Quanzhou port witnessed the development of oceanic culture and has a large number of historical heritage sites.

 

Quanzhou City, a large metropolitan region in Fujian Province, is located on the southeast shores of China and faces the Taiwan Strait. Quanzhou is rich in natural resources and cultural heritage. It is well known as a famous historical and cultural city, the starting point of the maritime Silk Road, the crossroads of various religions and the point of origin for the ancestors of many overseas Chinese.
 

Quanzhou was established in the Tang Dynasty and has a history of over a thousand years. Numerous cultural relics are distributed all over the city. As the starting point of the maritime Silk Road, Quanzhou port was once the top harbor in the East. It had trade relations with more than 100 countries and regions, which showed the developed marine transportation and the prosperity of Quanzhou at that time. The convergence of Eastern and Western cultures brought about a splendid civilization in this city. There are more than 30,000 descendants of ancient Arab immigrants living in rural areas of Quanzhou now. Many mosques, Manichean relics and the Heavenly Queen Temple in Quanzhou offer evidence of friendly exchanges between Quanzhou and Southeast Asian and Arabic countries in ancient times, especially during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Along with their geographic mobility, these immigrants from neighboring countries also brought various religions to Quanzhou. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and other religions have coexisted in harmony since their introduction to Quanzhou. It has earned a reputation as a “museum of world religions,” showing the city’s pluralism and inclusiveness.
 

Quanzhou is the hometown for many overseas Chinese and the Taiwanese Han ethnic group. Although they live far away from Quanzhou, they have made tremendous contributions to preserving the city’s culture and promoting its social and economic development. Today, local customs have become the highlights of this city. Nanyin music, Liyuan Opera, puppet shows and other local operas not only are a part of Chinese operas’ heritage but also provide therapy for overseas Chinese to satiate their sense of nostalgia. The influence of southern kungfu, which originated in Quanzhou, has reached Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Japan and many other countries and regions.
 

In addition, Quanzhou folk arts, crafts and products are renowned. Because of its delicate techniques, Dehua porcelain is known as the pearl of porcelain production all around the world, and has been exported to many countries since the Song Dynasty.