# Zhangzhou

Zhangzhou (漳州; Chiang-chiu in Minnan, Zhāngzhōu in Mandarin) is a city of 4.8 million people (2010) in the west of Fujian Province in China.

## Understand

Prefecture consists of: Xiangcheng District (芗城区), Longwen District (龙文区), Longhai City (龙海市), Changtai County (长泰县), Dongshan County (东山县), Hua'an County (华安县), Nanjing County (南靖县), Pinghe County (平和县), Yunxiao County (云霄县), Zhangpu County (漳浦县), Zhao'an County (诏安县)

## Talk

Minnan is the main language spoken in Zhangzhou. The local dialect differs somewhat from that of neighbouring Xiamen, but they are still similar enough to be mutually intelligible. There are also dialectal differences between the Minnan spoken in different parts of the prefecture-level city, with the dialect in Zhao'an in particular having a strong Teochew influence, though in general, this should also not hinder communication too much. Most locals are also able to speak Mandarin, so Mandarin speakers would not have any problems getting around.
English is rarely spoken in Zhangzhou and whenever English speakers do exist, they are mostly concentrated on hotel staff and other touristic sectors. Other European languages are seldom understood.

## Get in
### By bus

There are frequent buses from Xiamen (about 1 hour), as well as some direct service from most cities and counties in southern Fujian.

### By train

There are two passenger stations in the Zhangzhou metropolitan area: Zhangzhou Railway Station and Zhangzhou East Railway Station.
The spacious new 24.459403117.7114721 Zhangzhou Railway Station (which was known as Zhangzhou South during the planning stage) sits on the new high-speed railway (the Xiamen-Shenzhen line) about 10 km south of downtown Zhangzhou. Many of the high-speed trains travelling along the coast from Xiamen, Fuzhou and points north to Shenzhen stop here. There is also high-speed service inland to Longyan; many of the conventional trains from Xiamen to destinations in the interior of China use that line too.
The older 24.567587117.7398822 Zhangzhou East Railway Station is remarkably inconveniently located (miles away from the city, with few signs posted along the road, and fairly limited bus service; even some of the locals have only a vague idea as to where it is). Many trains have been routed to the rail line south of the city and the Zhangzhou Railway Station, but a few (slower) trains run through Zhangzhou East.
Finally, there is the Zhangzhou North Station, just north of downtown Zhangzhou. Don't go there: even though older maps still call it "Zhangzhou Station" (this is how it was called until 2011), it has no passenger service anymore.

### By plane

The closest passenger airport is in Xiamen.

## Get around

The city has extensive local bus service, with several routes extending to outlying suburbs (some of which are really cities in their own right, such as Longhai).

### By train

* 24.5817117.4441 Nanjing Railway Station (南靖火车站, 南靖站, Nanjing Station), Yanta Village, Shancheng Town (山城镇雁塔村). High-speed trains from Xiamen take between 30 and 60 minutes. From Zhangzhou, the journey time is just 15 minutes. (updated Jan 2019)

### By bus

* 24.513007117.3692 Nanjing Bus Station (南靖车站, 南靖汽车站), 129-6 Renmin Road, Shancheng Town (山城镇人民路129-6, ☏ +86 596 7835824. There are regular daily buses from Xiamen. Buses depart from the Fang Lake Bus Station (枋湖汽车站) in Xiamen's Huli District. The journey time is about 2 hours. (updated Jan 2019)

