Exploring China: The End of the Old Silk Road

Quanzhou was once at the center of China’s economic soul. It was the terminus of the legendary Silk Road. Thousands of traders and seafarers once populated this seaside city in Fujian province. Those glory days are now long gone. The distant past is merely a memory, though some of the details of the past remain. Because many Arab traders once used Quanzhou to conduct business, Islam was able to gain a foothold along the coast. The Qingjing Mosque, now mainly tourist attraction, can be found in the city. Its aged architecture is a unique blend of Arab and Chinese styles.

Quanzhou is not a major tourist destination. There are two other cities in Fujian Province, which are more popular amongst travelers: Fuzhou and Xiamen. There are several attractions in Quanzhou that might warrant a couple of days on a traveler’s itinerary.

First, for those with an interest in geopolitics, Quanzhou is a rather sensitive place. Taiwan lies just off Quanzhou’s coast. A small parcel of land known as Quemoy, technically part of China, is currently controlled by Taiwan.

Despite the generally gray and docile themes of much of the area’s Communist era architecture, Quanzhou has some of the most interesting and creatively designed new buildings in China. Some of the buildings sport a classical Chinese design, yet their interiors are modern. Some buildings recognize history of Arab influence in the region be fusing modern design and Arab-influenced exterior. The city’s main shopping street, Zhong Shan Street, has been rebuilt and has received internaqtional attention for its design.

Local people speak a dialect of Chinese known as Min. It is unintelligible to those who speak Mandarin Chinese. Therefore, Quanzhou is not a good place to perfect your language skills. For business purposes, most people have a working knowledge of Mandarin, though it is not considered their first language.

Qingyuanshan is a well-traveled mountain outside Quanzhou. Its well-kept paths and the prevalence of refreshment stalls along the trail make this slightly strenuous hike quite comfortable. Some of the views near the top of the hill are scenic.

Oolong tea, perhaps China’s most famous product, is grown in fields outside the city. It is possible to get a tour of the tea plantations from a local tour agency. Tea lovers will not be at a loss tea anywhere in Quanzhou. Teahouses and teashops are everywhere in the city. In fact, one could say that tea is the main reason to visit this charming, out-of-the-way city.