Zhangzhou

Lying in the south of Fujian Province and the lower reaches of the Jiulong River, Zhangzhou was proclaimed as a historical and cultural city by the State council in 1986. Zhangzhou is a transportation pivot in the Fujian and Guangdong area. The Yingtan-Xiamen Railway connects many other cities all over the country. The road network in the city extends in all directions.

The ancient city with thousands years of history is surrounded by the clear Jiujiang River, the green banana orchards and litchi gardens. Zhishan Mountain with 12 peaks stands in the northwest of the city. Some 10 kilometers east of the city is Heming Mountain, which is full of oddly shaped stones and miraculous valleys, is claimed to be the Top One Cave. Zhangzhou has a large collection of cultural relics and historic sites. The Xiantong Depository of Buddhist Scriptures in the Central Park has Buddha sculptures and Buddhist scriptures carved on the pillar. The Nanshan Temple, with the Heavenly King Hall, the Great Hall and the Depository Hall, was built in the Kaiyuan reign of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and restored in the successive dynasties. The round buildings in Zhangzhou are really a wonder. They have 4 to 5 storeys built of rammed earth. There are buildings in round shape, in square shape and well shape, which were grouped into a shape of a crescent and a block. The remains of the relics amount to over one thousand. The Sanping Temple for pilgrimage is well known home and abroad because of its unique charm. The other famous scenic spots are the Yundong Cliff, which was reputed as No. 1 Stele in South Fujian; the Ciji Palace in Baiqiao, which was claimed the Forbidden City of South Fujian; the Jiangdong Bridge, which was the biggest one with stone beams; the Nanshan Temple with a thousand-year history; the Zhao Family Village of the Song Dynasty (960-1279); the Eryi Building; the Tengfei Gymnasium for the national female volleyball team; the flower corridor and the national park with beach and mountain scenery.

Zhangzhou enjoys a pleasant environment with a mild climate and abundant rain. With an average annul temperature of 21.4oC, sunshine of over 2,000 hours, a precipitation of 1,500mm, and a frost-free period of 330 days, Zhangzhou is a natural green house in the subtropical monsoonal climate zone. Wheat and rice have three times of harvest here, and it is entitled the land of flowers, rice, fish and fruit, as all of these have big output. Orange, litchi, banana, longan, pomelo and olive here are of international fame. Zhangzhou also has three treasures, namely narcissus, Pianzaihuang (Chinese herb), and Babao Inkpad.