QUANZHOU CITY GUIDE INTRODUCTION Quanzhou is a prefecture-level port city in China’s Fujian province. It is the commercial and political center of the province, located on the north bank of the Jin River. The city contains many scenic and historic buildings such as the Kaiyuan Temple, the Heavenly Empress Palace Quanzhou’s population as of 2018 is around 8.6 million. Quanzhou usually has a rather temperate climate, but is very susceptible to typhoons. The average temperature in the summer is usually around 26-29°, while spring and autumn are generally mild. Winter is fairly cool with an average of 14°. The total GDP of Quanzhou was over 127 billion USD in 2018. 8.6 million 38°C 0°C GDP $127bn 1 CONTENTS Culture History & Natural Wonders Cuisine Industry Maps Popular Attractions Transport Housing Schools Doctors Shopping Nightlife Emergency Contacts 2 CULTURE Quanzhou has a long history, which can be traced back to the Tang dynasty in 718, when the city was officially established. Quanzhou one of the 24 historic cultural cities first approved by the Chinese government, Quanzhou is home to it’s own opera style, Liyuan Opera, and hosts other events such as puppet shows and unique style of Kung Fu. 3 HISTORY & NATURAL Quanzhou is the place to find both history and natural wonders. The Mt. Qingyuan Scenic Area and Kaiyuan Temple are top destinations to enjoy and learn about ancient Chinese history and culture. The famous Quanzhou Maritime Museum is another notable site, located to the east of the East Lake Park. This museum is China’s only museum dedicated to the history of Chinese overseas exploration 4 CUISINE As a port city, Quanzhou’s cuisine involves a large amount of seafood, popular dishes involve fried oyster, fish pellets and frozen siphon worm. If you are not a fan of seafood, Quanzhou has many other dishes inspired by other parts of China and across the globe, you will not be stuck for choice! 5 MOUNT QINGYUAN The Mt. Qingyuan scenic area is situated about 3 kilometers from Qingyuan City. The total area covers 62 square kilometers, covering three mountains and plenty of history. You can also visit Luoyang Bridge, one of the four famous ancient bridges in China, built nearly 1,000 years ago! 6 INDUSTRY Growth - Quanzhou’s GDP surpassed $127bn in 2018. - Quanzhou is a major exporter of agricultural products such as tea and banana. - Quanzhou is the biggest automobile market in China, having the highest rate of private vehicle ownership Business - Quanzhou has long been a major port for exports from China, although in recent decades this has moved to other cities in the country. - Development of new industries in the city is ongoing. The petrochemical industry is the main focus of this push, but other industries include: electronics, automobiles, shipbuilding and biopharmaceuticals. Industrial Zones - Quanzhou High-tech Industrial Zone - Quanzhou Export Processing Zone - Quanzhou Qingmeng Scientific & Technological Industrial Zone 7 CITY MAP Quanzhou has four urban districts: Fengze, Licheng, Luojiang and Quangang These areas have many places visited by the foreign community in Quanzhou, such as The Brickyard Pub and Bart’s Kitchen in Fengze 8 ATTRACTIONS Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street is as 3,000 metre long shopping road, featuring typical Chinese designed buildings and shops to buy anything you could want. Qingjing Mosque is the only surviving Mosque in Quanzhou and was built over 1,000 years ago. After a recent restoration in 2009 it is a must see for only 3 RMB. Kaiyuan Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province, is located on West Street in the Licheng District. It is a major historic and cultural site and is under state protection. The most famous attractions are two pagodas standing west and east of the temple. They are the highest stone pagodas in China. Qingyuan Mountain. Climbing this mountain is a nice way to get away from the city, and some of its heat and noise. Mountain climbing in Qingyuanshan is a different experience from hiking in other places, the paths up the mountain (large hill, really) are clearly marked, and paved in most places, with steps up the steeper parts. Quanzhou Maritime Museum is the only museum dedicated to the history of Chinese overseas exploration, you can see the remains of a nearly 1,000 year old ship from the Song Dynasty and learn about China’s history on the seas 9 BUS Public Buses - There are 22 public bus routes covering most parts of the city - Prices for these routes vary depending on length, from 1- 7 RMB Long Distance Buses - National and provincial expressways and the highways connect Quanzhou with most other areas of the country Sightseeing Buses - The No. 601 bus is the tourist bus operating between the Qingyuan Scenic Spot and the Amusement Park. This covers most scenic spots in the city and costs a flat 1 RMB. 11 TAXI - Regular taxis will take passengers anywhere in the city with a starting price of 6 RMB for the first 2 kilometers and 1.8 RMB per additional kilometer. - When a journey is longer than 10 kilometers, taxis charge an additional 50% on the price per kilometer for an empty return. - Passengers can also use the Didi app, which often offers more affordable rides in better quality cars. - Need help communicating your location to the driver? Take a look at the Maxxelli Taxi Book, which contains hundreds of interesting places to visit as well as their location in Chinese. 12 HOUSING - Apartments, townhouses and villas in both western and traditional styles can be found. - A large variety of accommodation can be found on the property proposal webpage of Maxxelli. 13 SCHOOLING Wuhan has three international schools which all provide high quality education and are taught in English: 1. Wuhan Yangtze International School 2. Wuhan Maple Leaf International School 3. Wuhan Sanniu International School 14 HEALTHCARE International doctors in Quanzhou offer primary services to patients, including check-ups, x-rays, and acupuncture. For more advanced procedures such as surgery, cooperation with local hospitals is the custom. Maxxelli recommends visiting Global Doctors for a fast service and consultations in English. 15 NIGHTLIFE Quanzhou does not have the most active nightlife in terms of foreign-inspired bars and clubs, but there is still plenty to do at night. Zhuangyuan Street has plenty of places to drink and have fun. 16 EMERGENCY CONTACTS Contact Telephone Number Police emergency 110 Traffic Accident 122 Medical Emergency 120 Fire Emergency 119 Tourist Complaint 87706026 US Consulate 8628 8558 3992 17 www.maxxelli-consulting.com [email protected] 4000 150 600.