## See
### Zhangzhou urban area

* 24.510826117.705721 Zhangzhou Museum (漳州市博物馆), Intersection of Yingbin Avenue and Longwen South Road, Longwen District (龙文区迎宾大道与龙文南路加叉口) (Bus routes 1, 5, 10, 23, 27, 902, b3, b8, b10 and b13), ☏ +86 596 2108779, zzsbwg@126.com. 09ː00-12ː00, 14ː30-17ː00 (15ː00-17ː30 during the summer), closed on Mondays. Zhangzhou's main museum. Free. (updated Feb 2019)
* 24.51333117.655562 Nanshan Temple (南山寺), 11 Shuang'an Road, Xiangcheng District (芗城区双庵路11号) (Take bus no. 3 or 12 and get off at the pharmaceutical factory (制药厂) bus stop. From there, walk about 600 metres north down Nanshan Road), ☏ +86 596 2023939. 08ː30-17ː00. Built in the 8th century AD, the Nanshan Temple is one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in southeastern China.Originally known as the Baoqu Institute (報劬院), the temple was built during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang during his Kaiyuan era (開元) and completed in 736 CE.In 968 CE during the reign of Emperor Taizu of Song it was repaired by the provincial governor Chen Wen (陈文) and renamed Chongfu Temple (崇福寺). Later on during the Ming dynasty, its name changed once more to the current "Nanshan Temple". ¥10. (updated Feb 2019)
* 24.514194117.7600093 Yundongyan Scenic Area (云洞岩风景区), Caiban Village, Lantian Town, Longwen District (龙文区蓝田镇蔡坂村) (Bus nos. 1, 6, 23, 25, 902, b6, sightseeing route 1 (观光1号线) and sightseeing route 2 (观光2号线)), ☏ +86 596 2102223, +86 596 2106258. 06ː30-18ː00. The only scenic area in Zhangzhou's main urban area to be designated as a 4A-rated tourist attraction by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The main feature is a rocky hill named Yundongyan (literally ‘Cloud Cave Rock'), which stands about 280 metres above sea level. Free. (updated Feb 2019)
* 26.29118.814 Fujian Huberliao National Nature Reserve (福建虎伯寮国家级自然保护区), Nanjing County(南靖县). Fujian Huberliao National Nature Reserve is located in the southeast of the Bopingling Mountains, and Jiangxi River in Kowloon runs throughout the country. The unique geographical and climatic conditions have nurtured the well-known tropical rainforest communities in Nanjing County, which have been described as "small western double benna in the south". The total area is 3001 hectares. Protecting the wild fauna and flora.
* 23.94117.335 Zhangjiangkou Mangrove National Nature Reserve (漳江口红树林国家级自然保护区), Zhangjiang into the sea in Yunxiao County(云霄县漳江入海口). The total area of the reserve is 2,360hm2, which is the most important national nature reserve for wetland ecosystem types in Fujian Province. The region's rich flora and fauna provide an ideal habitat for more than 150 species of birds, 240 species of aquatic animals and nearly 400 species of aquatic life. It is a wetland ecosystem type protection area mainly protected by mangrove wetland ecosystem, endangered plant and animal species and high-quality aquatic germplasm resources along the southeast coast.
* 23.74117.516 Temple of the Emperor Guantai of Dongshan (东山关帝庙), Tongling Town, Dongshan County(东山县铜陵镇). Dongshan Guandi Temple, also known as Wu Temple, Guandi Temple, Tongling Guandi Temple, is located in Tongling Town, Dongshan County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, 岵 so that the foothills of the wind stone scenic area. It covers an area of 2400 square meters and a construction area of 680 square meters. Dongshan Guandi Temple, sitting west to east, the overall architectural layout is strict, the main hall beam-raising wooden frame, single eaves song top, roof decorated with local traditional handicraft cutting porcelain carving. The interior of the temple is decorated with gold wood carving, gold lacquer painting, stone carving, etc., which is called "art museum".
* 24.51117.657 Stone Garden (漳州石牌坊), No.181 Hong Kong Road(香港路181号). Zhangzhou ShiPaiFang 4 pavilions are carved with brilliant green rock, white granite rock, three doors, five floors, twelve columns, embedded with the name Lu Yue, Qiao Ming and carved flower plate, delicate carving, exquisite craftsmanship. In March 1994, the expert group of the State Cultural Heritage Administration considered the four Ming and Qing stone architects to be of high historical, artistic and scientific value.
