City guide · 福州 Fuzhou
Fuzhou
An old city of three hills under banyan shade: the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, Mount Gu and the Mawei shipyard
Fuzhou is the capital of Fujian Province and the "Banyan City" on the lower Min River, named because more than 900 years ago banyan trees were planted throughout the city so that "green shade filled the city and the summer heat could not spread," and also called the "Three Mountains" because Mount Wu, Mount Yu, and Mount Ping stand within the city. You can spend two to three days walking through the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, Mount Gu, West Lake Park, and Shangxiahang, then visit Mawei to see the shipbuilding culture and soak in a Fuzhou hot spring. Also worth visiting in the city: Gushan Yongquan Temple, Wu Pagoda, Bai Pagoda, Mount Yu, West Lake Park, Fuzhou National Forest Park, Hualin Temple, Mawei Naval Culture Scenic Area, Luoxing Pagoda, Yantai Mountain, Shangxiahang Historical and Cultural Block, Fudao (Fuzhou Urban Forest Trail) and Min River Night Cruise.
History
How the city came to be
Fuzhou has been a city for more than 2,200 years. In the early Han dynasty, Wuzhu, King of Minyue, built the city of Ye on the southern foot of Mount Ping, marking the beginning of Fuzhou as a city. In the thirteenth year of the Kaiyuan era of the Tang dynasty (725), the Fuzhou Area Command was established, and the name Fuzhou was first used. During the Five Dynasties period, Wang Shenzhi built the outer city wall of 40 li in 901, enclosing the inner city and the old city, with Mount Wu, Mount Yu, and Mount Ping also brought inside the walls; houses within the city were gradually separated by high walls, gradually forming the layout of the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys; in 909, Wang Shenzhi was enfeoffed by the Later Liang as King of Min, the Min Kingdom was formally established, and Fuzhou became its capital. The main hall of Hualin Temple was built in the late Five Dynasties period and is the earliest surviving wooden building in southern China. In 1842, the Treaty of Nanjing listed Fuzhou as one of the five treaty ports, and it formally opened to trade in 1844, becoming one of the first Chinese cities to open to trade. In 1866, Zuo Zongtang founded the Fuzhou Navy Yard and Naval Academy, which became the cradle of the modern Chinese navy. On August 23, 1884, the Battle of Mawei between China and France broke out at Mawei Port, and the main force of the Fujian Fleet was destroyed. In 2013, the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
- Early Han dynastyWuzhu, King of Minyue, built the city of Ye.
- 725the Fuzhou Area Command established; the name Fuzhou first used.
- 901Wang Shenzhi built the outer city wall of 40 li; the layout of the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys gradually took shape.
- 909the Min Kingdom established, with Fuzhou as its capital.
- Late Five Dynasties periodthe main hall of Hualin Temple completed.
- 1842the Treaty of Nanjing listed Fuzhou as one of the five treaty ports; it formally opened to trade in 1844.
- 1866the Fuzhou Navy Yard and Naval Academy founded.
- August 23, 1884the Battle of Mawei broke out.
- 2013the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys added to the World Heritage Tentative List.
Stories
Stories of the city
The "Beverly Hills of imperial China"
History · Sanfang Qixiang
Over several centuries about 400 prominent people lived in Sanfang Qixiang: Lin Zexu, Yan Fu, Bing Xin and Lin Huiyin are all linked to it. That is why it has been nicknamed the "Beverly Hills of imperial China" — a metaphor for the density of famous residents, not an official title.
A "living fossil" of the ward system
History · Sanfang Qixiang
The lanes and alleys of Sanfang Qixiang follow the lifang ward system of urban planning, which dates back to the Tang dynasty, and the "three lanes and seven alleys" framework still survives. In 2013 it was placed on the World Heritage Tentative List as a "living fossil" of the ward system.
Trips beyond the city
These places can be explored from this city but lie outside it. See each place for transport and visiting guidance.
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