Day 1 Various locations → or → Xiamen ★Assembly Day
All day
On the day of the event, tourists from all over the world will gather in Xiamen. Upon arrival at the designated hotel, please submit your China Travel Note and name and check in. Those with more time can visit Nanputuo Mountain for a panoramic view of Xiamen University and take photos. Alternatively, you can stroll along the boardwalk near Hulishan Fort, enjoying the sea breeze and the sand. Alternatively, you can explore Zengcuo'an, a well-preserved fishing village filled with artistic treasures. In the evening, enjoy the delicious food at Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street.
Day 2 Xiamen → Zhangjiao Village → Shanyao Salt Field → Chongwu Town
All day
After breakfast, we headed to Zhangjiao Village in Quanzhou. What caught our eyes upon entering the village were the layers of overlapping and connected "stone houses" on the hillside, resembling an ancient castle. Here, alleys and side roads are connected to each other, and the winding paths lead to secluded places, giving it a mysterious maze-like feel... We slowly created our own masterpiece here.
Afterward, we headed to the "Shanyao Salt Field," one of Fujian's three largest salt fields, for a photoshoot and check-in. The waters here were as smooth as mirrors, the salt as white as snow, and the tranquility of nature, like the sky itself! The vast expanse of salt fields was crisscrossed with canals, and the gridded salt pans were covered in shallow, shimmering water. The slightly salty sea breeze and air filled our nostrils. After our photoshoot, we headed to Chongwu Town for our overnight stay.
In the afternoon, I headed to the beach just in time to photograph the Hui'an women working at sunset (carrying stones, pulling large nets, and other activities). The Hui'an women refer to a unique group of women from the Huidong Peninsula coast of Hui'an County, Quanzhou, Fujian Province. They are renowned both domestically and internationally for their unique attire and hardworking spirit. "Feudal head, democratic belly, thrifty clothes, wasteful pants" is a simple description of the Hui'an women's attire.
Day 3 Chongwu Town → Quanzhou Luoyang Bridge → Xunpu Village → Quanzhou West Street
All day
In the morning, we arranged to shoot the real life scenes of three generations of Hui'an women in the ancient house, and then went to the local market to shoot the daily life of Hui'an women.
At the right time, we went to the Luoyang Bridge, one of the four ancient bridges in China, to take photos and check in. This is the earliest existing large stone bridge across the sea. "When standing, it looks like the East and West Pagodas, and when lying down, it looks like the Luoyang Bridge." These two points symbolize the spirit of the Quanzhou people - "sticking to one's original intention" and "being open-minded."
Afterwards, we traveled to Quanzhou's Xunpu Fishing Village for photoshoots. The Xunpu women are one of Fujian's three great fishing women, alongside the Hui'an women and the Meizhou women. They are renowned throughout China for their distinctive flower headdresses. Xunpu Village, located at the mouth of the Luojiang River in Quanzhou, maintains its ancient, rustic charm amidst the bustling city. In this quaint, fragrant, and tranquil fishing village, most men are out at sea, and the alleys are almost exclusively populated by women. The custom of walking marriage and the unique "oyster shell houses" (or "houses built in oyster shells") are treasures of local culture. After the photoshoot, we returned to Quanzhou West Street for our overnight stay. In the evening, we'll be able to take photos of the street's nightscape and experience the culinary wonders of Quanzhou.
Day 4 Quanzhou → Tianluokeng Tulou → Yunshuiyao
All day
After breakfast, we'll visit and photograph Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple. Kaiyuan Temple is a renowned Buddhist temple in my country and the largest in Fujian Province. Founded in the second year of the Tang Dynasty's Chuigong reign (686 AD), it boasts a history of over 1,300 years. The temple boasts magnificent architecture and unique scenery. Measuring 200 meters from north to south and 300 meters from east to west, it covers an area of 78,000 square meters. Key buildings include the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Main Hall, the Ordination Platform, the Sutra Library, the Water and Land Temple, the Donor's Temple, and the Zhunti Zen Forest. We'll then explore the ancient city's alleyways, exploring its hidden traces and discovering the vibrant local atmosphere.
I went to the Tulou complex in Nanjing, Zhangzhou, to create some artwork. I first photographed the Yuchang Building, known for its "tilted" shape. It's a historic structure comparable to the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. Built in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, it's the oldest surviving circular Tulou in China.
Afterward, we'll visit the interior of Nanjing's Tianluokeng Tulou, known as the "Four Dishes and One Soup." In the evening, we'll capture the iconic sunset and nightscape from the observation deck. Tianluokeng comprises the square Buyun Tower, the circular Zhenchang Tower, Ruiyun Tower, Hechang Tower, and the oval Wenchang Tower, collectively known as the "Four Dishes and One Soup." An architect once described it in a poem: "From above, it resembles a single flower; from the side, it resembles the Potala Palace." Tianluokeng offers a variety of ways to explore, from bird's-eye view, to gaze straight ahead, and even from above, offering a truly breathtaking 360-degree experience. The most iconic photo spot is the observation deck on the mountain, where you can take in the panoramic view of the "Four Dishes and One Soup." Here, you can unleash your photography skills. After enjoying your photo ops, proceed to Yunshuiyao for your overnight stay.
Day 5: Yunshuiyao → Daimei Ancient Village → Baitang Bay
All day
Get up early to capture the morning scenery of Yunshuiyao Ancient Town, a place of beautiful mountains and rivers, rich culture, and long, secluded ancient paths. The village's century-old banyan trees, the magical earthen buildings (such as Hegui Tower and Huaiyuan Tower), the iconic windmills, and the pristine mountains and clear waters all evoke a sense of transcendence. Yunshuiyao Ancient Town's earthen buildings, dotted across the mountains, stream banks, and fields, are each unique and varied. The film "Yunshuiyao" was filmed here.
At noon, we took a bus to the ancient village of Daimei in Longhai District, Zhangzhou, to film. Surrounded by water and dotted with ancient banyan trees, the village boasts a cluster of ancient residential buildings, earning it the reputation of "Southern Fujian's No. 1 Village." The village boasts a neatly arranged layout, with old and new buildings arranged in a logical order. The architecture features a gabled roof and swallowtail ridge, a representative architectural style of Southern Fujian. After the filming, we settled in at Baitang Bay.
Day 6 Baitangwan → Xiamen → or → other places
All day
We woke up early and headed to the Baitangwan Ancient Crater Scenic Area to await the breathtaking sunrise. Dotted with thousands of hexagonal prisms, the area is known as the "Terracotta Warriors of the Sea." The stunning sunrise, accompanied by rising tide, was captivating. Gently snapping the shutter, the slow-motion seascape was like a dream! After our photoshoot, we checked out and boarded the bus to Xiamen, where we'll be transported to the airport and then to Xiamen North Station. Tourists with more time can continue their journey in Xiamen. This concludes a delightful Southern Fujian photography trip!
