# Fuding

Fuding (福鼎市) is a town in Ningde Prefecture, at the northern end of Fujian, is a charming town known for its lush greenery and rich cultural heritage.
The most famous place in Fuding is Taimu Mountain, which is famous for its strange rocks and rich vegetation. It is one of the holy places of Taoism in China.
Fuding is also famous for its abundant white tea, which is famous and well-loved by connoisseurs.
Visitors are drawn to its serene landscapes and historical sites, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a tranquil escape combined with a deep dive into local traditions. The town's strategic location also grants it a unique blend of coastal and mountainous scenery, adding to its allure for travelers looking to experience diverse natural beauty.

## Understand
### History

The region mostly speaks Eastern Min natively. There is a Puxian Min (Hinghwa) speaking community in Fuding.
The "Fu'ning Prefecture Chronicle" 《福宁府志》states: "Fu'ning Mountain is located in the 20th Du. Its range comes from Chiyang, Pingyang. Its peak is the highest and can be seen even from dozens of miles away. The county is named after it.
Fuding City is a county-level city in Fujian Province, administered by Ningde City. In the fourth year of Qianlong (1739), Wanghai, Yuren, Yaoxiang and Lianjiang of Quanru Township were separated from Xiapu County to establish Fuding County.
On June 11, 1949, Fu'ning was liberated and was under the jurisdiction of Wenzhou District, Zhejiang Province. In 1950, the Third Administrative Inspection District of Fujian Province was renamed Fu'an Special District Administrative Office, which also governed Fu'ning. On October 13, 1995, Fuding was abolished as a county and established as a city. On December 27, 1995, the Fuding City was established with a plaque and seal.

### Climate

Fuding is located on the southeast coast and has a mid-subtropical maritime monsoon climate. The climate is mild, with moderate rainfall, no severe cold in winter and no scorching heat in summer. Rain and heat occur in the same period in spring and summer, and light and temperature are mutually beneficial in autumn and winter. There is sufficient light energy, abundant heat, abundant rain, and a monsoon climate.
The average temperature in 2022 was 20.0℃, 1.2℃ higher than the average. The annual extreme maximum temperature of 40.7℃ occurred twice, on July 23 and August 21, breaking the historical extreme value since meteorological records were kept in 1945; the annual extreme minimum temperature was -0.6℃, which occurred on December 19. There were 58 high temperature days in a year, the year with the most high temperature days since 1953.

### Local information

* Fuding Municipal People's Government$^{[deadlink]}$ website

## Get in

Fuding City is 150 kilometers from Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province in the north, and 250 kilometers away from Fuzhou City in the south.

### By train

* 27.2829120.191 Fuding railway station. Fuding is on the main fast train line from Fuzhou to Shanghai, but not all trains stop there. Wenfu and Yongtaiwen High Speed Railway reaches Fuding from Fuzhou in 1.5 hr, from Wenzhou in 30 min, and from Shanghai in 5 hr.

### By car

The main road No. 104 pass through Fuding City.
* 27.30856120.2216112 Fuding South Bus Station (福鼎汽车南站), No. 399, Tianhu South Rd, ☏ +86 593-7973915. Fuding's train station provides services to all parts of the country. There are short-distance trains and long-distance trains (to Beijing and Shanghai). (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.339766120.2188333 Fuding North Bus Station (福鼎汽车北站), Hongbin Road, toll-free: +86 5937855907. (updated Oct 2024)

### By ferry

* 27.163794120.420624 Shacheng Bay (沙城湾). A ferry service operates across Shacheng Bay, connecting the somewhat isolated town of Shacheng to the Long'an Development Area (the port for Dianxia Town). (updated Nov 2024)

## Get around
### By bicycle

Renting a bike is a great way to get around the city. There are many bike parking spots and good quality public bikes around Fuding. The bike paths in Fuding are relatively good, so you can ride safely.
For using these bikes. The fee is ¥2 for ten minutes (for more information on using public bikes, visit the website Hello Bike). You can ride for 24 hours, but you must park the bike you are riding at any bike parking spot every 2 hours and borrow it again. There is also a smartphone app (for iOS) (for Android) that allows you to easily find the nearest bike parking spot.

