International Conference on Insect Molecular Ecology and Pest Management
28-31 October 2014, Fuzhou, China http://course.fafu.edu.cn/iciepm/
Sponsored by
Entomological Society of China Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Organized by
Division of Insect Ecology, Entomological Society of China Division of Agricultural Entomology, Entomological Society of China Entomological Society of Fujian Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences
In collaboration with
Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, China Fujian Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology Insect Science Acta Entomologica Sinica Journal of Biosafety
Supported by
The National Natural Science Foundation of China Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fujian Association for Science and Technology
ORGANIZATIONS
1. Organizing Committee Co-Chairmen:
Ge, Feng Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Zhang, Wenqing Sun Yat-sen University, China
You, Minsheng Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Members:
Chen, Xuexin Zhejiang University, China
Gao, Xiwu China Agricultural University, China
Gurr, Geoff M Charles Sturt University, Australia/Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Hong, Xiaoyue Nanjing Agricultural University, China
Hou, Youming Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Huang, Yongping Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, China
Song, Qisheng University of Missouri, USA
Vasseur, Liette Brock University, Canada
Weng, Qiyong Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Zeng, Rensen Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Zhang, Youjun Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Zhao, Yunxian Insect Science, China
2. Scientific Committee Co-Chairmen:
Kang, Le Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Wu, Kongming Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China James, Anthony University of California, Irvine, USA
Gurr, Geoff M Charles Sturt University, Australia / Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Members:
Baxter, Simon The University of Adelaide, Australia
Chen, Mingshun Kansas State University, USA
Fan, Qinghai Plant Health & Environment Laboratory, MPI Biosecurity New Zealand, New Zealand
Ge, Feng Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Goettel, Mark Biocontrol Science & Technology, Canada
Lei, Chaoliang Huazhong Agricultural University, China
Liang, Guangwen South China Agricultural University, China
Liu, Shusheng Zhejiang University, China
Liu, Tongxian Northwest A & F University, China
Lövei, Gabor Aarhus University, Denmark
Song, Qisheng University of Missouri, USA
Sun, Jianghua Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Vasseur, Liette Brock University, Canada
Wan, Fanghao Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Wang, Jinjun South West University, China
Wang, Ping Cornell University, USA
You, Minsheng Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Yu, Xiaoqiang University of Missouri-Kansas City, USA
Yuan, Yuren Singapore National University, Singapore Zhang, Wenqing Sun Yat-sen University, China
3. Local Organizing Committee Co-chairmen:
You, Minsheng Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Weng, Qiyong Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Gurr, Geoff M Charles Sturt University, Australia / Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Members:
Fan, Qinghai Plant Health & Environment Laboratory, MPI Biosecurity New Zealand, New Zealand
Fu, Jianwei Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Hou, Youming Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Liu, Changming Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Wei, Hui Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Yang, Guang Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Zeng, Rensen Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Zhang, Feiping Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Zhao, Jian Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
4. Secretariat Secretary General: Yang, Guang Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Wei, Hui Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Members: Cai, Lijun Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Chen, Lilin Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Han, Liwei Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
