Quanzhou history

Origins and Foundation of the City

The history of Quanzhou begins long before its official recognition; however, it took shape as a significant administrative and trading hub during the Tang Dynasty. The city emerged at the junction of river routes and the sea coast, which predetermined its destiny as one of the major ports of the East.

• Foundation and First Mentions
  The official founding date of the city is considered to be the year 718, when the prefecture centre was moved to its current location. Initially, the territory was known as Wurongzhou, but in 711 it received the name Quanzhou. However, the first settlements appeared here much earlier: during the Jin Dynasty (3rd–4th centuries AD), residents from the plains of central China migrated here en masse, fleeing from internecine wars.
• Key Factors of Formation
  The development of the city was facilitated by a unique combination of factors:
  • Geography: Its location at the mouth of the Jinjiang River provided convenient access to the sea and connections with inland areas. The natural deep-water harbour allowed for the reception of large vessels all year round.
  • Demographics: The influx of an educated population from the north (the so-called "Jin Migration") brought advanced technologies and culture, turning the wild coast into a prosperous region.
  • Administrative Will: The decision of the Tang authorities to designate this region as a separate administrative unit stimulated the construction of city walls and infrastructure.
• Early Cultural and Economic Features
  From the very beginning, the region's economy differed from the traditional Chinese model. Due to a shortage of arable land, locals focused on the sea: fishing, salt extraction, and trade. Even in the early period, an open culture began to form here, ready for contact with the outside world, which subsequently allowed the city to become the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road and welcome merchants from all corners of the globe.

Key Milestones in the History of Quanzhou

• 718 — Official foundation of the city during the Tang Dynasty (618–907), laying the groundwork for its future development as one of China's main ports.
• 10th–14th Centuries — The "Golden Age" of Quanzhou during the Song and Yuan dynasties, when the city, known in the West and the Arab world as Zaitun, became one of the largest and busiest seaports in the world.
• 1009 — Construction of the Qingjing Mosque, one of the oldest Islamic structures in China, serving as vivid evidence of the medieval city's multiculturalism and religious tolerance.
• 1053–1059 — Construction of the stone Luoyang Bridge, one of the greatest engineering achievements of its time, which significantly improved transport connections and trade.
• 13th Century — The city becomes a leading centre for shipbuilding and navigation technologies, with its ships, laden with silk and porcelain, departing for dozens of ports in Asia and Africa.
• c. 1292 — The famous Venetian traveller Marco Polo visits Quanzhou and describes it as an incredibly rich and prosperous city, full of merchants from all over the world.
• c. 1346 — The renowned Arab explorer Ibn Battuta arrives in Zaitun, also noting its immense size, bustling trade, and large community of foreign merchants.
• Late 14th–15th Centuries — The beginning of the port's gradual decline due to the policy of self-isolation (the Haijin ban) introduced by the Ming Dynasty, and the natural silting of the harbour.
• 1991 — UNESCO includes the city in the "Maritime Silk Road" international expedition route, officially recognising its outstanding historical role in global maritime trade.
• 2021 — A series of historical monuments under the collective title "Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China" is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Major Stages of Development and Transformation

The development history of Quanzhou is a journey from a regional outpost to one of the main economic centres of China. The key milestones that defined the modern look and status of the city are connected with global trade, unique urban planning solutions, and cultural integration.

• Official Foundation and Start of Maritime Expansion (718)
  The establishment of the prefecture during the Tang era became the starting point for the formation of the urban structure. This event secured administrative status for the settlement, allowing for the start of large-scale construction of port facilities and the establishment of the first regular trade routes.
• Infrastructure Revolution of the Song Dynasty (10th–13th Centuries)
  During this period, the city experienced a construction boom. The erection of grandiose stone bridges (such as the Luoyang Bridge) and the modernisation of harbours turned the city into a logistics hub capable of processing huge flows of cargo, which gave a powerful boost to the region's economy.
• Rise of the Global Port of Zaitun (13th–14th Centuries)
  In the Yuan era, the city reached the peak of its power, becoming the largest eastern port in the world. This led to a unique urban transformation: the appearance of "Fanfang"—special quarters for foreign merchants (particularly from the Arab world)—making the urban environment cosmopolitan and architecturally diverse.
• Cultural and Religious Integration
  The construction of places of worship for world religions (mosques, Hindu and Christian temples) side by side with Buddhist pagodas formed the city's unique cultural code. This heritage has made it a symbol of religious tolerance and openness, attracting pilgrims and tourists to this day.
• Development of Private Enterprise and Diaspora (Ming–Qing)
  Despite the policy of maritime bans in the late Middle Ages, local merchants created powerful trade networks throughout Southeast Asia. This laid the foundations for the formation of a wealthy Chinese diaspora (Overseas Chinese), whose investments played a key role in the city's revival in the 20th century.
• Industrialisation and the "Fujian Model" (Late 20th Century)
  With the beginning of the reform and opening-up policy, the city transformed into the country's leading manufacturing centre. The development of light industry clusters (footwear, textiles, ceramics) ensured explosive economic growth and modern urbanisation.
• Musealisation and UNESCO Status (2021)
  The inclusion of the city's historical monuments in the World Heritage List marked a new stage of development—a transition from a purely industrial model to a cultural-tourism one. This stimulated the restoration of the old city and a rethinking of its role as the guardian of the Maritime Silk Road traditions.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