* 24.51117.658 Site of the Provisional Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (中共福建临时省委旧址), No.32 Zhencheng Lane, Xiangcheng District(芗城区振成巷32号). It is a small courtyard with an area of 103 square meters. The site consists of a two-story brick-and-wood structure, the first floor of the main building is Zhangzhou Early Revolutionary History Exhibition Room, the second floor of the main building is the joint conference restoration exhibition room. Organization and development of the exhibition hall, divided into white area party organization, Soviet area party organization and three years of guerrilla war period party organization for display.
* 24.51117.679 Hsia Tung College of Science and Technology (霞东书院), Xiangcheng Salt Fish Market(芗城区盐鱼市). Xiaodong College was founded in 1706 as the official residence of General Lan Li. Cai Xin, a scholar of the University of Wenhua in the Qianlong Dynasty, lectured here and rebuilt in 1821. The building sits northwest to southeast and consists of a gatehouse, a main hall and a corridor on both sides of the "mouth" shape layout. The main temple is three bays wide and deep, hanging from the top of the mountain, swallowtail ridge, lifting beam through the bucket mixed frame. The first year of Qingdao Light, in 2003, was renovated again and is a provincial cultural protection unit in Fujian Province.
* 24.48117.9510 White Cay Tzu Chi Palace (白礁慈济宫), Zhangzhou Taishang Investment Zone Corner Mei Town White Reef Village(漳州台商投资区角美镇白礁村内). Baijiao Tzu Chi Palace sits northeast to southwest, Sanjin, covers a total area of more than 5000 square meters, the construction area of 1915.5 square meters. The whole building is built according to the mountains, the eaves are interlaced and magnificent. The dragon pillars, arches and painted gold in the temple are the achievements of architecture, painting, sculpture, calligraphy and other arts since the Song Dynasty, and have long enjoyed the reputation of "Forbidden City in southern Fujian".
* 24.51117.6511 Stone statue of Mita Buddha in Namsan Temple (南山寺弥陀佛石造像), Nanshan Temple in Xiangcheng District( 芗城区南山寺内净业堂). Nanshan Temple Mita Buddha statue, commonly known as Nanshan Temple Big Stone Buddha, in Xiangcheng District Nanshan Temple Jingye Hall (also known as Stone Buddha Pavilion), is a statue of Mita Buddha carved from natural stalagmites, 6 meters high. French collar, collar, cuffs and hem, are embossed flower pattern, clothes pleats simple and elegant. It is said to be a statue of the Tang Dynasty, and it is also said to be a stone sculpture of the Song Dynasty.
* 24.12117.6112 Zhao Jiaobao (disambiguation) (赵家堡), Zhangpu County(漳浦县). Zhao Jiabao known as "five miles three cities", its layout intention, everywhere modeled after the two Song Dynasty old capital. The castle inside and outside the two walls, the outer city is a stone foundation of the triad earth wall, 6 meters high, 2 meters wide, 1082 meters around the perimeter, the construction of East, West, North and South four gates. East gate horizontal plaque engraved "Oriental barrier", south gate engraved "Danding Zhongxiang", west gate engraved "Suo Gaoju Sheng".
* 24.12117.6213 Taicheng Hall of Zhangpu Munmyo Temple (漳浦文庙大成殿), Suian Town, Zhangpu County(漳浦县绥安镇). Zhangpu Temple Dacheng Hall building area of 441 square meters, basically square, stone clad earth platform foundation, wood frame. Sit north to south slightly east, heavy eaves rest on the top of the mountain, covered with red simple tile or slate. Five feet wide and five feet deep. The east, west, and north walls are rammed earth walls, and the 36 columns are arranged in a regular network, and the diameter of the foundation is huge. It is an example of a well-preserved building in southern Fujian Province. It is of great artistic and scientific value to combine the local practices of southern Fujian with those of lower and upper elevations.

