Half City Smoke and Half City Immortal

Quanzhou, Fujian (Half City Smoke and Half City Immortal)**

**Recommended Reasons:**
🏆 **World Heritage City**: The world maritime trade center of Song and Yuan China, with 22 historical sites
⛪ **Religious Museum**: A temple every three steps, a church every five steps (Buddhism, Islam, Christianity coexist harmoniously)
🍜 **Capital of Minnan Cuisine**: Mianxian porridge, Tusu jelly, ginger duck, four-fruit soup… a paradise for foodies
🚗 **Convenient Transportation**: High-speed rail direct access, only 30 minutes from Xiamen, ideal for a 3-4 day in-depth trip

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### **📅 Quanzhou 3 Days 2 Nights Essential Guide**

**🚗 Transportation**
- **High-speed Rail**: Fuzhou/Xiamen → Quanzhou Station (Xiamen North to Quanzhou only 25 minutes)
- **City Transport**: Attractions concentrated in the old town, recommended to walk + use the Xiaobai electric cart (2 RMB per ride, hail to stop)

**🏨 Accommodation Recommendations**
- **Near West Street**: Convenient for shopping and eating (Recommended: Quanzhou Hotel, Wuji Homestay)
- **Around Zhongshan Road**: Arcade architecture style, vibrant nightlife

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### **🗺️ Itinerary**

**Day 1: Old Town Cultural Walk**
**Morning:**
- **Kaiyuan Temple** (free, the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian)
- See the East and West Pagodas, the Sanglian Dharma Realm legend, perfect for photos with red walls
- **West Street** (right outside Kaiyuan Temple)
- Eat **Yafo spring roll skin**, **Wu’s rice cakes**, and go to **Mei Chao Feng rooftop** for a panoramic view of the twin towers

**Noon:**
- **Dongxing Beef Restaurant** (local favorite)
- Must order: beef soup, dry noodles, beef steak

**Afternoon:**
- **Quanzhou Museum** & **Minnan-Taiwan Museum** (free, closed on Mondays)
- Quickly learn about Minnan culture and cross-strait history
- **Qingjing Mosque** (3 RMB, the oldest existing mosque in China)
- **Guanyue Temple** (very popular for incense burning, highly effective for fortune sticks)

**Evening:**
- Stroll along **Zhongshan Road arcade**, eat **Sidan ginger duck** (fragrant and flavorful)
- Have coffee or visit a small bar in **Goldfish Alley** while listening to Nanyin music

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**Day 2: Maritime Silk Road Relics + Xunpu Women Experience**
**Morning:**
- **Overseas Transportation History Museum** (free, stunning ship model exhibition)
- **Zhenwu Temple** (site of sea god worship, popular photo spot)

**Afternoon:**
- **Xunpu Village** (20 minutes from city center by car)
- Spend 40 RMB to be a Xunpu woman for a day: flower hairpin + qipao/fisherwoman outfit
- Take photos in front of oyster shell houses, watch fishing boats at sunset

**Evening:**
- **Jinjiang Wudong Market** (red brick ancient houses cultural and creative area)
- Eat **Lin’s Minnan cuisine**, see the blend of traditional architecture and modern life

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**Day 3: Coastal Scenery (Choose One)**
**Option A: Chongwu Ancient Town**
- See Ming Dynasty anti-pirate city walls + Hui’an women’s folk customs + seaside reefs (ticket 45 RMB)
- Try **fish roll soup** and **sweet potato starch balls**

**Option B: Luojia Temple**
- The Buddhist kingdom on the sea (a check-in spot favored by actor Li Xian), paired with a visit to the Golden Coast

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### **🍜 Must-Eat List**
1. **Mianxian porridge** (Recommended: Shuimen Guozai Old Shop, with vinegar meat and large intestine)
2. **Tusu jelly** (Old Wang’s on West Street, served with garlic sauce)
3. **Four-fruit soup** (Bingzhengtang stone flower jelly, a summer must-drink)
4. **Taro cake** (Aunt Zhuang’s stall next door, sweet and savory combo)

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### **💡 Practical Tips**
- Rent an electric scooter in the old town (30 RMB/day), many alleys are hard to get taxis
- Dress appropriately for religious sites (e.g., Qingjing Mosque requires clothing below the knee)
- Best season: October to December (avoid the hot and humid summer)

**Quanzhou is a "living" ancient city, perfect for travelers who love cultural deep tours + food!** 🌊