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In May, amidst the chaotic news, the eagle-eyed traveler finally spotted some exciting news! Another high-speed rail line is about to open, promising to double the travel experience!
It is the first cross-sea high-speed railway in China and the world, the first cross-sea high-speed railway with a designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour, and one of the few high-speed railway lines in China that operates in a complex marine environment.
Instead of a dark underwater tunnel or a track along the coastline, this high-speed train zips right over the ocean! It's just like the sea train in the movie "Spirited Away," except this time we're actually "flying"! It's like flying over the endless ocean—just thinking about it is exciting!
This high-speed railway line has 85 bridges and 33 tunnels, crossing Meizhou Bay, Quanzhou Bay, Anhai Bay, etc. There are 84 newly built bridges on the railway line, which can be called a "bridge museum".
Infrastructure construction in the marine environment is extremely difficult. It is estimated that China is the only country in the world that can complete such a mega project.
This high-speed rail line connects an extremely low-key treasure city at one end and a super beautiful island in China at the other end. This is the Fuzhou-Xiamen high-speed rail that has broken three world records and is about to open to traffic.
Starting from Fuzhou in the north, passing through Putian and Quanzhou, and ending in Xiamen and Zhangzhou in the south, all eight high-speed rail stations along the line have been basically completed. It is planned to open to traffic in June 2023, or possibly even earlier!
More importantly, You Xiaoxia discovered that this route along the coast connects the most worthwhile cities in Fujian! (There are 9 cities in Fujian, and 5 of them are on this route)
Unique local customs and practices, endless delicious food, tropical natural landscapes, exotic castle architecture, and the Wizard of Oz, a perfect match for spring and summer...
So, this railway is a must-do! I've compiled a list of things to do in each city and surrounding areas, so save it and look forward to its early opening. Let's take this tram across the sea together!
Zhangzhou, located in the southernmost part of Fujian Province, is known as the "Golden Triangle of Southern Fujian" along with Quanzhou and Xiamen. While not as well-known as Xiamen, it boasts a rich cultural heritage and diverse cuisine.
There are also sunny beaches, island scenery, clear waters, ecological parks, and cactus kingdoms that are not inferior to Gulangyu Island... There are Instagram-style check-in spots everywhere.
There are ancient earthen buildings listed as a world cultural heritage, old city areas and ancient villages with a history of more than 1,300 years, and the Minnan literature and art in its bones.
Tasha Village, a famous hometown of overseas Chinese in Zhangzhou, is known as the "Zhouzhuang of Southern Fujian." Besides the common square and round earthen buildings, the village also boasts unique shapes and styles.
There are also traditional snacks that taste even better than those in Taiwan’s night markets.
Dongshan Island, also known as Butterfly Island, is the second largest island in Fujian Province. It boasts a vast bay, gentle beaches, convenient transportation, and numerous scenic spots, creating a unique southern coastal landscape.
It has the appearance of a perfect island, with the wind from the Pacific Ocean, the enthusiasm of Hawaii, and the quaint ecological fishing style. Everything appears and disappears in the fresh and pure style.
Nanmen Bay, where "The Left Ear" was filmed, has a long coastline and beautiful sunsets.
Sufeng Mountain has a beautiful ring road with emerald green hills on one side and the blue sea on the other. On the ring road that is comparable to Kenting, you can feel the most pleasant southern sea breeze.
Zhangzhou is the birthplace of authentic Tainan snacks. If you want to taste the real traditional Minnan flavor, you must go to Zhangzhou.
For friends from other places, the combination of tofu pudding and vermicelli is unexpected, and adding braised large intestine is even more unbelievable, but in Zhangzhou, tofu pudding and vermicelli are the best CP.
Shima Shacha noodles are mainly served in thick soup style. The richness of the soup, coupled with the freshness of fish and shrimp, and the soup bursting in your mouth when you bite into the fried tofu, I believe you will be unable to resist shouting, "Boss! Another bowl!"
Zhangzhou Four Fruit Soup, with smooth and refreshing agar-agar, soft and sweet beans, plenty of ingredients and a wide variety of fruits, topped with honey water and served with crushed ice, is the Zhangzhou people's favorite happy water!
In addition to the traditional delicacies that are even better than those in Taiwan’s night markets, Zhangzhou also has many fun and photo-taking places waiting for you to explore!
Xiamen is synonymous with literature and the bourgeoisie. The average temperature is around 21℃, with long summers and no winter. Both the scenery and the rhythm make people feel lazy and comfortable.
