Quanzhou 泉州
—  Prefecture-level city  —
泉州市
View of Quanzhou from Mt Qingyuan
Location of Quanzhou City in Fujian
Quanzhou Location in China
Coordinates: 24°55′N 118°35′E / 24.917°N 118.583°E / 24.917; 118.583Coordinates: 24°55′N 118°35′E / 24.917°N 118.583°E / 24.917; 118.583
Country	People's Republic of China
Province	Fujian
Government
• CPC Secretary	Xu Gang
• Mayor	Zhu Ming
Area
• Prefecture-level city	11,245 km2 (4,342 sq mi)
• Urban	868 km2 (335 sq mi)
• Metro	4,233 km2 (1,634 sq mi)
Population (2010 Census)
• Prefecture-level city	8,128,530
• Density	720/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
• Urban	1,398,427
• Urban density	1,600/km2 (4,200/sq mi)
• Metro	6,070,717
• Metro density	1,400/km2 (3,700/sq mi)
Time zone	China Standard (UTC+8)
Postal code	362000
Area code(s)	595
GDP	2009[1]
- Total	CNY 300.229 billion (USD 43.99 billion)
- Per capita	CNY 38,368 (USD 5,622)
- Growth	12.5%
License Plate Prefixes	闽C
Local Dialect	Min Nan: Quanzhou dialect
Website	www.quanzhou.gov.cn

Quanzhou (Chinese: 泉州; pinyin: Quánzhōu; Wade–Giles: Ch'üan²-chou¹; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chôan-chiu) is a prefecture-level city in southern Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It borders all other prefecture-level cities in Fujian but two (Ningde and Nanping) and faces the Taiwan Strait. In older English works, its name may appear as Chinchew or Chinchu or Zayton.

The prefecture-level city of Quanzhou has an area of 11,245 square kilometres (4,342 sq mi) and, as of 2010 Census, a population of 8,128,530 inhabitants.^[2] It's built up area (Metro) is home to 6,070,617 inhabitants encompassing Licheng, Fengze, Luojiang urban districts ; Jinjiang, Nan'an and Shishi cities ; Hui'an county and Quanzhou District for Taiwanese Investment. Quanzhou is now the 12th Chinese agglomeration based on built up area in 2010.

Administrative divisions[link]

The prefecture-level city of Quanzhou administers four districts, three county-level cities, four counties, and two special economic districts. The People's Republic of China claims Jinmen County, more widely known as Quemoy, as part of Quanzhou, but the territory is currently under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China.

The information here presented uses the metric system and data from 2010 Census.

Geography[link]

A characteristic "turtle-back tomb" of the Quanzhou region

Quanzhou is a coastal prefecture bordered by Xiamen sub-provincial city to the south west. It also forms another border with Zhangzhou and Longyan prefecture-level city towards the west. Putian and Fuzhou form Quanzhou's northeast border and Sanming forms the northwestern one.

Quanzhou is mountainous and has many rivers and tributaries originating from the interior. The prefecture's two major rivers Jinjiang and Luojiang flow into the Quanzhou Bay from the west and north, respectively, forming wide estuaries.

Quanzhou has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Its temperature ranges from 0 to 38 degree celsius all year around. In summer, there are typhoons that bring rain and some damage to the city. It is suitable for people to live in; it is never too hot nor too cold. It is called "Coastal Yale" for its fantastic living environment.

History[link]

Trading port[link]

Zayton imagined by a 15th-century European illustrator of The Travels of Marco Polo

Quanzhou was established in 718 during the Tang Dynasty (618–907). In those days, Guangzhou was China's greatest seaport, but this status would be surpassed later by Quanzhou. During the Song Dynasty (960–1279) and Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368), Quanzhou was one of the world's largest seaports, hosting a large community of foreign-born inhabitants from across the Eurasian world. Today, a number of relics related to that era are preserved and exhibited in the Quanzhou Overseas Relations Museum. A particularly important exhibit is the so-called Quanzhou ship, a sea-going junk that sunk some time after 1272, and was recovered in 1973–74.^[3]

Due to its reputation, Quanzhou has been called the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. From the Arabic name of the city, Zayton, the word satin would be coined.^[4] Zayton is also the word for olive and the symbol of peace in the Persian Language, Farsi. Quanzhou may have been given this title by the Persians in honour of fact that it was a cultural melting pot at the time due to the trade culture. Another spelling of Zaytun is "Zaitun".