### By City Tour Bus

Buses within Fuding cost ¥1-2 and are very useful once you have figured out which bus goes where. Useful buses include the No.7 bus (¥2) which runs between the train station and the South Bus Station. Prices are marked on the outside of the bus and on the bus stop sign. The bus stop sign also lists the stops on one side and a map on the other. Oddly, you won't find this in Beijing or Shanghai.
You can take buses No. 1, 2, 6 and other city buses to visit Fuding City, passing through the old city, commercial district and cultural district. The alleys, historical buildings and local life atmosphere of the old city are worth visiting.
If you want to go to Taimu Mountain, you can take bus No. 9, which runs from the city center to Taimu Mountain Scenic Area, passing through some villages and fields. The scenery along the way is very beautiful, especially suitable for sightseeing.

### By taxi

Taxis are ¥11 for the first 4 km and ¥1 for each 500 m thereafter (after 23:30 prices rise to ¥12+2 (gas charge) for the first 4 km and ¥1 for each 500 m thereafter). If you are outside the centre of the city, or in the centre trying to get elsewhere, you will not be able to catch a taxi between 16:30 and 18:00. This is because of the driver shift change. If you are taking a longer-distance ride or travelling during rush hour, expect to "share" your taxi ride with others going to same section of the city (and pay more about ¥15 plus ¥2 tax for longer rides).
Watch out for prices charged by taxi drivers "off the meter" and negotiate price if it is raining, or during rush hour, prior to your ride. Do not allow them to charge you over ¥12!

### By ferry

Yushan Island is a beautiful island in the waters of Fuding City. It is famous for its unique natural scenery, especially the scenery formed by freshwater lakes and pastures, which is known as the "Marine Wonderland". You can take a cruise to Yushan Island to experience the island’s hiking tours and coastal scenery.
You can take a cruise ship from Shacheng Port to Yushan Island, the journey takes about 40 minutes.Cruise ships usually operate in the morning, and there are usually return ships in the afternoon. The specific time needs to be adjusted according to the weather and tidal conditions of the day.
Ticket prices vary according to season and boat type, and round trip fares are usually between ¥50-100.