He, Weiyi Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Huang, Bin Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Huang, Xiaolei Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Lin, Sheng Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Lin, Yingjun Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Liu, Jian Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Liu, Qifei Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Peng, Lingfei Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Peng, Lu Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Shi, Zhanghong Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Tang, Baozhen Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Tian, Houjun Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Wang, Yue Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Xia, Xiaofeng Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Xie, Miao Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Yao, Fengluan Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
PROGRAMME OUTLINE
Tuesday, 28 October 08:30-21:00 Registration in the lobby of West-Lake Hotel 15:00-17:00 Annual joint meeting of Insect Ecology Division and Agricultural Entomology Division, Entomological Society of China Wednesday, 29 October (Plenary Session, International Auditorium, 6th floor, Fujian Hall) 08:30 Opening Address 08:50 Plenary Lectures 09:40 Group Photograph and Coffee Break 10:05 Symposium 1: Platform technologies for genetically engineering insects of beneficial, agricultural and medical significance 12:00 Lunch 13:00 Poster session* 14:00 Plenary Lectures 15:35 Coffee Break 15:50 Symposium 2: Trophic interactions and pest management: plants, herbivores and consumers 18:30 Welcome Banquet Thursday, 30 October (Concurrent Sessions, Sessions 1 and 2 at Xiamen Auditorium, Sessions 3 and 4 at Ningde Auditorium, 4th floor, Fujian Hall) 08:30 Session 1 (Insect Physiology and Molecular Ecology) Session 3 (Insecticide Resistance and Plant Defense) 10:10 Coffee Break 12:20 Lunch 13:00 Poster session* 14:00 Session 2 (Insect Genomics and Small RNA) Session 4 (Ecologically-based Pest Management) 15:40 Coffee Break 18:30 Farewell Dinner Friday, 31 October Departure; Social activities; Sightseeing; Shopping
09:00-12:00 The Editorial Board Meeting of Acta Entomologica Sinica
∗The key presenters are requested to show up around their own poster for on-site communications during the poster session. Conference Venue
MEETING ROOM LAYOUT
12th Auditorium, 2nd Floor Meeting Room 1, 2nd Floor Lingbo dining hall
West-Lake Hotel
International Auditorium, 6th floor Xiamen Auditorium, 4th floor Ningde Auditorium, 4th floor Lakeside Hotel Poster Areas
Fujian Hall PROGRAMME Tuesday, 28 October 2014
08:30-21:00 Registration in the Lobby of West-Lake Hotel
15:00-17:00 Annual joint meeting of Insect Ecology Division and Agricultural Entomology Division, Entomological Society of China Chairpersons: Feng Ge and Wen-qing Zhang Venue: 12th Auditorium, 2nd Floor, West-Lake Hotel Wednesday Morning, 29 October 2014
08:30-12:00 PLENARY SESSION Venue: International Auditorium, Fujian Hall
Opening Addresses and Plenary Lectures (Chairperson: Feng Ge) 08:30-08:50 Opening Addresses 08:50-09:20 Sexual behavioural interactions underlying competitive displacement in whiteflies: implications for IPM Shu-sheng Liu, Zhejiang University, China 09:20-09:40 Crystal structure of Bombyx mori arylphorins reveals a 3:3 heterohexamer with multiple papain cleavage sites. Yu-ren Yuan, National University of Singapore, Singapore 09:40-10:05 Group Photograph in front of Fujian Hall; Coffee Break Symposium 1: Platform technologies for genetically engineering insects of beneficial, agricultural and medical significance (Chairpersons: Min-sheng You, Geoff Gurr) 10:05-10:10 Introduction 10:10-10:40 Genome editing of lepidopteran model insect, Bombyx mori Yong-ping Huang, SIPPE, CAS, China 10:40-11:10 Transgenic strains for improved pest management of vector of tephritid fruit fly species Alfred Handler, USDA-ARS, USA 11:10-11:40 Genetic manipulation of vector mosquitos Anthony A James, University of California, USA 11:40-12:00 Panel discussion
12:00 LUNCH Venue: Lingbo dining hall, 1st Floor, West-Lake Hotel
Wednesday Afternoon, 29 October 2014
14:00-18:15 PLENARY SESSION Venue: International Auditorium, Fujian Hall