Zhao Rugua was a customs inspector at Quanzhou. He wrote the Zhufan Zhi (諸蕃志, or Chu-fan-chi, which was about foreign places and items which were traded. Zhao wrote on the origin of Frankincense being traded into China:

"Ruxiang or xunluxiang comes from the three Dashi countries of Murbat (Maloba), Shihr (Shihe), and Dhofar (Nufa), from the depths of the remotest mountains.^[5] The tree which yields this drug may generally be compared to the pine tree. Its trunk is notched with a hatchet, upon which the resin flows out, and, when hardened, turns into incense, which is gathered and made into lumps. It is transported on elephants to the Dashi (on the coast), who then load it upon their ships to exchange it for other commodities in Sanfoqi. This is the reason why it is commonly collected at and known as a product of Sanfoqi."^[6]

In The Travels of Marco Polo, Quanzhou (called Zayton, T'swan-Chau or Chin-Cheu) was listed as the departure point for Marco Polo's expedition to escort the 17-year-old Mongol princess bride Kököchin to her new husband in the Persian Ilkhanate. In 1357 however a military revolt by the local Persian militia led to a ten-year rebellion that resulted in large civilian casualties in Quanzhou.

Of the Chinese Li family in Quanzhou, Lin Nu, the son of Lin Lu, visited Hormuz in Persia in 1376, converted to Islam, married a Persian girl and brought her back to Quanzhou. Lin Nu was the ancestor of the Ming Dynasty reformer Li Chih.^[7][8][9]

Quanzhou was an important port in Yuan dynasty, for example Mongol invasion of Java during the reign of Kubilai Khan sailed from this port.^[10]

Tombs of the early members of Quanzhou's Ding clan, in the city's Lingshan Islamic Cemetery

The Ding family of Chendai in Quanzhou claims descent from the Muslim leader Sayyid Ajjal Shams al-Din Omar through his son Nasr al-Din (Nasruddin or Na-su-la-ding in Chinese).^[11] The Ding family has branches in Taiwan, the Philippines, and Malaysia among the diaspora Chinese communities there, no longer practicing Islam but still maintaining a Hui identity. The deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Muslim Association on Taiwan, Ishag Ma (馬孝棋), has claimed "Sayyid is an honorable title given to descendants of the Prophet Mohammed, hence Sayyid Shamsuddin must be connected to Mohammed". The Ding (Ting) family in Taisi Township in Yunlin County of Taiwan, traces descent from him through the Ding of Quanzhou in Fujian.^[12]

Nasruddin was appointed governor in Karadjang, and retained his position in Yunnan till his death, which Rashid, writing about A. D. 1300, says occurred five or six years before (according to the Yüan shi, Na-su-la ding died in 1292). Nasr-uddin's son Abubeker, who had the surname Bayan Fenchan (evidently the Boyen ch'a-r of the Yüan shi), was governor in Zaitun at the time Rashid wrote. He bore also his grandfather's title of Sayid Edjell, and was minister of Finance under Kubilai's successor (D'Ohsson, torn, ii, pp. 476, 507, 508). Nasr-uddin is mentioned by M. Polo, who styles him Nescradin (vol. ii, p. 66).^[13][14][15]

Quanzhou is a city has a long history and rich culture. It also has many religions, people believe in different religions from various countries came to Quanzhou in ancient time, especially during Song and Yuan Dynasty. Religions like Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism etc. can be seen here, you can visit different places of interest about these religion in Quanzhou city. It was elected as "Ten Most Charm City in China"in 2004 by CCTV china's first charm city selected activities.

