| Fuzhou is the capital city of Fujian Province, located on China’s southeastern coast. With a long tradition as a coastal port and shipbuilding center, Fuzhou is the major coastal city between Hong Kong and Shanghai. It is known as “Banyan Town” after the subtropical banyan trees planted there since the Song dynasty. As the central city of a province with many ethnic and linguistic links to Taiwan, Fuzhou has benefited from cross-strait investment and is today a major commercial and manufacturing center.
Fuzhou lies on the Min River, in the east of Fujian Province, some 50 km (30 miles) from the sea. The city is on a subtropical plain close to the Fu Mountains. It is 700 km (435 miles) northeast of Hong Kong, and 1,500 km (930 miles) southeast of Beijing.
Fuzhou’s history dates back to the 3rd century AD, when it became a center of ore smelting. Thereafter it was capital, known as Minzhou, of the coastal kingdom of Minyue. When it was absorbed into the Tang dynasty, Fuzhou acquired its present name, which mean “prosperous city” or “fortunate city.” It grew wealthy as a coastal port for the export of tea.
Because of Fuzhou’s proximity to Taiwan, and the ethnic and linguistic closeness of the two regions, cross-strait investment has made Fuzhou one of China’s most prosperous cities.
Drum Hill
Drum Hill (Gu Shan) which stands 12 kilometers east of the city proper is the No.1 attraction for tourists in Fuzhou. It got its name for a large rock on top of the hill which is said to give reverberations like the beating of drums during storms. It stands by the River Min, 969 meters above sea level and abounds in springs and precipitous cliffs, covered all over by green vegetation. More than 100 places of interest are found on and around Drum Hill, including natural spectacles and historical or cultural sites. One of these is the 1,000-year-old Gushing- Spring Temple (Yong Quan Si), a complex of magnificent halls and towers known as "The Mecca of Buddhism" and "The Best Buddhist Monastery in Fujian" frequented by large numbers of worshipers.
West Lake park
West Lake Park is 1,700 years old. It has been reconstructed and expanded over the centuries, but most of what is seen today was planned and built by order of Lin Zexu, national hero in the Qing Dynasty. The lake covers about 30 hectares. Now the West Lake Park is one of the best tourist spots in Fuzhou, as it became more beautiful than ever before in the people's Republic.
Fuzhou National Forestry Park
The national Forestry Park of Fuzhou is the first national-level Forestry Park in Fujian Province and one of ten major Forest Parks of the whole country. It is the only China 4A scenic spot of Fuzhou too. There are countless precious wildlife and rare birds. The beautiful natural scenery combines with full facilities which make it the best location for your recreation.
Yushan Hill
Lying in the urban centre of Fuzhou, the Yushan Hill is 58.6 meters high, and covering an area of 11.9 hectares. The whole mountain form is like huge Ao, Yushan Mountain's seven-storey White Pagoda was first built in 904 during the Tang Dynasty, and has become one of the city's landmarks.
Legend has it that during the Han Dynasty, the He brothers tried to make immortality pills on Yushan Hill, so it is also called Nine Immortal Hill.
There are countless historical sites in the hill. Xishan Temple Xishan Temple, which was a Buddhist old temple built in Tang Dynasty was the key temple of China. It is 1.5 kilometers from the city center. The temple include the Heavenly Emperor Palace, the Grand Majestic Treasure Palace, the Buddhist Scripture Pavilion and the Great Benevolence Palace, and etc. |