The architecture of Quanzhou is a chronicle in stone, capturing the history of a great seaport. The urban development of the city was determined by its status as a "window to the world": here, Chinese traditions harmoniously intertwined with Arab, Persian, and European influences. Unlike many other cities in China, where wooden architecture dominated, Quanzhou is famous for its monumental stone structures and a unique residential style characteristic of the southern Fujian province.

Architectural Styles and Historical Eras

The appearance of the city was formed over a millennium, and each era brought its unique features to the urban landscape:

• Song and Yuan Eras (10th–14th Centuries) — Religious Monumentalism and Stone Architecture.
  During the heyday of maritime trade, grandiose religious structures appeared in the city. A characteristic feature was the use of granite to imitate wooden structures. A vivid example is the East and West Pagodas of the Kaiyuan Temple, which are the largest stone pagodas in the country. At the same time, thanks to foreign merchants, elements of Islamic architecture were introduced: pointed arches, domes, and stone carvings with Arabic calligraphy (notably the Qingjing Mosque).
• Ming and Qing Eras (14th–20th Centuries) — Minnan Style ("Red Culture").
  During this period, the unique local style of residential architecture was finally formed. Its main features: walls made of red brick, often combined with white stone, and the famous curved "swallowtail" roofs (forked roof ridges resembling a swallow's tail). Such houses were richly decorated with carvings in wood and stone, as well as coloured ceramics.
• Republic Period and Early 20th Century — Eclecticism and Qilou Style.
  Chinese emigrants (Overseas Chinese) returning from Southeast Asia brought the fashion for arcade houses (Qilou). These are two- or three-storey buildings where the ground floor is a covered gallery for trade and protection of pedestrians from rain and sun. The style combines South Chinese practicality with elements of European neoclassicism and colonial baroque.

Iconic Districts and Architectural Dominants

To understand the soul of the city, one should pay attention to the key zones that formed its identity:

• West Street. The oldest street in the city, where buildings in the Qilou style are best preserved. Here you can see the harmonious proximity of Christian churches, ancient clock towers, and traditional shops.
• Historical Centre around Qingjing Mosque. The area demonstrates a rare example for East Asia of medieval Middle Eastern architecture adapted to local conditions.
• Residential Quarters with "Cuo" Houses. Traditional red brick manors with courtyards, scattered along old alleyways, create the unique atmosphere of "southern" China.

Notable Figures Connected to Quanzhou

The history of Quanzhou, one of the world's greatest ports, is inextricably linked with the names of outstanding figures—from wise rulers and fearless navigators to famous travellers and freethinkers. These individuals left a deep imprint on the history of the city and all of China.

• Cai Xiang (1012–1067) — A statesman, calligrapher, and engineer of the Song Dynasty. As the prefect of Quanzhou, he oversaw the construction of the Luoyang Bridge—one of the greatest engineering achievements of its time. This bridge not only improved transport connections but also became a symbol of the city's prosperity and technological power.
• Marco Polo (c. 1254–1324) — The Venetian merchant and traveller. In his notes, he described Quanzhou, which he called Zaitun, in detail as one of the largest and wealthiest ports in the world. His stories introduced Europe to the incredible scale of China's maritime trade, the centre of which was this very city.
• Ibn Battuta (1304–1368) — The famous Arab traveller and scholar. He visited Quanzhou in the mid-14th century and, like Marco Polo, was amazed by its size, bustling trade, and large community of foreign merchants. His testimonies confirm the city's status as a global multicultural hub.
• Zheng He (1371–1433) — The outstanding admiral and diplomat of the Ming Dynasty. Although he was not a native of the city, his name is closely linked to Quanzhou, as it was here, in local shipyards, that giant ships were built for his famous "seven naval expeditions" to the Indian Ocean.
• Li Zhi (1527–1602) — A philosopher, historian, and writer of the Ming era. A native of Quanzhou, he became one of the most extraordinary and controversial thinkers of his time. His nonconformist ideas, challenging Confucian dogmas, had a huge impact on the intellectual life of China.
• Shi Lang (1621–1696) — An admiral who played a key role in the history of 17th-century China. Born in Jinjiang (modern-day Quanzhou), he led the fleet of the Qing Empire, which conquered Taiwan in 1683, incorporating the island into mainland China.