Fujian Province
Name : Fujian
Chinese name : 福建
Status : province Capital : Fuzhou
Population : 37,740,000 (2013)
Area : 121,400 km²
A land of elusive immortals and ruthless shetou ("snake heads" or human smugglers), Fujian is a region of steep mountains, river valleys, and lush subtropical coastlines. While coastal cities have engaged in trade for centuries, the mountainous hinterland remained inaccessible until the late 1960s, when communist authorities carved roads through impenetrable jungle. The legendary South China Tiger is said to still roam the most remote mountains.
While Fujian may not be the most visited region in Chine, it nonetheless harbors several points of interest, including its emblematic Hakka villages with their distinctive tulou roundhouses, as well as Wuyi Mountain with its nature reserve and impressive rocky peaks.
History
Once known as Min, Fujian Province, also called Fukien in English, became part of the Chinese Empire during the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC).
Maritime commerce transformed this frontier region into one of the centers of the Chinese world. Under the Song and Yuan dynasties, the coastal city of Quanzhou was one of the principal stopover ports on the Maritime Silk Road and exported all manner of goods: textiles, precious stones, porcelain, and more. Quanzhou then hosted more than 100,000 Arab merchants, missionaries, and travelers.
As decline set in with trade restrictions imposed by the Ming dynasty in the 15th century, Fujian's residents responded by emigrating in large numbers to Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The ties forged with the outside world persist today and contribute to the province's modernity.
Today
Today, Fujian's coastline remains as thriving as in centuries past. Fuzhou, the capital, is a modern city bristling with skyscrapers that continues to develop rapidly. The historic port of Xiamen, far more tranquil, has managed to retain its old-world charm. Just offshore, the former foreign enclave of Gulang Yu contains superbly preserved colonial buildings and its pedestrian streets make it a welcome haven from the frenzy of contemporary Chine. Nearby, the island of Jinmen (Kinmen), claimed by Taiwan, was the site of terrible battles between the mainland communists and the Nationalist Party. In the once-great merchant city of Quanzhou, the ancient mosque and the Maritime Museum serve as reminders that the city was once among the world's largest ports.
The rugged hinterland remains largely unknown, except for the Wuyi Shan tourist station in the northwest and Mount Taimu, near Zhejiang Province. These two mountains offer fabulous hiking opportunities for trekking and outdoor enthusiasts. The province's southwest, near Yongding, allows visitors to discover the exceptional Hakka earthen houses, the tulou, one of Fujian's many ethnic groups.
Climate
Fujian experiences a subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and cold, drizzly winters.
Temperatures and humidity rise from June to August and can reach 35°C in July. This period is also the season of torrential rains and typhoons. Rainfall typically averages between 350 and 400 mm during the months of June and July.
Winters can be quite harsh in the mountains, even though minimum temperatures reach around 5°C in January.
The best times to visit the region are spring (March–May) and autumn (September–October).
Train and coastal road connections link Fujian to neighboring Guangdong and Jiangxi provinces. From Xiamen and Fuzhou, flights serve Hong Kong and much of the country, as well as Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. Air connections link Wuyi Shan to major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The coastal expressway runs along the coast from Xiamen to Hong Kong.
The well-maintained coastal road facilitates travel along Fujian's coastline. To explore the hinterland, trains are preferable—slower, but more comfortable and safer than buses. Train connections link Wuyi Shan to Fuzhou, Quanzhou, and Xiamen. Daily flights operate between Xiamen, Fuzhou, and Wuyi Shan.
Languages
Due to its rugged topography, Fujian possesses one of the country's greatest linguistic diversities. Residents speak variants of the Min dialect, which includes Taiwanese. Min divides into several subgroups: you'll hear Southern Min (Minnan Hua) in Xiamen and Quanzhou, and Eastern Min (Mindong Hua) in Fuzhou.
What to Do in Fujian?
- Seek immortality among the granite peaks of Mount Taimu, realm of Taoist gods and fairies
- Discover the Hakka region and appreciate the traditional architecture of the famous tulou roundhouses
- Marvel at Wuyi Mountain and its nature reserve, then glide on small bamboo rafts down the river
- Explore Chongwu, one of Chine's last surviving fortified towns
