Quanzhou, the capital of southern Fujian culture, the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road4K HDR

Quanzhou Ancient City, located in Fujian Province, China, is a city with profound historical heritage and cultural characteristics. As one of China's famous historical and cultural cities, the ancient city of Quanzhou is world-renowned for its role as the starting point of the "Maritime Silk Road" during the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and is known as the "Museum of World Religions" and "The First Largest Port in the East."
Features of Quanzhou Ancient City
1. *Religious and Cultural Diversity*
Quanzhou is famous for its fusion of religions and cultures, with historical sites from various religions including Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism. Notable religious sites include:
**Kaiyuan Temple**: Built in the Tang Dynasty, it is the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province and is famous for its East and West Twin Pagodas.
**Qingjing Temple**: One of the oldest existing Islamic mosques in China.
**Tianhou Temple**: A temple commemorating Mazu, embodying the maritime culture of southern Fujian.
2. *Ancient buildings and historic districts*
The ancient city of Quanzhou retains a large number of traditional buildings and streets from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, such as:
**West Street**: has a long history and is an important commercial district in the ancient city of Quanzhou. There are many ancient houses and shops along the street.
**Zhongshan Road**: one of the best-preserved arcade streets in China, full of Nanyang style.
3. *Intangible Cultural Heritage*
Quanzhou has a wealth of intangible cultural heritage items, including Nanyin (one of the oldest musical genres in China), puppet shows and traditional handicrafts, such as lantern making, lacquer thread carving, etc.
4. *Maritime Silk Road Ruins*
As an important starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, Quanzhou has left behind rich port sites, religious relics and overseas transportation relics. For example:
**Dejimen Ruins**: Witnessed the prosperity of ancient maritime trade.
**Caoan Manichaean Site**: The only fully preserved Manichaean stone carving site in the world.
Tour suggestions
**Best Season**: The climate is mild in autumn and winter, which is the best time to visit the ancient city.
**Food Recommendation**: The snacks in the ancient city of Quanzhou are rich and diverse. It is recommended to try authentic delicacies such as oyster pancake, four-fruit soup, and bamboo shoot jelly.
**Accommodation Options**: There are many special B&Bs in the ancient city, where you can experience the unique charm of southern Fujian traditional architecture.
Quanzhou Ancient City is not only a paradise for history lovers, but also a vibrant city suitable for in-depth cultural experiences and leisure travel.

[@fortbed1681]

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[@MavericktravelJJ]

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Great history and sights, thanks for sharing your visit 👍

[@MavericktravelJJ]

👍👍Thanks a lot