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Fujian

Fujian (福建, Fújiàn) is an attractive coastal province with a long seafaring history. As a significant stop on the maritime Silk Road, its cities developed an easy cosmopolitan outlook and visitors are surprised by the traces of elsewhere in its architecture, food, language and people.

Xiamen is the star attraction for visitors, with its long seaside promenade and easy access to little Gulang Yu, a hip island enclave just offshore. Many travelers also pass through the area en route to the Taiwanese island of Kinmen.

Away from the coast, the Unesco World Heritage–listed tǔlóu (roundhouses) rise out of the countryside and for generations have housed traditional Hakka and Fujianese communities. Further north, the hill station of Wuyi Shan offers year-round hiking opportunities and a memorable river cruise on bamboo rafts.

Explore Fujian

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Fujian.

  • Architecture

    Sānfāng Qīxiàng

    This ‘downtown’ series of ancient residential buildings is known as ‘Three Lanes and Seven Alleys'. Thousands of visitors wander the white-walled streets…

  • Taoist Temple

    Guandi Temple

    This magnificently carved temple is immediately identifiable by its showy dragon-decorated roofs and a shroud of smoke emanating from furnaces burning…

  • Notable Building

    Chéngqǐ Lóu

    In the village of Gaobei (高北), this 300-year-old tǔlóu has 400 rooms and once housed 1000 inhabitants. It’s built with elaborate concentric rings, with…

  • Notable Building

    Zhènchéng Lóu

    This most visited tǔlóu is a grandiose structure built in 1912, with two concentric circles and 222 rooms. The four storeys of the outer circle are…

  • Buddhist Site

    Nanputuo Temple

    This Buddhist temple complex on the southern side of Xiamen is one of the most famous temples among the Fujianese, and is also considered a pilgrimage…

  • Temple

    Cao’an Manichaean Temple

    This quirky temple is dedicated to Manichaeism, a religion originating in Persia in the 3rd century, combining elements of Zoroastrian, Christian and…

  • Park

    Wuyi Shan Scenic Area

    Trails within the scenic area connect all the major sites. Good walks include the 530m Great King Peak (大王峰, Dàwáng Fēng), accessed through the main…

  • Buddhist Site

    Kaiyuan Temple

    In the northwest of the city, one of the oldest temples in Quanzhou dates back to AD 686 and is the largest in Fujian. Surrounded by trees, Kaiyuan Temple…

  • Park

    Sunlight Rock Park

    Sunlight Rock (Rìguāng Yán), in Sunlight Rock Park, is the island’s highest point at 93m and its biggest draw are the views across the island. At the foot…

  • Village

    Tǎxià

    This delightful river settlement boasts several tǔlóu-converted guesthouses and it is a great base from which to explore the tǔlóu areas. The highlight of…

  • Museum

    Maritime Museum

    On the northeastern side of town, this fabulous museum explains Quanzhou’s trading history, the development of Chinese shipbuilding and the kaleidoscope…

  • Village

    Xiamei

    This village dates from the Northern Song dynasty and boasts some spectacular Qing dynasty architecture from its heyday as a wealthy tea-trading centre,…

  • Gardens

    Shuzhuang Garden

    The waterfront Shuzhuang Garden on the southern end of the island is a lovely place to linger for a few hours. It has a small pénzāi (bonsai) garden, some…

  • Park

    Bailuzhou Park

    Xiamen positions itself as China’s most liveable city and this huge green expanse on an islet north of town is a quiet exclamation mark on that claim…

  • Notable Building

    Yùchāng Lóu

    The tallest roundhouse in Fujian, this vast five-floor structure has 270 rooms and an observation tower to check for marauding bandits. Interestingly this…

  • Cemetery

    Lingshan Islamic Cemetery

    Set at the foot of the mountain of Língshān, this leafy cemetery is one of the most intact historic cemeteries in China. Two of Mohammed’s disciples are…

  • Village

    Yunshuiyao Village

    Between the Héguì and Huáiyuǎn tǔlóu in the Yunshuiyao Tulou Cluster is this beautiful village (formerly known as ancient Chángjiào) where you can sip tea…

  • Market

    Kaihe Lu Fish Market

    In the old district of Xiamen, this tiny but lively market sells various (weird) sea creatures to a backdrop of qílóu (骑楼, shophouses) and a church…

  • Notable Building

    Héguì Lóu

    This tallest rectangular tǔlóu in Fujian has five storeys and was built on a swamp. It boasts 120 rooms, a school, two wells, and a fortified courtyard in…

  • Historic Building

    Guāncǎi Lóu

    This residence built in 1931 has a magnificently dilapidated interior with a wealth of original features. Unfortunately it has remained closed to the…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Fujian.

  • Activities