Day 1 Quanzhou City → Wulin Ancient Village → Luojia Temple → Quanzhou City
All day
1. In the morning, you will be picked up at your hotel in Quanzhou City (only in Fengze and Licheng Districts) and head to [Xiepu Village] (approximately 15 minutes by car, approximately 1 hour to visit). Over 1,000 years ago, descendants of the ancient Arab Xiepu people lived here. Here, they built houses with oyster shells, and here we can see the distinctive "oyster houses";
This is the port where the Maritime Silk Road begins. We walked along the street into the old house, and then Aunt Bai Lan, a popular internet celebrity, helped us dress up and put on flowers, and changed into Xiapu costumes, experiencing the unique customs of the descendants of Arabs.
2. Next, depart for Jinjiang's Wulin Ancient Village (approximately 40 minutes by car, approximately 2 hours of walking). Here, preserved buildings carry the nostalgia of generations of overseas Chinese from southern Fujian. These include over 200 buildings, including official-style mansions, traditional Chinese-Western style dwellings, Gothic architecture, and Romanesque structures. The area also boasts a perennial sea of flowers. For those who enjoy photography, don the distinctive Nanyang Nyonya costumes (80 yuan per person, recommended at your own expense) and take stunning photos among the red-brick houses. Lunch is free here.
3. Around 2:00 PM, head to Luojia Temple on Shishi's Golden Coast (approximately 40 minutes by car, approximately 1 hour touring). This "floating temple" is known as the "Buddhist Kingdom of Sea and Sky." Its yellow walls and orange tiles create a vibrant contrast against the azure sea, while the surrounding stretches of sandy beach offer a soothing and relaxing experience.
4. Visit the nearby Yongning Ancient City and stroll through the ancient streets. The locals are very self-confident about the little-known snacks scattered around the vegetable market and the old streets of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Many shops don't even have names, simply because they are so old. The local tour guide will take you to hidden delicacies that are difficult to find online, such as pot rice, large intestine blood, vegetable cakes, flatbreads, and rice dumplings.
5. Return to Quanzhou city around 5:00 PM (approximately 1 hour's drive). Those with more energy can explore West Street for delicious food and a lively nightlife experience (you can explore on your own; there are "Little White" golf carts in Quanzhou Old Town that you can hop on and off at will, 2 yuan per person). At night, you can freely wander the streets and continue to savor authentic local delicacies, including warm noodle soup, cool agar-agar paste, and the beef with a hint of local curry, which was highly recommended by "A Bite of China." You can also enjoy local snacks with a strong local flavor, such as Grandma's Roasted Pork Zongzi, the signature chicken drumstick, earthworm jelly, and Yuanxiao Yuan (Chinese Yuanxiao).
Choose between West Street and the hotel. If you choose West Street, you will need to return to the hotel at night.
Important Note: This is a one-day car tour, heading south of Quanzhou to Jinjiang and Shishi (including only Chidian Town, Chendai Town, Qingyang and the entire Shishi City). The full-day car tour takes 10 hours and costs more than 80 yuan/hour. If time permits, you can discuss with the driver and guide (one day in advance) to add 1-2 points: Golden Coast, Liusheng Pagoda, and Gusao Pagoda.
Special note: The Quanzhou Puppet Show is truly amazing, and tourists rave about its value! Tickets are available through the WeChat official account [Quanzhou String Puppetry Heritage and Protection Center] (30, 50, or 80 seats available). Tickets are very popular, so be sure to purchase them in advance! Shows are approximately 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM, lasting one hour. The theater is about 6 kilometers from the hotel, and a taxi ride costs about 15 yuan.
