When it comes to Fujian, Wuyi Mountain (where the scenery tops Southeast China), the coastal garden city Xiamen, the Maritime Silk Road-Quanzhou and the costal city-Fuzhou are the top things that come to mind. As one of the hottest tourist destinations in southeast China, Fujian does not fail to attract its visitors. Fujian is both lavish with abundant natural landscapes and rich man-made landscapes. The earth buildings in Yongding are unique and legendary village constructions that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. The talented and diligent Hui’an women are the highlight of the local lifestyle of those in southern Fujian. The ancient Kaiyuan Temple shows the magnificent and spectacular look of its dazzling decorations. Fujian is also the place where historical figures such as Ligang, Caixiang, Zhengcheng Gong and Linze Xu once lived. Their names will continue to be remembered throughout history.
Fujian is rich in history. As early as the primitive time period, trace of human activities can be found there. The tribe called Dongyue back then was a branch of the ancient Yue group. Fujian is also nicknamed “Bamin” (eight administrative bodies) due to its one prefecture, five states and two military bases (altogether eight administrative bodies) which were once set there.
Fujian boasts time-honored cultures and science that were once popular in ancient times. Over 5,000 years ago, the residents of Fujian traveled and multiplied in the land, creating the splendid Tanshi Mountain culture with the same reputation as the Yangshao culture and the Hemudu culture. In the Three Kingdoms period, since shipbuilding and navigation technologies were advanced in this area, Fujian became an important military base and a port for business exchanges with the outside world in the Wu Kingdom. In the Southern Song and Yuan Dynasties, Quanzhou became one of the biggest business ports in the world and established business ties with more than 100 countries and regions, giving rise to the famous Maritime Silk Road.
In the Ming Dynasty, Zhenghe stationed in Fujian several times in his seven expeditions to the west, recruited crew men, built ships and set sail directly from Fujian. During the period of Emperor Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty, Fuzhou Ship Council and the first naval academy were launched in Fuzhou, making Fuzhou the cradle for modern navy and shipbuilding industry.
History witnessed a variety of talented and influential figures in Fujian: astronomer Susong, the earlier founder of medicolegy-Songci, thinker and writer Lizhi, musician Chendi, scholar and calligrapher Huangdao Zhou and Caiciang, such scholars as Yanyu, Yangyi and Liuyong, historian Zhengqiao and Yuanshu, national hero Zhengcheng Gong and Linze Xu, thinker and translator Yanfu and Linshu, railway construction expert Zhantian You, among others. They made remarkable contributions to the development and prosperity of the Chinese nation with their courage, insight and devotion.
