Fuzhou Travel Guide

Situated at eastern Fujian in the lower reaches of the Minjiang River and facing Taiwan directly across the Strait, Fuzhou is the politic, economy, science, technology, education and culture center of Fujian Province. It covers an area of 11,968 square kilometers. The total population of the city is 6.4 million. It is also the homeland of many overseas Chinese, with about 80,000 natives living abroad.
 

History

Fuzhou is a famous historical and cultural city, with more than 2,200 years of history. 7,000 years ago, this land was inhabited by an ancient race called Minyue and their control over the territory was not ended until Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC). Fuzhou became a commercial port since the 6th century AD and Fuzhou has been a commercial port since the 6th century. In Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), it became a very important port city and shipping routes from Fuzhou to Japan and Arabic countries were established. Between the year 1405 and 1433 in Ming Dynasty, Ming Navy Fleet started their journey to east coast of Africa across the Indian Ocean. Since then, Fuzhou became military port as the cradle of modern Chinese Navy.
 

Attractions

Fuzhou is a famous tourist city with natural landscapes and historical cultural spots. There are famed mountains, temples, parks and museums throughout the city.


Sanfang Qixiang, literally Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, is a cluster of ancient residential buildings dating back to the late Jin Dynasty. Lin Zexu Memorial Hall at Aomen Road is memorial to the national hero for his strong opposition to opium trade. West Lake Park is an attractive urban lake in the center of Fuzhou. Drum Hill is a famous Buddhist scenic spot with a temple housing nationally important archives written in monks' blood. Hualin Temple is a Buddhist temple and the oldest wood architecture extant in South China. Mawei, the ancient battlefield and ship-building base, is also worth a visit.
 

Transportation

Fuzhou Changle International Airport is about 47 km southeast of downtown, an hour from town in the suburb of Chengle. There are air links to most major Chinese cities as well as international flights to Hong Kong, Singapore, Osaka and Taipei. Shuttle buses from Fuzhou city to airport cost CNY25 and taking a private taxi needs about CNY120.

Fuzhou Railway Station located at the northern end of Hualin Lu in the northeast of the city serves trains to most major cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Zhengzhou, Nanjing, Nanchang, Guiyang, Changsha, Hefei, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Shenzhen. People can reach it by city buses No. 5, 17, 20, 26, 51, 821, 905, 917, 949 and 951.

Fuzhou has three bus stations. South Bus Station is at No.190, Wuyi Zhong Lu; North Bus Station is at No.371, Hualing Lu while the West Bus Station is near Hongshan Qiao. Direct overnight buses to/from Hong Kong, Shenzhen or Guangzhou with sleeping bunks are available in Fuzhou.

The Port of Fujian is at Gangkou Road in Mawei. It operates many shipping lines to ports along the Yangtze River and China coast as well as international lines to thirty ports of over twenty countries in the world.

City buses are well developed in Fuzhou and most buses charge CNY1 if the air conditioning is not operating. The flag-down rate for a taxi is CNY7 to CNY8 according to the car types. Additional fee is charged beyond 3 km from CNY1.4 to CNY1.8 per kilometer.
 

Weather and Climate

Fuzhou has a warm and humid subtropical monsoon climate with an annual average temperature of 19.6°C (67.28°F).. January and February are the coldest two months while July and August are the hottest two months. The area has a short winter and long summer. In most years torrential rain occurs during the monsoon in May. July to September is the typhoon season and during this time typhoon would land on the city twice a year on average.
 

Food and Restaurants

Fuzhou is a good place to cater your stomach. Fuzhou cuisine is light but flavorful and famous dishes and snacks include Fo Tiao Qiang, Li Zhi Rou, Yu Ni, Ding Bian Hu, Fish Ball, Li Bing, Spring Roll and various others. There are numerous Shaxian Snacks Restaurants where people can taste many snacks. Rong Cheng Lao Jie situated in Taijiang District also offers many snacks. Fuzhou is also a good place to find decent vegetarian food. Most Buddhist temples serve vegetarian food for visitors and the most famous one being Yongquan Temple. Western restaurants such as KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonald's are also easy to find around the city.


Juchunyuan Chinese Restaurant: mainly Fuzhou dishes, renowned for Fo Tiao Qiang (Buddha Jumps over the Wall).
Address: 3/F, Juchunyuan Hotel, No.2, Dong Jie Kou

Antai Lou Restaurant: an old restaurant famed for local cuisine and snacks
Address: No.39, Jibi Lu
 

Shopping

Famous local products: bodiless lacquerware, paper umbrellas, horn combs, cork pictures, Shoushan stone sculptures. Chating Jie is a good place for handiworks. People can also buy the crafts at Cultural Relic Head Office at Wusi Lu, Industrial Arts Service Office in Hexi Lu, Fuzhou Oriental Painting and Calligraphy Association at No.176, Wuyi Bei Lu, and Fuzhou Shopping Center etc.

There are many shopping malls and modern supermarkets in Fuzhou, such as Walmart, Xinhuadu Shopping Square and Fuzhou Lianbang Emporium. Powerlong, a big mall with more than 200 shops and cinema, is also a good place to go.
 

Nightlife and Entertainment

Fuzhou is a modern southern city with many places of entertainment, night clubs and sauna etc. The Hot Springs scattered around the Hot Spring Hotel offer people a good way to relax. Walking in traditional architecture street, Nan Hou Jie gives visitors another different feeling to experience the city life.

Air force No.1: a recreation place with various performances.
Address: No.256, Liuyi Bei Lu

Pyramid Music Square: light music, disco and entertainment shows
Address: near Fuzhou International Exhibition Center

Hongse Jingjie Disco Bar
Address: No.69, Gudong Lu, Gu Lou Qu

Rongquan Tea House
Address: No.43, Gaoqiao Lu, Taijiang Qu
 

Accommodation

Hotel industry is well developed in Fuzhou and there are lots of different grades hotels ranking from star rated to small inns. Many hotels are gathered at Wusi Road and there are a number of cheap hotels around the railway station.

Jinjiang Inn (Fuzhou Railway Station)
Address: No. 41 Qinyuan Road

Hualin Hotel
Address: No.201 Hualin Road

Ju Chun Yuan Hotel
Address: Dong Jie Kou

Shangri-La Hotel
Address: Corner of Wuiyi Square

Best Western
Address: downtown and near Hot Springs Park
 

Travel Tips

1. The best season for travelling is late autumn and winter.
2. Take sun cream when travel to Fuzhou in summer.
3. It is very convenient to exchange currency and use credit cards in the city.