Quanzhou (;
Min Nan (
Hokkien): Chôan-chiu) is a
prefecture-level city in southeastern
Fujian province,
People's Republic of China. It borders all other prefecture-level cities in Fujian but two (
Ningde and
Nanping) and faces the
Taiwan Strait. In older
English works, its name may appear as
Chinchew or
Chinchu.
The People's Republic of China claims Jinmen County, more widely known as
Quemoy, as part of Quanzhou, but the territory is currently under the jurisdiction of the
Republic of China.
History
Quanzhou was established in
718 during the Chinese
Tang Dynasty (618-907). In those days,
Guangzhou was China's greatest
seaport, but this status would be surpassed later by Quanzhou. During the
Song Dynasty (960-1279) and
Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), Quanzhou was one of the world's largest seaports, hosting a large community of foreign-born inhabitants from across the Eurasian world. Due to its reputation, Quanzhou has been called the starting point of the
Silk Road via the sea. In
The Travels of Marco Polo, Quanzhou (called Zayton, T'swan-Chau or Chin-Cheu) was listed as the departure point for
Marco Polo's expedition to escort the 17-year-old Mongol princess bride
Kököchin to her new husband in the Persian
Ilkhanate.
Quanzhou is also a migration source of many
Overseas Chinese living in
South East Asia and to
Taiwan during the last couple of centuries.
Geography
Quanzhou is a coastal prefecture bordered by
Xiamen sub-provincial city to the south west. It also forms another border with
Zhangzhou and
Longyan prefecture level city towards the west.
Putian and
Fuzhou forms Quanzhou's north east border and
Sanming from the north.
Quanzhou is mountainous and has many rivers and tributaries originating from the interior.
Dialect
Quanzhou Minnan is the origin of the various sub-minnan dialect, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1TAJQY979c, variant such as Malaysian and Singapore
Hokkien, Xiamen
Amoy,
Taiwanese and Chiuchow
Teochew.
Administrative divisions
The
prefecture-level city of Quanzhou administers 4
districts, 3
county-level cities and 5
counties.
Economy
Quanzhou is a major exporter of agricultural products such as
tea,
banana,
lychee and
rice. It is also a major producer of quarry
granite and
ceramics. Other industries include
textiles,
footwear, fashion and
apparel, packaging, machinery,
paper and
petrochemicals.
Quanzhou is the biggest automotive market in Fujian, it has the highest number of private
automobile possession.
Transport
Quanzhou is an important transport hub within south eastern Fujian province. Many export industries in the Fujian interior cities will transport goods to Quanzhou ports.
Quanzhou Port was one of the most prosperous port in
Tang Dynasty while now still an important one for exporting. Quanzhou is also connected by major roads from
Fuzhou to the north and
Xiamen to the south.
Jinjiang Domestic Airport is Quanzhou's airport servicing flights within Fujian province and other destinations.
Colleges and universities
Culture
Quanzhou is one of the twenty-four famous historic cultural cities first approved by the
Chinese Government.
Famous products
The city hosted the Sixth
National Peasants' Games in 2008.