Plenary Lectures (Chairpersons: Fang-hao Wan and Xi-wu Gao) 13:00-14:00 Poster session 14:00-14:05 Introduction 14:05-14:35 Post genomic pest control Alistair C. Darby, The University of Liverpool, UK 14:35-15:05 Mosquito-specific microRNA-1174 targets serine hydroxymethyltransferase to control key functions in the gut Shi-ping Liu, Southwest University, China 15:05-15:35 Symbiosis, dysbiosis and chronic inflammation: A view from Drosophila model system Won-Jae Lee, Seoul National University, Korea 15:35-15:50 Coffee Break Symposium 2: Trophic interactions and pest management: plants, herbivores and consumers (Chairpersons: Shu-sheng Liu, Ming-shun Chen) 15:50-15:55 Introduction 15:55-16:25 Trophic interactions: the key to pest management Geoff M Gurr, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China / Charles Sturt University, Australia 16:25-16:55 Unravelling the spider web: molecular tools to reveal the biological control potential of predators James Harwood, Kentucky University, USA 16:55-17:25 Allelochemical mediated plant-microbe-insect interactions Ren-sen Zeng, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China 17:25-17:55 Induced plant defences, herbivores and natural enemies: a tale of three trophic levels Mike Furlong, University of Queensland, Australia 17:55-18:15 Panel discussion
18:30 WELCOME BANQUET Venue: Lingbo dining hall, 1st Floor, West-Lake Hotel
Thursday Morning, 30 October 2014
08:30-12:10 CONCURRENT SESSIONS Venue: Xiamen Auditorium, 4th Floor, Fujian Hall
Session 1 Insect Physiology and Molecular Ecology (Chairpersons: Xiao-qiang Yu and Xue-xin Chen ) 08:30-08:55 Keynote: Insect Toll/TLR pathways Xiao-qiang Yu, University of Missouri-Kansas City, USA 08:55-09:20 Keynote: Prostaglandins in insect immunity: from discovery to plant protection David Stanley, USDA/Agricultural Research Service, USA 09:20-09:45 Keynote: Endocrine regulation of innate immunity in insects Qi-sheng Song, University of Missouri, USA 09:45-10:10 Keynote: Parasitic factors inhibiting metamorphosis of Plutella xylostella Yong-gyun Kim, Andong National University, Korea 10:10-10:25 Coffee Break 10:25-10:40 Juvenile hormone regulation of female reproduction in the migratory locust Shu-tang Zhou, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China 10:40-10:55 Molecular biogeography of a conifer-feeding aphid group: global disjunct distributions and species differentiation Xiao-lei Huang, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China 10:55-11:10 Population genetics affected by fruit-bagging: preliminary results of a case study with Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in China Mao-hua Chen, North West Agriculture and Forestry University, China 11:10-11:25 Characteristics and functions of the hemocytes of Octodonta nipae Maulik (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) E Meng, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China 11:25-11:40 Males in yellow peach moth (Conogethes punctiferalis) percept hydrocarbon pheromones in a sex pheromone mixture by weak olfaction Jing He, Southwest University, China 11:40-11:55 The metagenomic landscape of microbiome in the mosquito gut ecosystem Jian-nong Xu, New Mexico State University, Mexico 11:55-12:10 Different genetic diversity of a newly invasive pest, Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Northeastern and Northwestern China Yu-ting Li, North West Agriculture and Forestry University, China
12:10 LUNCH Venue: Lingbo dining hall, 1st Floor, West-Lake Hotel
Thursday Morning, 30 October 2014
08:30-12:20 CONCURRENT SESSIONS Venue: Ningde Auditorium, 4th Floor, Fujian Hall
Session 3 Insecticide Resistance and Plant Defense (Chairpersons: Ping Wang and Simon Baxter) 08:30-08:55 Keynote: Bt resistance in Trichoplusia ni: mechanisms of resistance to multiple Bt toxins in a generalist insect Ping Wang, Cornell University, USA 08:55-09:20 Keynote: Molecular interaction between rice and brown planthopper Guang-cun He, Wuhan University, China 09:20-09:45 Keynote: Plant susceptibility genes and their application in pest management Ming-shun Chen, Kansas State University, USA 09:45-10:10 Keynote: Silicon-augmented resistance of plants to biotic stress Olivia L Reynolds, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Charles Sturt University 10:10-10:20 Coffee Break 10:20-10:35 RNA interference of P450 CYP6CM1 gene has different efficacy in two biotypes of Bemisia tabaci Feng-ming Yan, Henan Agricultural University, China 10:35-10:50 Characterization of the insecticidal activity of Pseudomonas taiwanensis toward Aedes albopictus larvae Rong-nan Huang, National Taiwan University, Taiwan 10:50-11:05 Foregut prophenoloxidase in phytophagous insects detoxifies plant phenolics Kai Wu, SIPPE, CAS, China 11:05-11:20 Gut microbiota mediating insecticide resistance of Plutella xylostella Xiao-feng Xia, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China 11:20-11:35 Resistance selection and mechanism study against Cyflumetofen of Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) Ying Wang, Southwest University, China
