen, though trains are recommended instead.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Field guide adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been adapted and organized for this guide. About our sources.
Places to know
A few starting points from the guide. Check current hours and prices before you go.
- sleep
Baiyun Hotel
A convenient hotel for cheap travelers. Rooms are relatively large and clean, but fixtures are old so have a careful look at the room first, and ask for a different room if needed.
Recorded price: Expect to pay around ¥60 after bargaining
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Amazon BBQ buffet
All-you-can-eat at moderate prices. Food is generally mediocre, but will hit the spot if you are feeling both hungry and carnivorous; the menu includes lots of meat. They brew their own beer, mostly excellent (the green one tastes like lawn clippings, but gold, red and black are very good) and also moderately priced. There are several locations across town. The lunch buffet is ¥40 and the dinner buffet is ¥60.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Bart's Kitchen
Southeast Asian and Western cuisine, with an English menu.
Recorded price: Expect to ¥20-60 per head
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
French-Vietnamese restaurant
High-quality in both decor and food, but high-priced as well.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Lan zhou hand-pulled noodles
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Little Fat Sheep Hot Pot
A huge chain of Hot Pot restaurants with hundreds of locations across China.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Mr. Chiu’s Chiu Chau beef brisket noodles
Delicious slow-cooked cubes of beef served in a mild Chinese curry sauce.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Pu Ti
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
Before you go
Language
Local language is Minnan, similar to Xiamen dialect and mutually intelligible with Taiwanese. Mandarin also widely spoken. English is not common outside luxury hotels.
Money
Use Chinese Yuan (¥). ATMs widely available. Cash preferred at local markets and smaller establishments.
Safety
Quanzhou traffic is notably bad even by Chinese standards, with complaints from locals and visitors alike. Use caution when crossing streets.
Transport
Taxis start at ¥8. Quanzhou Station is 12 km northwest. Airport is Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport.
Weather
Subtropical climate with hot humid summers (30-32°C) and mild winters (10-17°C). Best visited in spring or fall.