## See

* 27.1244120.1821 Taimu Mountain (太姥山; pinyin: Tàimǔ Shān). Known as the "wonderland on the sea", it sports many high and steep mountains, spectacular rock formations, secluded caves, a foggy climate, and additional rivers and parks. Taimushan Railway Station (太姥山站) serves passengers visiting Taimu Mountain.
* 27.079895120.1182412 Jiuli Creek Waterfall Scenic Area (九鲤溪瀑景区), Taimu Mountain Scenic Area. Jiulixi Waterfall Scenic Area (also known as Chixi) is located in the southwest of Taimu Mountain Scenic Area, covering an area of 25 square kilometers. It originates from the three big mountains of Fujian Fuding Taimu Mountain, Xiapu Muhaijian and Zherong East Mountain, bringing together 13 tributaries with a length of 25.86 kilometers, extending downstream to Yangjiaxi in Xiapu County and flowing into the East China Sea. The stream bends, the green hills on both sides of the bank are sandwiched, the green trees are verdant, the strange stones stand in a forest, the clear water is clear, like the nine curves of Wuyi. Take a bamboo raft from Longting Nandou, drift down the river to Dutou Village, pass through 7 curves and 16 beaches, the whole journey is 11.5 kilometers, and it takes 2 hours. (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.157858120.3266623 Malan Mountain Ruins (马栏山遗址), North of Yangzhong Village, Dianxia Town. A protected archeological site where most finds are stone tools, thought to be the site of a Neolithic stone workshop. There are some pottery shards, plus stone adzes, stone axes, stone axes, and stone chips. The pottery pieces have reticulated patterns, plain surfaces, back lines, basket patterns, etc., and there are black pottery pieces with sand and clay yellow pottery pieces. (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.429488120.2550214 Fuding branch water pass (福鼎分水关), 福建省宁德福鼎市贯岭镇分水关村. Fuding Fenshui Pass, located 15 kilometers northeast of the city, 450 meters above sea level, Guanling Town Fenshui Pass village, 104 national highway through this, is the starting point of Funing expressway. The "Friendship Pavilion" was built at the junction of Taishun County and Cangnan County in Zhejiang Province and Fuding City in Fujian Province. Fuding Water separation Pass was built in the five dynasties when "King Kaimin" Wang Jianzhi, in order to ensure the safety of Min land, to the royal Wu Yue (" Fang Yu Summary "says:" Stone stack, water separation two passes, both Min King built in preparation for Wu Yue." The situation is dangerous, known as "Fujian northeast gateway". In the feudal era of cutting drama, Fenshui Pass was a battleground for the military. In 1276 AD, Chen Zizhong, brother of the late Song Prime Minister Chen Yizhong, escorted the Xiu king Zhao He into Fujian, blocked the southern invasion of the Yuan army for more than ten days, exhausted the food and aid, the army commander wanted to surrender, did not obey, the court turned south, and then died. (" Qianlong Wenzhou Fu Zhi "volume 28). (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.270116119.9889335 Confucian family temple in Xikun (孔氏家庙), Guanyang town Xikeng village. It was built in the Qing Shunzhi decade (1653). Sitting east to west, it is composed of the gate, front hall, stage, main hall, etc., covering an area of 663 square meters. Gate forehead book "Kong family Temple"; The front hall is three wide, and the gate is hung with a straight gold plaque of "The Most Holy Descendant" in the imperial book of Qing Emperor Qianlong; Stage with octagonal caisson, save spire; The main hall is three wide, deep five columns, lifting beams, piercing beams, resting on the top of the mountain, and a god table is set in the middle to worship the statue of Confucius. On January 28, 2013, Ji Yan cliff stone carvings were listed in the eighth batch of provincial cultural relics protection units by the Fujian Provincial People's Government. (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.250793120.0359756 Xiyang Old Man Bridge (西阳老人桥), Guanyang town Xiyang village Qiaotou natural village. Xiyang Old Man Bridge is a wooden structure of curved ancient bridge, across the Xitan, the only existing wooden beam corridor house bridge in Fuding City. It was built in the Ming Dynasty (1506-1521) and rebuilt during Kangxi and Tongzhi years of Qing Dynasty. The bridge is east-west, 30.4 meters long, 4.8 meters wide, 8.0 meters high, and 25.2 meters across. There are two shrines in the center, one is a stone statue of Siru Buddha, Shuiguan Emperor, and Zhenwu Emperor, each with exquisite carving and an expression such as life, with a stone incense burner in front. A niche dedicated to the old man of Qiu, niche in a "Ming Dynasty to solve the difficulties of the divine position of Qiu Fugong" wooden relief double dragon beads mounted gold god plate, in front of a long history of stone incense burner, engraved with "Qiu old man" words, the back edge of the damage gap, is said to be abandoned in the "Cultural Revolution" in the pool hit the lack. Between the Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, the county Huang Dinghan compiled the "Local annals" has such a record: "Qiu Fu, Tile Yang people, have teeth, for decades of disputes, there is a certain a, the woman is very strong, small anger involved in litigation. Fu advice Fu listen, shame de thin, go to the water to die. Chang Li sense of sincerity, the construction of the bridge set up the Lord to sacrifice, so far called for the elderly bridge cloud." (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.030327120.2284757 Shilan Castle (石兰古堡), She nationality township, Kip Men. Shilan Castle was built in the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1573-1620) for the Anti-Japanese War. Built on the mountain, the plane is slightly trapezoidal, and the wall is made of granite stone, with a circumference of 1200 meters. The existing north gate and more than 200 meters of residual walls. The city gate is 2.7 meters high inside, 4.7 meters high outside, 1.5 meters wide inside, 15 meters wide outside, and 5 meters long. At the foot of the mountain, there are more than 300 meters long stone steps leading to the gate of the city. (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.101453120.2544988 Qinyu guards the tombs of soldiers in Taiwan (秦屿戍守台湾将士墓群), Qinyu town agricultural village. Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was originally to bury the bones of local anti-Japanese soldiers and those without heirs and houses. In the Qing Dynasty, Qinyu left and right battalions began to draw troops to defend Taiwan, and after the soldiers were killed or died of illness, they were buried here after Zheng Chenggong took Taiwan and garrisoned it mainly with troops from Fujian. It is composed of two former soldier tombs (one tomb and one tablet) and three mounds of anti-Japanese rebellion.In 1974, the ashes of ordinary people and revolutionaries were collected and buried here. Hutou Gang includes two former soldier tombs (a tomb and a monument) and three tombs, covering a total area of 2,500 square meters. (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.100554120.2514819 Guoxing Temple site (国兴寺遗址) (Taimu mountain). The ruins of Guoxing Temple are located below Taimu Mountain in Fuding County. The tower was built in the Tang Ganfu period, more than 1100 years ago, for the pavilion style stone tower, seven-level octagonal solid structure, 8.5 meters high, the base of the leopard foot seat, the base is engraved with men, flowers, gods and beasts, each layer has a Buddhist niche, the lower center has the inscription "Lenga pagoda" four words, this type of ancient pagoda, has not been found elsewhere in the country, so it is more precious. Guoxing Temple is commonly known as Xiasi Temple, which echoes the White Cloud Temple (Moxiao Nunnery) called upper Temple on the top of the mountain. (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.203713120.18493110 The twin towers of Sanfu Temple (白琳柘里双塔), Bailin town Zheli village. According to the Annals of Fuding County in Qing Dynasty, it was built in the ninth year of Yongle (1141) of Ming Dynasty. There are two butu before, so it is also known as double Fu Temple. The tower is a brick tower with seven solid floors. At the end of the tower, there are gold statues, treasure beads, etc., collected by the city's cultural museum. The temple's twin towers are county-level cultural relics protection units. According to the Qiu Clan Genealogy: the two towers were built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, and the provincial government funded maintenance in 1986. The two towers are pavilion-style, solid brick, hexagonal plane seven layers, 8 meters high. The pagoda is the top of the treasure, and there are Buddha treasures on six sides of each layer. The Buddha statues in the Constitution were destroyed in the Cultural Revolution. Each layer of the tower body is stacked with angular tooth bricks, supporting the tower pomegranate, there are tile ridges, and the base is not bearded. (updated Oct 2024)