11:35-11:50 Elevated CO2 shifts the focus of tobacco plant defences from cucumber mosaic virus to the green peach aphid Le-fu Ye, Northeast Agricultural University, China 11:50-12:05 Characterization and functional analysis of sulfatase and sulfatase modifying factor genes in diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) Xiao-li Ma, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China 12:05-12:20 Identification and characterization of two cytochrome P450 genes potentially involved in fenpropathrin resistance in Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) Li Shi, Southwest University, China
12:20 LUNCH Venue: Lingbo dining hall, 1st Floor, West-Lake Hotel
Thursday Afternoon, 30 October 2014
14:00-17:55 CONCURRENT SESSIONS Venue: Xiamen Auditorium, 4th Floor, Fujian Hall
Session 2 Insect Genomics and Small RNA (Chairpersons: Qi-sheng Song and Wen-qing Zhang) 13:00-14:00 Poster session 14:00-14:25 Keynote: Whole genome sequencing of insect pests can identify candidate loci under strong selection from insecticides Simon Baxter, University of Adelaide, Australia 14:25-14:50 Keynote: RNA interference of arginine kinase in Plutella xylostella Guang Yang, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China 14:50-15:15 Keynote: Genome sequencing reveals insect effector proteins in a plant-parasitic gall midge Jeff Stuart, Purdue University, USA 15:15-15:40 Keynote: The genetics of monarch butterfly migration Shuai Zhan, SIPPE, CAS, China 15:40-15:55 Coffee Break 15:55-16:10 Differences in gene expression through the transcriptome of the Glanville fritillary butterfly in Chinese and Finnish populations. Ying Lei, Peking University, China 16:10-16:25 Combined transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of male accessory glands: Identification of seminal fluids proteins in Bactrocera dorsalis Dong Wei, Southwest University, China 16:25-16:40 Proteomics analysis of insect molting fluid proteins and the physiological function Jie Zhang, SIPPE, CAS, China, China 16:40-16:55 Transcriptome response of Aedes aegypti against Bacillus thuringiensis and the pathway for enhanced mosquitocidal activity Song-qing Wu, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China 16:55-17:10 The regulation function of piRNA pathway genes and tudor gene in ovary development Yi-fei Xie, Southwest University, China 17:10-17:25 Insect prophenoloxidase is sequentially cleaved by α-chymotrypsin during in vitro activation An-rui Lu, SIPPE, CAS, China 17:25-17:40 Mitochondrial genome in booklice: minicircles and greatly gene rearrangement Dan-dan Wei, Southwest University, China 17:40-17:55 Molecular characterization, tissular and developmental expression profiles of two cryptochromes in wing dimorphic brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens Wei-dong Pan, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
18:30 DINNER Venue: Lingbo dining hall, 1st Floor, West-Lake Hotel Thursday Afternoon, 30 October 2014
14:00-17:55 CONCURRENT SESSIONS Venue: Ningde Auditorium, 4th Floor, Fujian Hall
Session 4 Ecologically-based Pest Management (Chairpersons: Liette Vasseur and Jin-jun Wang) 13:00-14:00 Poster session 14:00-14:25 Keynote: Too many choices are not good for diamondback moth: they may not select the best for them. Liette Vasseur, Brock University, Canada 14:25-14:50 Keynote: Ecological engineering for rice pest management in Northern Zhejiang Plain, China Zeng-rong Zhu, Zhejiang University, China 14:50-15:15 Keynote: New insights on the ecology of entomopathogenic fungi Mark S. Goettel, Lethbridge Research Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Canada 15:15-15:40 Keynote: Weakening density dependence from climate change and agricultural intensification triggers pest outbreaks: a 37-year observation of cotton bollworms Fang OuYang, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China 15:40-15:55 Coffee Break 15:55-16:10 Trade-offs triggered by rice stripe virus on the development and feeding behavior of its vector, Laodelphax striatellus Fa-jun Chen, Nanjing Agricultural University, China 16:10-16:25 Identification of candidate olfactory genes in antennal of Grapholita molesta and their binding function Guang-wei Li, North West Agriculture and Forestry University, China 16:25-16:40 Olfaction candidate gene in the antennae of oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis Zhao Liu, Southwest University, China 16:40-16:55 Host range of Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), a biological control agent of Halyomorpha halys Jin-ping Zhang, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China 16:55-17:10 Cloning and expression analysis of GABACls and GluCls genes in Tetranychus cinnabarinus Zhi-feng Xu, Southwest University, China 17:10-17:25 Analysis of genetic variation in different geographical populations of Leguminivora glycinivorella (Matsumura) Shi-yu Zhu, Jilin Agricultural University, China 17:25-17:40 Engineering of Bt Cry1Ab toxin against rice planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens En-si Shao, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China 17:40-17:55 Analysis of control efficiency in Leguminivora glycinivorella based on different control measures Hong Wang, Northeast Agricultural University, China