### Rural Zhangzhou
#### Nanjing County

Most people travel to Nanjing County to see the Fujian Tulou clusters.

#### Zhangpu County

The Liu'ao Peninsula, in the southern part of Zhangpu County, has the ruins of an ancient fortress, good beaches, and interesting rock formations.
Xihu She Ethnic Township, also in Zhangpu County, has two 17th-century fortresses: Zhaojiabao and Yi'anbao.

## Learn

Xiamen University Tan Kah Kee College (厦门大学嘉庚学院) Xiamen University Tan Kah Kee College is located in Zhangzhou Campus of Xiamen University, facing Siming Campus of Xiamen University across the sea. Established in 2003 with the approval of the Ministry of Education, the College is an independent college jointly organized by Xiamen University and Xiamen Jiageng Education Development Co., LTD., operating according to the new mechanism and new model . Jiageng College of Xiamen University has been applying for admission in this second batch since the day it was founded.

## Buy

* Longhai Peanut Sauce: Longhai County is famous for its peanut sauce, which is rich in flavor and is often used in cooking, such as for stewed chicken and grilled dishes, or as a spread for bread.
* Zhangzhou Lychee: Lychee from Zhangzhou is a local specialty fruit known for its sweet taste and juicy flesh. Zhangzhou lychee is commonly consumed fresh and is also used to make lychee candies and other products.
* Zhangzhou Taro Pastries: Taro pastries are a popular type of pastry made primarily from taro. They have a crispy outer layer and a delicious filling, making them a delightful snack.
* Longhai Dried Oysters: Dried oysters from Longhai County are a traditional seafood product made through sun-drying. They have a unique flavor and are often used as a snack or ingredient.
* Zhangzhou Wenchang Chicken: Wenchang chicken is a local poultry specialty known for its tender meat. It is commonly used to prepare the traditional dish known as Wenchang chicken rice.
* Zhangzhou Wax Apples: Wax apples from Zhangzhou are a unique fruit with juicy flesh and a refreshing taste. They are typically enjoyed fresh and are also processed into products like fruit juice and ice cream.

## Eat

Zhangzhou is most famous for its lor mee (卤面 lǔmiàn) braised noodles, the original version of a dish that's become even more well-known as an element of Singaporean, Malaysian, and Indonesian cuisine. Other famous local specialities include muah chee (麻糍) and the local version of oyster omelette (蚵仔煎), which is different from the version in neighbouring Xiamen and the Taiwanese version, being crispier and served with pickled radish on the side.

## Drink

Wuyi Rock Tea: Wuyi Mountain, under the jurisdiction of Zhangzhou City, is a renowned region for producing rock tea known for its unique rocky flavor and rich floral and fruity aromas. Varieties of Wuyi Rock Tea include Da Hong Pao, Shui Jin Gui, and Bai Ya Tou, making it one of China's top ten famous teas.
Zhangping White Tea: Zhangping, a city in the Zhangzhou region, is famous for its representation of white tea, known for its fresh white hair (buds) and tender leaves. Varieties of Zhangping white tea include Silver Needle (Yin Zhen) and White Peony (Bai Mu Dan), which have a mild flavor and high health benefits.
Puerh Tea: Zhangzhou is also one of the areas in Fujian known for producing Puerh tea, particularly the raw Puerh tea from Zhangping. This tea is made through fermentation and aging, resulting in a strong flavor and unique aged characteristics.
Black Tea: Zhangzhou's production area also yields high-quality black teas, including Zhangping black tea and Nanjing black tea. These black teas have a distinct black tea aroma and taste.

## Sleep

Accommodation within the century-old Fujian Tulou is possible, offering a unique cultural experience. Many of the guest houses and inns are family-run and allow for a glimpse into the local rural life.

## Go next

Take a bus to Nanjing County or Yongding County, and see Fujian Tulou, large fortified earth buildings which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Or go the opposite way, to Xiamen which is the hub of the region and has the scenic island Gulangyu.
* Wuyi Mountain
* Longyan