Situated on the southeast coast of Fujian Province, Quanzhou is a city rich in centuries-old cultural heritage. The Silk Road ran from Xi'an, China, to Rome, Italy, during the Han Dynasty. Following the Tang Dynasty's fall, the economic center moved eastward and south, which eventually resulted in the Maritime Silk Road and the gradual flourishing of port trade along China's southeast coast. In this context, Quanzhou, which had grown to be an important port city, emerged.
Quanzhou Port flourished under the Song and Yuan dynasties, when it maintained close trade relations with more than 100 nations. Marco Polo, the renowned Italian adventurer, praised it as the "City of Light."
Quanzhou drew traders from all over the nation and even the world as its well-known port thrived over the decades as a major hub for international trade, bringing with them a variety of cultures and worldviews and leaving behind historical sites.
One of these famous sites is Kaiyuan Temple. Kaiyuan Temple, which dates back to 686, is thought to be the biggest Buddhist temple in southeast China's coastal regions.
Since the Tang and Song dynasties, Quanzhou has seen a rise in foreign religious influxes, including Buddhism, Islam, Catholicism, Christianity, and Judaism. Quanzhou was once known as "the museum of the world's religions," with seven mosques serving as places of worship for Muslims and other locations for Taoism and Buddhism scattered across the city.
Quanzhou was one of the 24 cities chosen when the Chinese government unveiled the first batch of national historical and cultural cities in 1982.
Quanzhou-produced cultural artifacts are included at different levels of intangible cultural heritage listings as of the end of 2022, with six on the global list and 36 on the national list.
Quanzhou renovates its streets and lanes using traditional materials and craftsmanship in an effort to maintain the historical integrity of the old city. Quanzhou's unique architectural features will be preserved thanks to the repair efforts of craftsmen with experience in ancient building. This gives the a millennium-old city of Quanzhou new life while also demonstrating respect for its traditional culture.
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