18:30 DINNER Venue: Lingbo dining hall, 1st Floor, West-Lake Hotel Friday Morning, 31 October 2014
Departure or post-conference tours
09:00-12:00 The Editorial Board Meeting of Acta Entomologica Sinica Chairperson: Jiang-hua Sun Venue: Meeting Room 1, 2nd Floor, West-Lake Hotel
12:00 LUNCH Venue: Lingbo dining Hall, 1st Floor, West-Lake Hotel
Sightseeing Introduction
1. West Lake Park Tour 4 hours, 14:00-18:00 Located in the northwest of Fuzhou is the West Lake Park, mostly comprising of the lake, which was ordered to be excavated some seventeen centuries ago by the local official at that time. Inside the park, bridge links join scattered isles together, which, when the night falls, resemble rainbows spanning the lake. Most travelers go boating or stroll in the park nowadays. The park does have a variety of interesting sights that are possibly worth a visit. There is the Zoo and the nearby Panda World. Far more interesting are the Fuzhou Provincial Museum and the Anti-Opium Pavilion. Situated at the northern end of West Lake Park, the Provincial Museum is one of Fujian's largest and best museums, holding an interesting collection of exhibits and artifacts. The most famous of these, a 3,500 year old coffin boat discovered in Wuyishan Cave, is of particular interest. For those interested in contemporary Chinese history, the Anti-Opium Pavilion is one to visit. Commemorating the famous Lin Zexu, a patriotic imperial envoy who initiated a nation-wide anti-opium conquest during the First Opium War about 150 years ago (most notably destroying 20,000 chests of the drug in Canton in 1839), the sight is an interesting, if small, introduction to Chinese anti-imperialist history.
Approximate cost: USD 20 per person
2. Drum Mountain Tour
4 hours, 8:00-12:00
Drum Mountain, the most famous sight in Fuzhou, is a classic scenic spot. It has been famous for sightseeing for over 1,000 years. Yongquan Temple is its center with more than 100 sights scattered around it, among which main sights are Yongquan Temple, the Eighteen Sights of Damo and White Cloud Cave. Three routes can be taken to climb along the Drum Mountain: the traditional one climbs along the ancient stone path from the foot of the mountain, approximately 3.5 km long, or take a bus directly to the gate of the Buddhist Temple(8 km long). Visitors may also take the cable car from the foot of the mountain to the Eighteen Sights of Damo.
Yongquan Temple is located at the foot of the White Cloud Peak of Drum Mountain, 455 m above sea level. Built in the Five Dynasties (908), it comes first on the list of the five Buddhist temples in Fuzhou and still preserves large and middle-sized palaces and temple halls today. As an ancient Buddhist temple in a famous mountain, it is home to many places worth visiting. First, the conception of its construction is unique. By considering the entire mountain, it’s built in the chin of the peak where experts call the "Swallow Nest". The temple seems to be hidden and visitors can not see it whether they are walking, taking a bus or a cable car. Even after entering the gate of the temple, they still can not see the large-scale Yongquan Temple. The saying goes that "Once you enter the mountain, you can not see the temple,
while entering the temple, you can not see the mountain". Secondly, there are three invaluable state treasures being housed in the temple--the pottery pagodas with a thousand Buddhas, the ocean-bed wooden altar table and the Buddhist scripture printed with an ancient printing plate. There are "three irons" (iron tree or sago cycas, iron pot and iron wire wood) which are in the temple as well.
The Eighteen Sights of Damo is situated west of Yongquan Temple. Its main landscape is the natural scenery. In the period of Emperor Dao Guang of the Qing Dynasty, Wei Jie, a poet, carved the eighteen sights in the crag outside the Damo Cave. These sights are based on the natural scenery and folk legend, such as Damo facing the wall, picture of Fuzhou (blessing and longevity) Quan, lion playing with ball, Nanji (an immortal) going up to Heaven and Fish light illuminating.
