Fuzhou, the capital and the larges tmunicipality of Fujian Province, boasts a history of over 2000 years. As a coastal port and ship building center, it has long been the economic, political,cultural and transport center of the province. Many banyan trees were planted since the Song Dynasty, and now provide shade for the entire city giving it another name Rongcheng, which means “Banyan City”.

Fuzhou is located in the southeast coastal areas of China. It is situated in the lower reaches of the Min River,in the east of Fujian Province, about 50km from the sea. Fuzhou’s history dates back to the third century AD. It was once the capital of the coastal kingdom of Minyue. It was said that Marco Polo, the great Italian traveler, also visitedthe area at the end of the thirteen century. He described the city as “aprosperous center of international commerce, with beautiful gardens and abundant fruits”.

Fuzhou is a city rich in culturaltraditions. Scholars here excelled in Imperial examinations. From the Tang to the Qing Dynasty, there were thousands of Jinshi, successful candidates in theImperial examinations. Fuzhou is also the hometown for many celebrities andfar-sighted personages, many of whom, including Lin Zexu, Shen Baozhen, Yanfu, Bingxin,Lin Huiyin, and so on had tremendous impact on modern China.

Because of its long and flourishinghistory, there are many handicraft industries, including the so-called threetreasures lacquerware, horn combs and oil-paper umbrellas. Today, folk artssuch as Min Opera are still playing an important role in local people’s dailylife.

The climate of the city is generallywarm and comfortable for visiting all the year round. Sanfang Qixiang, or “ThreeLanes and seven Alleys”, is one of the most rewarding places to visit inFuzhou. Three Lanes and seven Alleys is a well-preserved architectural complexfrom the Ming and Qing Dynasties. As a famous ancient block, it enjoys areputation of “the Museum of the buildings of the Ming and Qing Dynasties”, andit is also regarded as a living fossil of the walled street system of ancientcities. The district covers an area of 40hectares with 268 ancient houses.

Besides the must-see scenery spots,Fuzhou cuisine is something you cannot miss either. As one of China’s eightmajor cuisines, Fuzhou dishes are light but flavorful, with particular emphasison retaining the natural flavor of the main ingredient. The most famous one is “fotiaoqiang”,literally translated as Buddha jumps over the wall. With a special way of cooking,the dish is widely known for its rich taste and usage of various high-qualityingredients, including shark fins, sea cucumber and abalone. The dish’s name isan allusion to the dish’s terrific flavor to entice the monks to come out fromtheir temples to partake in the meat-based dish. Another famous delicacy iscalled rouyan. Its main ingredient is lean pork, which is pounded and smashedinto meat paste, mixed with some starch, then stretched into a thin sheet,which is used to wrap stuffing of minced meat.

Fuzhou is reputed as a Land of Good Fortune. We hope you will spend your study life in this beautiful city with happiness.