Quanzhou｜"Half City Smoke and Fire, Half City Immortal"

Quanzhou, a historical city, is the starting point of the ancient "Maritime Silk Road" and is known as the "First Port of the Orient." Due to time constraints, this trip to Quanzhou only covered the ancient city, leaving other attractions for next time, giving me a reason to return. 🤗
👉Recommended Itinerary
West Street→Kaiyuan Temple→Bell Tower→Zhongshan Street→Guandi Temple→Tianhou Temple
Windmill Island→Chongwu Ancient City→Huian Cultural Park→Yusha Bay
Yongning Ancient City→Shishi Golden Coast→Luoga Temple→Hongta Bay→Wulin Traditional Village
👉Food Recommendations
✅Specialty Snacks: Noodle paste can be paired with various ingredients, such as seafood like crab meat and shrimp; earthworm jelly has a chewy, jelly-like texture and is made with sandworms; meat swallow has a smooth skin and delicious filling; four-fruit soup is a healthy dessert made primarily of sweet agar-agar and can be paired with various fruits and toppings.
✅Traditional Dishes: Ginger duck is simmered in a clay pot with ginger slices at the bottom, creating a rich and fragrant broth; Chongwu fish rolls are golden in color, fragrant, delicious, and springy; beef soup is savory, and the combination of fresh beef and sweet potato flour enriches the flavor.

When I first arrived in Quanzhou, I didn't quite understand the saying, "Half city smoke and fire, half city immortal." I just felt that this place was quite suitable for slowing down, strolling, and experiencing different local customs, somewhat like my hometown, comfortable and relaxing. After a few days of wandering, I developed my own understanding of the local life and the saying "Half city smoke and fire, half city immortal." The religious culture here is all-encompassing, with various religions coexisting. I often saw devout people, and I especially liked a temple called Guandi Temple. Its beauty in the early morning and at nightfall is distinct. The exquisite ancient traditional architecture is truly breathtaking. I remember waiting for several hours to take photos. I asked an uncle next to me to teach me a few Hokkien phrases. I vividly remember him teaching me the phrase, "National peace and prosperity, favorable weather."

Post by Sophia Parrish63 | Mar 20, 2025