Approximate cost: USD 25 per person
3. Xi Chan Temple Tour
3 hours, 14:00-17:00
Dating from the Tang Dynasty, Xi Chan Temple (Xi means west and chan means Buddha) is located in the Yishan Fengwei village, west of Fuzhou and is well-known to Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. This old towering and magnificent temple, along with Yongquan Temple in Drum Mountain, Chongsheng Temple in Snow Peak, Chongfu Temple in Elephant Peak and Linyang Temple in Rui Peak comprise the five great temples in Fuzhou.
The Xichan Temple has a large extent and a symmetric layout covering approximately 100 mu including 36 large and small constructions. Among them, the Hall of Deities, the Great Hall of the Buddha and the Hall of Arhats are the main ones which were all built in the eighth year of Emperor Xiang Tong in the Tang Dynasty. Abounding in lichees is one of the temple’s distinguishing features. Even today, some famous lichee trees planted in the Song and Ming Dynasties are still flowering and bearing fruit in the temple.
Approximate cost: USD 25 per person
4. Forest Park Tour
4 hours, 8:00-12:00
Formerly called Tree Park, it is one of the nine principal parks in China serving both scientific research and tourism. The park in Chiqiao Village on the northern outskirts of Fuzhou consists of a forest zone, a tree nursery, a greenhouse, a special tree specimen park, and a rest area.
Approximate cost: USD 25 per person
5. Pingtan Island Tour
11 hours, 8:00-19:00
Also known as East Mist because of the island is often enveloped in mist from the east, Pingtan Island is the largest in Fujian and the fifth largest of its category in China. The zigzag coastline around it features more than 100 kilometers of quality beaches where fine sand is washed back and forth in the azure sea water.
Approximate cost: USD 50 per person
6. Gulangyu Tour
One day
Gulangyu, located several hundred meters off Xiamen's southwestern tip, was the city's pre World War II foreign concession. Christian missionaries and foreign diplomats established homes, schools and consulates on the islet in the 1920's. The study of piano proved more popular with the locals than the study of religion and in the following decades, Gulangyu churned out some of China's most skilled musicians. The history of this period is well documented in the Piano Museum.
Nowadays, the islet is a popular tourist destination but still reachable only by ferry. The double-decker ferry can be taken from the terminal at the end of Zhongshan Lu. After disembarkment, you'll be met by hordes of pearl pedaling locals and golf buggy drivers. A very short walk from the ferry terminal will bring you to Underwater Sea World, whose entrance is well marked with the sculpture of a giant bronze octopus.
Gulangyu's car-free streets wind about through sleepy seaside villages and are an absolute pleasure to spend an afternoon ambling about. Don't let your guard down though—the streets may be free of cars, but near-silent golf buggies zoom around ferrying tourists between scenic spots (RMB 10 from spot to spot or RMB 50 for the whole islet).
There are a few spots scattered about worth a look. One you'll probably notice even before reaching the islet, it the large Statue of Zheng Chenggong Ming dynasty hero, located on the northern side of Sunlight Rock. The life and exploits Zheng Chenggong, perhaps better know as Koxinga, are further
commemorated in the Memorial Hall of Zheng Chenggong at the foot of Sunlight Rock.
Don't forget to stop and listen for the sound of Drum Rock, for which this islet is named. When a wave crashes into the hole in Drum Rock, the resulting sound is comparable to the single beat of a bass drum and can be heard from quite a distance away.
Approximate cost: USD 70 per person
7. Yongding Earth Building Tour
Two days
In the mountainous areas in the western part of Fujian, there are numbers of earth buildings, either round or square. The architectural structure, carvings, pillar couplets of these dwelling houses reflect the wisdom and creativeness of the Hakkas. When you visit the unique buildings of the world, you can hardly tear yourself away from them.
The Hakkas were people who settled in Fujian from the Central Plains of China. After more than 1,000 years of struggle they formed their original folk customs in their residential buildings such as their food, drink, dressing, education and religion. These are the main components of Hakkas culture, of which the most unique is the earth buildings.
The earth buildings were built with the combination of good points of various kinds of Chinese residential buildings as well as the wisdom and creativeness of the ancestors of the Hakkas settlers in Yongding. They are like brilliant pearls amongst the architectural beauties in the world. According to the early settlers’ philosophy of heaven and earth, which held that the heaven was round and the earth was square, earth buildings in Yongding include varieties
of square and round houses combined together. Thousands of these buildings were built in the Qing Dynasty, with thick walls, ingenious structures and various functions such as protection against high winds, earthquakes and hot and cold weather. They also served as a guard against enemies. All these buildings were furnished for living, storage and cooking and can accommodate a clan of hundreds of family members to live a happy life together.