## Do

* Learn Chinese. As a very Chinese city it is difficult to find English speakers outside of universities, colleges and certain bars. For this reason, Wenzhou is perfect for the home learner to practice their Putonghua out on the street. Watch out for Wenzhounhua though, it sounds incredibly different from any Chinese you have ever heard before.
* Board Games and Tea Rooms. There are some tea rooms and board game bars in Fuding City, where you can relax, play chess, Go or cards with friends and experience a relaxing entertainment time.
* Fishermen's Day. Some coastal fishing villages regularly hold Fishermen's Day activities to showcase traditional fishing culture, as well as a variety of seafood food festivals, which are very suitable for tourists who love culture and food.
* Bars and KTVs. If you like lively nightlife, there are also some small bars and KTV entertainment venues in Fuding City where you can relax, sing or enjoy drinks with friends.
* 26.938493120.3082171 Yishan Island (嵛山岛). Yishan Island is a quiet island suitable for camping enthusiasts. You can set up a tent on the island and enjoy the starry sky and sea view at night. If you like fishing, some fishermen on the island will provide fishing gear and guidance, so you can experience the fun of fishing on the quiet seaside. (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.322958120.2235582 Jiulixi (九鲤溪), Yunhe Road. There are some hot spring resorts in Fuding, such as Jiulixi Hot Spring, which is a good choice for relaxation. The hot spring water here is of good quality and rich in minerals, which can relieve the fatigue of the journey. You can soak in the hot spring and enjoy the pleasure of physical and mental relaxation. (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.305486120.3199623 Qianqi Town (前岐镇). Fuding has some well-preserved ancient villages, such as Qianqi Town and Diantou Town, where the architecture is typical of southern Fujian style. Walking on the ancient stone slabs, you can feel the strong traditional cultural atmosphere, visit some old houses and ancestral halls, and learn about the local history and folk customs. (updated Oct 2024)