Massacre of Portuguese Community[link]

Quanzhou's restored Quanshan Gate, flanked by two stele-carrying turtles

A massacre of the Portuguese at Quanzhou resulted in the Portuguese settlement of Macau. After the Portuguese bribed their way into obtaining a trade mission in Ch' uanchou (Quanzhou), they inflicted savage behaviour against the Chinese. In retaliation, in 1549 the entire Portuguese community of Quanzhou were exterminated by Chinese forces.^{[16][17][18][19][20]} The Emperor had ruled that all Portuguese encountered everywhere should be killed on the spot.The result of this massacre in addition to another at Ch'uanchow resulted in the Portuguese survivors fleeing to Macao, where they were allowed by china to start a colony to build sheds for drying goods in 1557.^[21][22][22] The Portuguese were ultimately considered responsible for the massacre by the Chinese, since it was they who provoked the Chinese through "rapaciousness".^[23] The Portuguese considered it permissible to attack and pillage "Eastern peoples", and not treat them according to the law. The historian Kenneth Scott Latourette said that "the Portuguese had chiefly themselves to thank" for the massacres the Chinese committed against them.^[24][25] The Portuguese commander Albuquerque once stated "a Chinese junk man knew more about courtesy and humanity than a European knights". The Chinese had massacred them after the Portuguese engaged in pillaging and murder in Chinese villages. "A Lesson" was delivered to the Portuguese in this manner from the Chinese.^[26] The section of Macao they settled on was San Chuan island. They had to pay rent to China.^[27] They later built some rudimentary stone-houses around the area now called Nam Van. But not until 1557 did the Portuguese establish a permanent settlement in Macau, at an annual rent of 500 taels ( 20 kilograms/44 pounds ) of silver.^[28]

Immigration[link]

New developments east of the city center

Quanzhou is also a migration source of many Overseas Chinese living in South East Asia and to Taiwan during the last couple of centuries. About 6 million people whose ancestors were from Quanzhou now live abroad. Most of them live in Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma), or Thailand. One tenth (0,6) of overseas Quanzhounese now live in Hong Kong.

Dialect[link]

Locals speak Hokkien, a variety of Min Nan similar to Amoy (spoken in Xiamen) and Taiwanese. It is essentially the same as the dialect spoken in Xiamen and Zhangzhou, and is unintelligible with Standard Chinese (Mandarin). Many overseas Chinese whose ancestors came from the Quanzhou area, especially those in Southeast Asia, often speak mainly Hokkien at home.

Economy[link]

Quanzhou's Sunwu Creek

Quanzhou is a major exporter of agricultural products such as tea, banana, lychee and rice. It is also a major producer of quarry granite and ceramics. Other industries include textiles, footwear, fashion and apparel, packaging, machinery, paper and petrochemicals.^[29]

Quanzhou is the biggest automotive market in Fujian; it has the highest number of private automobile possession.^[30]

Its GDP ranks first in Fujian Province for 20 years. From 1991 to 2010.In 2008, Quanzhou's textile and apparel production accounts for 10% of China, the production of sports and Tourism shoes accounts for 80% of China, 20% of the world, stone exports account for 50%, resin handicraft exports account for 70% of the country, ceramic exports account for 67% of the country, candy production accounts for 20%.

Different districts and counties in quanzhou have their own special industries which are known to the rest of China. Jinjiang and shishi are famous for Apparel and textile, Huian is famous for its stone, Quangang is famous for petrifaction, Dehua is Ceramics, Yongchun is Citrus, Anxi is WULONG Tea, Nan An is building materials, Fengze is resin.

Jinjiang County, Shishi County, Nanan County, Huian County, Anxi County, these five counties from Quanzhou City have been 100 most powerful economic county in china for many years.Which again shows quanzhou is a developed area in Fujian province, even in China.

Transport[link]

Quanzhou is an important transport hub within south eastern Fujian province. Many export industries in the Fujian interior cities will transport goods to Quanzhou ports. Quanzhou Port was one of the most prosperous port in Tang Dynasty while now still an important one for exporting. Quanzhou is also connected by major roads from Fuzhou to the north and Xiamen to the south.