Within the buildings, there are several pillar couplets, carvings, examples of ancient calligraphy, and other cultural treasures, which reflect the Hakkas spirit of hard work, thrift, creativeness and their emphasis on education and deep patriotism.
Among all the earth buildings, Zhencheng Building is the most magnificent. With the combination of various round buildings into one, it is regarded as a miraculous wonder by thousands of experts, scholars and tourists who have been enchanted by its beauty.
Built in 1912, at the cost of 80,000 silver dollars, the overall design of the building is a combination of the traditional style of local residential buildings and that of typical Beijing and Western architecture.
The main building is composed of an inside round building, an outside round building and a central hall. The outside ring has four stories, which are divided into eight components according to China’s traditional Eight Diagrams, with each diagram forming a separate courtyard. Various courtyards are connected by corridors, but each diagram is separated by a fire wall.
On both sides of the main building, there are two two-storied houses in the shape of a crescent. One was used as a school and the other was resided by
odd-job men. The overall external shape of the building looks like a black gauze cap worn by feudal officials in ancient times, which implies that the owner hoped that his offspring could be so remarkable as to become officials.
Like a city with many ring roads, the four-storied Chengqi Building has four rings of 400 houses. It enjoys a history of more than 300 years. The population of the building once reached over 600 at the most. Nearly one hundred families lived and worked together in the building and formed a history of the development of the Hakkas settlers in Yongding. It was acclaimed as the peak of perfection by tourists both at home and abroad. In 1981, it was enlisted in China’s Dictionary of Historical sites. In 1986, a stamp entitled “Fujian's Residential Buildings”, with its design based on this building, was chosen as one of the best stamps in the world.
Approximate cost: USD 170 per person
8. Taining Geopark Tour
Two days
Taining Global Geopark is located in Taining County, the northwest part of Fujian Province. It lies in 116°45'00" to 117°18'11" E, and 26°37'26" to 27°05'35" N. The Geopark covers an area of 492.5 km2, and comprises four scenic areas, Zhukou, Big Golden Lake, Dabu, and Jinrao Mountain, plus a tour to ancient Taining City. The Geopark has a number of geological formations and is characterized by the Danxia landform, together with granite, volcanic, and tectonic landscapes. The natural ecological environment of Taining Geopark has kept very well. In addition, there are a number of wonderful man made features in the area. The combination of these geological and man-made features makes the area an attractive and comprehensive geopark.
The Taining Geopark was developed on the geological background of the Cathaysis. It has lain at a west marginal area of the Pacific Plate since the Late Triassic period. The geopark has abundant geological records and is one of the largest Danxia landform areas in China. It represents a typical early development stage of the Danxia landform.
Approximate cost: USD 170 per person
9. Wuyi Mountain Tour
Three days
Located at the junction of Fujian and Jiangxi Provinces, in the northeast of Fujian, Wuyi Mountain is one of the nicest spots in this area and one of the most pleasant mountains in all of China. Despite its inland situation, this is an extremely popular area and it can get very busy here. It is a good idea to visit out of season whenever possible.
Early in the Spring and Autumn Period some 2,500 years ago, the Ming (Fujian) people first settled here. Han Chinese have gradually settled here in large numbers over the years and the area is now home to a mixture of nationalities and ethnic groups.
The scenery here is surprisingly spectacular, falling between two major areas:
The Jiuqu River and the Thirty Six Peaks that rise up at the top of the mountains. This is archetypal Chinese scenery-picture postcard stuff (green and lush vegetation, red cliff faces and small, preserved villages) that generations of painters, poets and artists have visited for years in an eternal search for inspiration. The air here is wonderfully clean and fresh, particularly pleasant in early evening, when a hazy mist shrouds the mountain summit.
The unique climate in the region is ideal for the growth of numerous variety of plants, which, in turn, provide a second-to-none habitat for different species of rare animals.
Approximate cost: USD 250 per person
Shopping Centres
A: Bao-long City Square, 193# Gongye road, Taijiang, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
A: Wan-da City Square, 276# Pushang road, Cangshan, Fuzhou, Fujian, China