## Buy

Shopping in Fuding allows you to experience the rich local specialty products and the convenience of modern shopping. Whether you want to buy Fuding's specialty tea, seafood, or modern fashion products, Fuding has a variety of shopping places and choices.

### Fuding White Tea

Fuding white tea is one of the most famous specialties of Fuding. As a traditional Chinese famous tea, it is loved by tea drinkers for its long history and unique taste. Visitors can buy various varieties of white tea in Fuding, such as Baihao Yinzhen, Bai Mudan, Gongmei, Shoumei, etc. The production process and years of different teas are also different.
* Fuding White Tea Store: There are many specialty stores in Fuding City where you can taste tea and choose your favorite tea. Many stores also provide exquisite tea sets.
* 27.232717120.1832571 Nodding Town (点头镇), Diantou Town is located in the central part of Fuding City. This is the core production area of ​​Fuding white tea. There are many tea processing factories and sales outlets owned by tea farmers in the town. You can buy fresh and high-quality tea directly from tea farmers and learn about the production process of white tea. (updated Oct 2024)

### Fuding seafood

Seafood is another major feature of Fuding, especially since it is close to the East China Sea. Dried seafood such as dried oysters, dried squid, and dried shrimp are also good choices for bringing home as gifts for relatives and friends.
* 27.16093120.42012 Shacheng Fishing Port (沙埕渔港), Shacheng Town. This is one of the most important fishing ports in Fu'an, close to Shacheng Bay. There is a lot of fresh seafood here at affordable prices. You can also buy various processed dry goods at the fish market. (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.23601120.1741283 Agricultural Products Market in Diantou Town (福鼎市点头镇农贸综合市场), County Road 973. The farmers' markets in the city also sell a large number of seafood, especially dried goods, which are suitable for tourists to buy and take home. (updated Oct 2024)

### Modern shopping mall

If you prefer a modern shopping experience, there are some large shopping malls and shopping centers in Fuding City, providing modern goods such as fashion clothing, electronic products, cosmetics, etc. to meet various shopping needs.
* Wanda Plaza (Fuding Store): As a national chain shopping mall, Wanda Plaza in Fuding integrates shopping, entertainment, and dining, with a rich selection of brands. Here you can buy some well-known domestic and foreign brands of clothing, shoes, electronic products, etc.
* 27.081901120.2238184 Fuding Times Square (福鼎时代广场), The intersection of Fudong Avenue and Shuangyue Avenue. This is a relatively modern shopping mall in Fuding City. It is located in the city center and brings together many brand-name clothing, fashion accessories, cosmetics and other commodities. It also has dining and entertainment facilities, making it suitable for young people to shop and relax. (updated Oct 2024)

## Eat

There are several local specialty foods:
* 27.327684120.2013341 Langyue Hotel (朗悦大酒店), No. 303, Yulong North Road, ☏ +865937733666. Tongjiang sea bass, a special product of Fuding, was registered as a national agricultural product geographical indication in 2010. According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, "sea bass is sweet and warm, beneficial to the muscles and bones, strengthen the stomach and intestines, and speeds up the healing of wounds." Tongjiang perch has a long history, and is known as one of China's "four famous fish" together with the Yellow River carp, the Yangtze River anchovy and the Taihu whitebait. Tongjiang perch has a slender and flattened body with a raised back. (updated Dec 2024)
* 27.337329120.1991922 Dinghan Meat Slices (鼎涵肉片), No. 474 Taimu Avenue, ☏ +8615259326526. Fuding Meat Slices, a dish made by hand of lean meat, starch and other raw materials, is a very famous local traditional food in the area. The dish is sour and spicy with a faint taste of coriander. It is finely extracted, ingenious in craftsmanship and unique in taste. (updated Dec 2024)
* 27.315021120.2058093 Dapin Tea (大品茶业), No. 176, Jinfu Road, ☏ +8613365035735. Fuding White Tea is produced from the buds and leaves of Fuding "Huacha No. 1" or "Huacha No. 2" tea trees, and its appearance buds are complete, the tea is apricot yellow and clear, and the taste is light. According to the different picking buds and leaves, it can be divided into: Baihao silver needle, white peony, Shou Mei, new technology white tea, etc. Pressed white tea has been launched. (updated Dec 2024)