How long has it been since you visited Xiamen? The waves are gentle, the sky is azure, and you can cycle along the island's circular road while sipping a refreshing glass of sweet rock tea – the coolness can melt away the summer heat.
Go to a western-style house and be a stylish Nanyang guest, and enjoy afternoon tea in an old villa of overseas Chinese in Nanyang.
Sit on the street at the end of the alley and listen to grandpa and grandma telling stories, lean on the sailboat to watch the beautiful sunset that the old Xiamen people have kept privately.
Old Xiamen and New Xiamen are separated by only a wall. There are many traditional delicacies hidden here. This is the correct way to visit the Eight Markets and Zhongshan Road. You can also find the old Xiamen people.
Gulangyu, designated a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2017, covers less than 2 square kilometers but has seen record daily visitor numbers of 120,000. Discover China's largest piano collection and enjoy the sunshine with its charming cats.
Xiamen Station is located on the main island of Xiamen, while Xiamen North Station on the Fuzhou-Xiamen Railway is located in Jimei outside the island.
Come to Jimei University Village, which was also founded by the father of Xiamen University, check out the equally magnificent Jiageng Building, and go deep into the Dashe Ancient Village to find authentic Xiamen cuisine.
If you haven’t tasted peanut soup, you haven’t really been to Xiamen. Peanut soup runs through the life of every Xiamen citizen.
The peanut kernels are crispy and melt in your mouth, and the soup base is milky white and sweet. It tastes sweet and refreshing, and nourishes the lungs. A sip of malt milk and a sip of peanut soup, paired with chive boxes, is the most classic breakfast combination for Xiamen people.
Shacha noodles, which are mainly made with shacha sauce, are a must-try when you come to Xiamen.
As the Minnan people migrated to Southeast Asia to make a living, they brought their culinary traditions with them. Shacha sauce and sweet and spicy sauce gradually became part of Xiamen's daily lives, becoming a traditional flavor of the city.
The Fuzhou-Xiamen high-speed railway connects five cities with eight stations, three of which are in Quanzhou. If you were to choose the most fun city in Fujian, Quanzhou would be no less popular than Xiamen.
Quanzhou, a vibrant city, is a vibrant blend of life and history. Its rich Southern Fujian culture has fostered unique folk customs, architecture, cuisine, and art. Its red brick swallowtails and palace walls, with their ridges, tell stories that have been preserved for millennia.
As the earliest developed street and area in Quanzhou, West Street has been "lined with houses to form a street" since the Tang Dynasty. It still retains complete ancient houses, modern arcades and Western-style buildings.
You should also go to the niche ancient fishing village of Xiapu Village to explore the unique "oyster houses" made of oyster shells and experience the unique costumes of Hui'an women, which are part of the intangible cultural heritage.
At the easternmost part of Quanzhou, there is a little-known town called Xiaoqi. This is the first place where the wind from the Pacific Ocean blows. It is low-key and niche but extremely beautiful.
Standing on the top of the mountain, with the rotating windmills on one side and the embrace of the sea on the other, time seems to stand still here.
When you come to Quanzhou, how can you miss the theme of "eating".
Cut the vinegar pork and large intestine into pieces and use them as the base. Pour a spoonful of hot noodle paste into it and sprinkle pepper and green onion slices in a circle.
Use chopsticks to pick up a piece of fried dough stick and press it into the soup base. The sweet and refreshing taste is a hundred times more healing than hot chicken soup.
Beef soup contains rich beef and finely shredded ginger. The two aromas are mixed together, making it fragrant but not greasy and tastes great. This is Quanzhou beef soup.
Or find your favorite flavor among more than 200 traditional snacks.
You may not know where Putian is, but you must have heard of the awesome Putian shoes. Rumor has it that they are so fake that "the real shoes will make you doubt your life."
Putian is the second smallest prefecture-level city in Fujian Province. It borders Fuzhou to the north and Quanzhou to the southwest. It is only 1/4 the size of Beijing, but it is an ancient city with a history of 1,500 years.
Putian may not be as popular as Xiamen, but it's also a beautiful coastal city with a coastline stretching 343 kilometers, 1.5 times that of Xiamen! It even has a hidden gem: a "Chinese version of Hawaii."
The 700-year tradition of drawing seawater to make sea salt has created the Putian Xiuyu Salt Field.
Picture @CCTV video
The stone pagoda at Nanshan Guanghua Temple, built during the Southern Dynasties, is a Buddhist pagoda and once served as a lighthouse at sea. You can also visit Southern Shaolin Temple, an important birthplace of Southern Fist, founded during the Tang Dynasty.
