In pics: 22 World Heritage sites in SE China's Quanzhou

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(People's Daily Online) 14:18, January 29, 2024

The total tourism revenue of Quanzhou, designated as a "World Heritage City" by UNESCO, in southeast China's Fujian Province, soared 68.9 percent year on year at 100.24 billion yuan ($14.15 billion) in 2023, surpassing 100 billion yuan for the first time, according to official data.

The city is preparing for the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, which usually sees a tourism boom.

Let's take a virtual tour of the 22 World Heritage sites, which are must-sees, in Quanzhou.

1. Jiuri Mountain Wind-Praying Inscriptions

The Jiuri Mountain Wind-Praying Inscriptions, which are cliff inscriptions, record the prayer rituals for the safe voyages of ocean-going merchant ships in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The ceremonies were held by state commissioners, local officials and members of the imperial clan in charge of overseas trade in the dynasty. The inscriptions reflect the state's power under the Song Dynasty's maritime trade system to promote and manage maritime trade.

Photo shows the Jiuri Mountain Wind-Praying Inscriptions in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Photo/Cheng Dongdong)

2. Site of Maritime Trade Office

The Maritime Trade Office was an administrative agency established by the national regimes of the Song and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties in Quanzhou to manage maritime trade affairs.

Photo shows a bird's-eye view of part of the archaeological excavation site of the Site of Maritime Trade Office in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Photo/Wang Jun)

3. Site of Deji Gate

The Site of Deji Gate was the remains of the southern gate of the old city of Quanzhou in the Song and Yuan dynasties. The gate was a landmark in the commercial district on the southern side of the city. It bears testimony to the history of Quanzhou's southward expansion, reflecting the government's administrative guarantee for the development of maritime trade and commerce within the city.

Photo shows the Site of Deji Gate in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Huang Dongyi)

4. Tianhou Temple

The Tianhou Temple was the first stop for foreign merchants and goods entering Quanzhou city. It was also the first stop for seafarers heading to the Estuary Docks or the Shihu Dock along the Jinjiang River to engage in maritime trade after paying their homage to Mazu, the sea goddess.

Photo shows the Tianhou Temple in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Huang Dongyi)

5. Zhenwu Temple

The Zhenwu Temple, a Taoist temple dedicated to the worship of the Taoist deity, the Great Emperor Zhenwu, used to be a significant landmark of the ancient port of Fashi.

Photo shows the Zhenwu Temple in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Photo/Chen Yingjie)

6. Site of the Southern Clan Office

The Southern Clan Office was an administrative agency established in the Jianyan period (1127-1130) of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) for imperial clansmen who relocated to Quanzhou.

Photo shows the Site of the Southern Clan Office in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Photo/Cheng Dongdong)

7. Confucius Temple

The Confucius Temple and School embodied Quanzhou's intellectual and political elites. These social elites played a vital role in promoting and administering maritime trade during the Song and Yuan dynasties.

Photo shows the Confucius Temple in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Huang Dongyi)

A girl poses for photos in front of the Dacheng Hall of the Confucius Temple in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Huang Dongyi)

8. Kaiyuan Temple

The Kaiyuan Temple was the largest and highest government-sanctioned Buddhist temple in Quanzhou in the Song and Yuan dynasties.

Photo shows the Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Huang Dongyi)

Tourists take photos of the east and west pagodas of the Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Huang Dongyi)

Tourists take photos under the Zhenguo Pagoda, one of the two pagodas of the Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Huang Dongyi)

9. Statue of Lao Tze

This massive stone statue of Lao Tze, founder of Taoism, is China's largest extant Taoist stone statue.

Photo shows the Statue of Lao Tze in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Photo/Chen Yingjie)

10. Qingjing Mosque

The Qingjing Mosque is one of the few mosques built with granite and diabase in China, displaying the distinctive characteristics of a West Asian Islamic mosque.

Photo shows the Qingjing Mosque in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Huang Dongyi)

11. Islamic Tombs

The tombs are among the earliest pieces of physical evidence of the introduction of Islam into China.