## Drink

In Fuding, in addition to the famous Fuding white tea, there are also some special drinks and local snacks worth trying.

### Fuding Tea

* 27.3508120.2061 Fuding White Tea Culture Museum (福鼎白茶文化博物馆), No. 1 Lianfengshan Road. Here you can not only taste various types of Fuding white tea, but also watch tea art performances and learn about the production process of white tea. Features of Fuding White Tea: Fuding White Tea is famous for its sweet fragrance and soft taste. It is a lightly fermented tea and has good health effects. White tea is rich in amino acids, polyphenols and vitamins and is often regarded as a healthy drink. Recommended varieties: 1、Baihao Yinzhen: The tea buds are white and sweet, suitable for tea lovers who like light taste. 2、Bai Mudan: It consists of one bud and one leaf or one bud and two leaves, with unique aroma and mellow taste. 3、Gongmei: The quality is slightly lower, but the cost performance is high, suitable for daily drinking. (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.081901120.2238182 Tea Garden Tea Shop (茶香园茶店), Inside Times Square. The scented tea in Fuding, especially the scented tea with white tea as the base, has a refreshing taste and can soothe the body and mind. Common scented teas include chrysanthemum tea and rose tea. A variety of teas are available, including scented teas, which can be tasted and purchased fresh. (updated Oct 2024)

## Sleep

* 27.323603120.2190691 Fuding Hotel (福鼎大酒店), No. 220 Gucheng East Road, toll-free: +86 5937822222. As an economy hotel chain, Home Inn provides clean and comfortable accommodation with high cost-effectiveness, suitable for tourists with limited budget. ¥425. (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.322907120.2195522 Fuding International Hotel (福鼎国际大酒店), Nan Da Lu Front Store, Nan Da Lu, toll-free: +86 5937801111. The hotel has complete facilities, spacious and comfortable rooms, a restaurant offering local specialties, and a convenient location with easy access to major attractions in the city center. ¥438. (updated Oct 2024)
* 27.26120.433 Fuding Tianyuan Hotel (福鼎天元大酒店), No. 113, Dongmenkou Street. The hotel has complete facilities, spacious and comfortable rooms, a restaurant offering local specialties, and a convenient location with easy access to major attractions in the city center. (updated Oct 2024)

## Go next

* Fuzhou - Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian Province, has a long history and many cultural relics, such as Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, West Lake Park, and Gushan Mountain. Fuzhou's hot spring culture is also famous and suitable for relaxation.It takes about 1.5 hours to get from Fuding Station to Fuzhou Station or Fuzhou South Station, and the ticket price is about ¥80-100.
* Wenzhou - Wenzhou is close to Fuding, with convenient transportation, profound cultural heritage, rich natural scenery and historical and cultural attractions, such as Jiangxin Island and Yandang Mountain. Wenzhou cuisine is also very distinctive, such as Wenzhou fish balls and lantern cakes.It takes about 40 minutes from Fuding Station to Wenzhou South Station and costs about ¥40-60.
* Xiamen - Xiamen is a popular coastal city with beautiful scenery and pleasant climate. Gulangyu Island, Zengcuo'an, and Xiamen University are all must-see places, and you can also taste authentic shacha noodles and seafood.Taking the high-speed train from Fuding Station to Xiamen North Station takes about 3-3.5 hours and costs about ¥120-160.