This city is full of slowed-down old times. Find some time to come to Putian and overturn your past impressions.
Previously, Mazu became a hot topic and became a joke because she bought a ticket with her real name. Her ancestral temple is on Meizhou Island.
The Meizhou Ancestral Temple is a must-see destination, home to the richest Mazu culture in Fujian. As the ancestral temple of over 5,000 Mazu temples worldwide, it's a sacred site visited by nearly 200 million Mazu believers in over 20 countries and regions.
At the northernmost tip of Meizhou Island lies the Meiyu Chaoyin Park, a sea erosion wonder formed by granite over 100 million years old.
The golden sand beach at the southwestern tip of Meizhou Island was praised by British traveler Manton as the "Hawaii of the East." Stretching for kilometers, this gentle, sandy beach offers a great place to enjoy surfing, picking up small marine treasures, and taking stunning sunset photos.
Xinghua rice noodles mixed with seafood have strongly conquered Fuzhou, the "headquarters of Fujian cuisine". The most common Laohua on the daily tables of Fuzhou people is the abbreviation of "Lao Xinghua rice noodles".
Putian braised noodles, with its rich ingredients, are an essential "main course" at any banquet. The key to Putian braised noodles lies in the gluten, the broth, and the ingredients.
Lean meat, shiitake mushrooms, dried shrimps, scallops, oysters, clams, leeks, and red mushrooms are simmered over low heat. The flavor of the broth and ingredients permeates the noodles, making them delicious!
Fuzhou is one of the five earliest open trading ports in modern times. As a very low-key provincial capital, it has the elegance of an ancient city and the romance of the seaside.
Various religions and cultures have left their traces in Fuzhou. Zheng He's fleet for his voyages to the West anchored here, the first naval academy in modern Chinese history was established here, and celebrities such as Lin Zexu, Zhan Tianyou, and Bing Xin all lived here.
The Cangshan Old Houses, a private literary and artistic sanctuary for Fuzhou locals, combines Western-style architecture with the local urban flavor.
Go to Shangxiahang to see the canal life of Fujian merchants for a century. Shangxiahang is a treasure land for wealthy businessmen, with a status similar to Lujiazui in Shanghai, and is lined with many villas of wealthy people from the Republic of China period.
There is also the pink granite Christ Church and the mosque tower transformed from a Ming Dynasty courtyard house... Every time you go there, you will love this city even more.
Pingtan Island, China's fifth-largest island, is a 35-minute high-speed train ride from Fuzhou. Besides its frequent trending searches for "blue tears," there's more to admire!
In the oriental stone house version of "Little Santorini", the train passes by the sea, and the scene couldn't be more beautiful.
Go to Dafu Bay and overlook the Pacific Ocean, and occasionally witness a sunset over the sea. "Secluded by the sea, blessed land" brings a sense of openness and comfort to the heart.
Go to the Beibu Gulf Landao to see the entire ocean, and run towards the sea along the glass plank road built by the sea.
Don’t miss the dreamy windmill fields in Changjiangao, where countless stone houses are scattered across the landscape, creating a pristine landscape like a bunker.
Living on the commanding heights of the island, you can enjoy the unparalleled view and overlook the magnificence and vastness of the sea. The poetic life of "building a house facing the sea and enjoying the blooming flowers in spring" is perfectly demonstrated here.
Houyan Island in Pingtan Island is the closest place to Taiwan in the mainland, only 68 nautical miles away from Hsinchu, Taiwan!
There is a photo frame with the words "Pingtan, China" on the island. You can take a photo with it, or take a stroll on the popular highway and look across the sea to Taiwan on the other side of the strait.
"Soup" is the essence of Fujian cuisine, and the epitome of this essence must be the world-famous Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.
Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is made with real ingredients and is really delicious. The ingredients are almost synonymous with "mountain and sea delicacies". There are more than 30 kinds of raw materials and ingredients such as abalone, scallops, sea cucumbers, pig's trotters, fish maw, flower mushrooms, etc. The high price makes sense!
The fish balls are thick and chewy. When you bite into them, you will find that the skin is tender and smooth, and the filling is sweet and delicious.
There are also braised dishes dipped in shrimp oil, crispy and rich oyster cakes, fried triangular cakes "taro cakes", and crystal-clear and small water chestnut cakes...
Each of the five cities along the Fuzhou-Xiamen high-speed railway can be visited separately. The opening of this railway line has only added more possibilities for us. In the future, when we visit, we can check in more places by the way!
I hope the high-speed rail will open soon, and I hope that when it opens, we can come and go freely and live up to the beauty of every season!
