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Xiamen (formerly Amoy and still called E-mng by locals) is one Fujian province's most beautiful coastal cities. Situated at the mouth of Jiulong River(Nine Dragon River), the city of Xiamen encompasses Xiamen Island, Gulangyu Islet and, on the mainland, Tong'an County. Xiamen's history as a port goes way back: It was the first of the Qing Dynasty treaty ports where foreign merchants were allowed to settle and legally trade with Chinese traders. Today, the legacy of that history—the extensive concession-era villas, townhouses and consulates of Gulangyu—testify to that past. Later in the 20th century, the city became one of China's first special economic zones, leading to rapid development that continues today, though its popularity as a tourist destination only really began to realize its huge potential after the region, which is opposite the Taiwan, was opened up a... more >>

Home to a host of rare species including clouded leopards, giant salamanders and swallowtail butterflies, Wuyi Shan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site listed for both for its amazing biodiversity and its cultural value—Wuyi Shan's rugged 1,000km2 are also home to nearly 100 archeological sites where ancient Toaist, Buddhist and Confucian temples and acadamies once thrived. Finally, Wuyi Shan, located in northwest Fujian province near the Jiangxi border, is the aboriginal home of some of China's most vaunted teas. This is, for example, where Da Hong Bao (Big Red Robe), a legendary red tea that has been auctioned off for millions of RMB per kilo and held in special reserves by the state, was first picked. It's also home to Lapsang Souchong, a delectable smoked black tea, among other famed Wuyi tea varieties. In sum, the mountains, southeastern China's largest and most d... more >>

Fuzhou may be the best-known least-known Chinese city out there. Fujianese culture has found its way around the world, yet beyond China most of world wouldn't know Fuzhou from Wenzhou, Dezhou or any number of other average zhou second-tier Chinese metropolises, despite the fact that countless Fujianese have departed over the years from the port of Fuzhou and settled in new lands around the world, bringing their traditions, language and cuisine with them. Today, around 2.5 million "overseas Chinese" claim Fujianese ancestry. Fuzhou, which first gained fame abroad back in the 13th century days of Marco Polo and 15th century Ming Dynasty explorer Zheng He as China's nautical gateway to the world is today a rapidly modernizing city whose gleaming new high rises testify to its recent prosperity. Much of Fuzhou's growth has been fueled by Taiwanese investment, ... more >>