There is a passenger ferry terminal in Shijing, Nan'an, Fujian, with regular service to the Shuitou Port in the ROC-controlled Kinmen Island.

Air[link]

Jinjiang Domestic Airport is Quanzhou region's airport, served by passenger flights within Fujian province and other destinations throughout the country.

Railway[link]

Quanzhou has two kind of railway service. A "conventional" rail line connects several cargo stations within Quanzhou Prefecture with the interior of Fujian and the rest of the country. The passenger trains from Beijing, Wuhan, and other places throughout the country terminate at the Quanzhou East Railway Station, a few kilometers northeast of the center of the city.

Quanzhou is also served by the new high-speed Fuzhou–Xiamen Railway, which runs roughly parallel to Fujian's sea coast. High-speed trains on this line stop at Quanzhou Railway Station (in Beifeng Subdistrict of Fengze District, some 10 miles north of Quanzhou city center) and Jinjiang Railway Station. Trains to Xiamen take under 45 minutes, making it a convenient weekend or day trip.

Bus[link]

Long-distance bus services also run daily/nightly to Shenzhen and other major cities.

Colleges and universities[link]

• Huaqiao University (national)
• Yang-en University (private)
• Quanzhou Normal University (public)
• Quanzhou Medical College (public)
• Liming Vocational University(public)

Culture[link]

Kaiyuan Temple, Renshou Pagoda

Quanzhou is one of the twenty-four famous historic cultural cities first approved by the Chinese Government.

• Liyuan Opera (梨园戏)
• Puppet Show (提线木偶戏)
• Gaojia Opera (高甲戏)
• Dacheng Opera (打城戏)

Notable Historical and cultural sites (the 18 views of Quanzhou as recommended by the Fujian tourism board) include:

• Qing Yuan mountain(清源山) - The tallest hill within the city limits, which hosts a great view of West lake.
• East Lake Park (东湖) - Located in the city center. It is home to a small zoo.
• West lake Park(西湖公园) - The largest body of fresh water within the city limits.
• Kaiyuan Temple (开元寺) - A very old and famous pair of giant stone pagodas surrounded by temples and wonderful gardens and trees.
• Ashab Mosque (涂门街) - Said to date to 1009, it is thought to be one of the oldest Mosques in the world and the only one build in that century in China.
• Scholar Street (状元街) - Champion street about 500 meters long, elegant environment, mainly engaged in tourism and cultural crafts.

Notable Modern cultural sites include:

• Fengze Square - Located in the city center and acts as a venue for shows and events.
• Da Ping Shan - The second tallest hill within the city limits, crowned with a enormous equestrian statue of Zheng Chenggong.
• The Embassy Lounge - Situated in the "1916 Cultural Ideas Zone" which acts as a platform for mixing traditional Chinese art with modern building techniques and designs. It also acts as the unofficial headquarters for the expats of Quanzhou.

Notable products[link]

• Dehua Porcelain (德化瓷器)
• Huian Stoneware (惠安石刻)
• Anxi Tieguanyin (安溪铁观音)
• Quanzhou Shaolin Five Ancestors Fist(泉州五祖拳)
• Yongchun Martial Arts (永春白鹤拳)

The city hosted the Sixth National Peasants' Games in 2008.

Quanzhou is also the birthplace of the actress Yao Chen.

References[link]

• Brown, Bill (2004). Mystic Quanzhou: City of Light. Xiamen, China: Xiamen University Press.
• Schottenhammer, Angela, ed. (2001), The emporium of the world: maritime Quanzhou, 1000-1400, Volume 49 of Sinica Leidensia, Brill, ISBN 90-04-11773-3, http://books.google.com/books?id=GEhGM6fZeaAC  - collection of research papers

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Quanzhou

• Government website of Quanzhou (in Simplified Chinese)
• The Stones of Zayton speak, China Heritage Newsletter,

No. 5, March 2006 - review of several books on Quanzhou archaeology; discussion of Muslim and Christian archaeological monuments