219.94.82.174 (talk) |
125.77.120.18 (talk) No edit summary |
||
Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
|- |
|- |
||
| align="center" colspan=2 | [[Image:ChinaFujianFuzhou.png|280px|Fuzhou is highlighted on this map]] |
| align="center" colspan=2 | [[Image:ChinaFujianFuzhou.png|280px|Fuzhou is highlighted on this map]] |
||
Building an economic zone on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits |
|||
Fujian, called‘Min’for short, is located on China’s southeast coast. Facing the Taiwan Straits, it neighbors Yangtze River Delta on the north and Pearl River Delta on the south, backed up by a vast hinterland. Fujian covers a landmass of 121.4 thousand sq.km.and a sea space of 136.3 thousand sq. km..Under its jurisdiction are nine cities, Fuzhou, Xiamen, |
|||
Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, Sanming, Putian, Nanping, Longyan ,Ningde and 84 counties and cities at county level (County of Jinmen not included).By the end of 2004, the population of the province totaled 35.11 million(Counties of Jinmen and Mazu not included). |
|||
Unique Land and Marine Resources |
|||
In Fujian, 80% of landmass are mountainous and hilly areas. Known as a “green treasure in south China”, its forest coverage rate stands at 62.9%, topping all the provinces in China. Fujian boasts richest waterpower resources in East China and the deposits of 86 out of all the mineral resources in the province have been verified. The total length of the continuous and winding coastline reaches 6,128 kilometers, among which 3,324 kilometers are continental coastline. The number of sites that may be built into berths with handling capacity ranging from 100-300 thousand tons ranks 1st in China. In addition, Fujian is endowed with vast fish-farming space, large reserve of tidal energy, abundant fish resources and the aquatic product per capita of the province ranks 1st among all the province in the country. |
|||
Long standing and close ties between Fujian and Taiwan |
|||
80% of Taiwan’s residents have their ancestral homes in Fujian .in addition to the geographical factor, Fujian and Taiwan share close ties in kinsfolk relations, dialect, history, custom, culture, business and legal ground. We are making every effort to bring about closer economic and trade ties, the three direct links, cooperation in tourism and agriculture, further exchange in culture and more communication platforms between both sides of the Taiwan Straits. The economic cooperation, trade and personnel exchanges between both sides have witnessed increasing growth. By the end of 2004, Fujian has accumulatively recruited over USD 10 billion worth of investment from Taiwan. The province is home to 4 Taiwan Investment Zones, namely, Xinglin, Haicang, Jimei and Mawei, 2 experimental zones of agricultural cooperation between both sides of the Straits in Fuzhou and Zhangzhou , together with 35designated anchor places for Taiwan. vessels and 21 trading ports with Taiwan, Fuzhou and Xiamen ports have been the designated ones carrying out pilot direct navigation with Taiwan’s Kaohsiung Port and there have been direct links between Fujian’s coastal areas and Taiwan’s Jinmen, Mazu and Penghu counties. The exchanges and cooperation between Fujian and Taiwan, based on South Fujian Culture, Hakka Culture, Mazu Culture and Folks Culture, are in the ascendant. |
|||
Pioneer in China’s reform and opening up drive |
|||
Fujian is among the first in China that has trading relations with the outside world. In as early as the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Quanzhou was one of the biggest trading ports in the world and the starting point of the “Marine Silk Route ”. Fuzhou was the anchor and starting place for the fleet of Admiral Zheng He’s seven voyages to the westerm seas. As one of the earliest provinces in China opening up to the outside world with “special policies and flexible measures” granted by central government since the launch of reform and opening up drive, for many year, the export volume of Fujian has ranked 6th among all the provinces in China. Fujian has established economic and trade ties with more than 200 countries and regions in the world and friendship cities relationships with 41 provinces and cities from 19 countries. As an experimental area of China’s comprehensive reform, the economic restructuring of the province has progressed in an all round way and it has become one of the most dynamic areas in China in terms of the development of private sector. |
|||
Steady improvement in infrastructure facilities |
|||
A well-knitted communication network has basically taken shape and steadily improved, which includes “three vertical and four horizontal” expressways and “eight vertical and nine horizontal” provincial-level trunk roads networks. |
|||
The number of railways connecting Fujian with its neighboring provinces have increased form 4 to 7 and inter-regional railways have been improved. Five airports, namely, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Wuyi Mountain, Jinjiang and Liancheng, constitute the modern airport facilities for the province. There are 54 berths, each with a handling capacity of or above 10-thousand-ton in the province, and the ports of Xiamen and Fuzhou are among the top 10 in China. A group of information-based ports on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits have emerged with considerable scale and great container handling capacity. The total installed capacity of generating units in the province has reached 16,000mega watt and is bridged with power grid of East China. In addition,a number of power plants are under construction, which would bring about a reliable power supply system in the province. The build-up of Digital Fujian, characterized by e-government, information-based enterprises and society, is at full steam. |
|||
Beautiful and comfortable human habitat |
|||
Fujian enjoys sound ecological system and is all green in the four seasons. Fujian rank 1st in national ecological environment quality appraisal and is home to a number of national landscape cities, environmental protection model cities, international garden cities. Locating here are 7 national excellent tourist cities, 4 national historical and cultural renowned cities, 1 global geo-park, 5 national geo-parks, 13 state key tourist sites, 2 national holiday and tourist resorts, 9 national nature reserves and 15 national forest parks. Besides, there are various brand-name tourist resources well known both at home and abroad in this province, like Wuyi Mountains, Gulangyu Islet in Xiamen, MaZu Culture in Putian, Marine Silk Rout Culture in Quanzhou, Earthen Residential Building and Red Tour To the site of Gutian Meeting, the Ancient Tanshishan Culture, Fuzhou Shipping Culture, the wonder of Baishuiyang in Ningde, the Golden Lake in Taining, the Volcano Geo-park in Zhangzhou, etc.. |
|||
Unique Culture |
|||
Fujian boasts a long history, and the Tanshishan Culture emerging here 5,000 years ago may rival the well-known Yangshao Culture and Hemudu Culture in China’s history. Here is also a native place for a great number of prominent figures through the ages, like Zhuxi, Songci, Zheng Chenggong, Lin Zexu, YanFu, LinShu, Chen Jiageng, BinXin, Hou Debang, Chen Jingrun. 88 academicians with Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering are of Fujian origin or have once worked in Fujian. There are a number of exemplary figures in the new era, like Gu Wenchang, Zheng Zhonghua and Zhang Renhe ,who have demonstrated a spirit of enthusiasm, grand pursuit and strong sense of responsibility in ordinary work. As a famous hometown for overseas Chinese, there are 10.88million ethnic Chinese of Fujian origin residing abroad and over 1 million of Hong Kong and Macao compatriots are also of Fujian origin. With their intelligence and hard work, these people have made significant contributions to the economic and social development of their residing countries and regions. Their spirit of seizing and making use of good opportunities, risk-taking, exerting utmost strength, unity, straightforwardness, code of brotherhood, love for the motherland and repaying the native place has been the logo of Fujian businessmen, which Fujian is proud of. |
|||
Long history of revolution |
|||
Fujian is one of the key provinces where revolutionary old bases and soviet areas are located. The central soviet areas covered 10 counties and revolutionary old bases took up 62 counties in the province. It was in Gutian, Shanghang County of Longyan that the significant Gutian Meeting, a milestone in the history of CPC and PLA, was held. Over 100 thousand people in Fujian joined the Red Army, the New Fourth Army and guerrilla forces and among them, over 30 thousand took part in the Long March. These people have made great contributions to the birth of New China. Fujian has a glorious history of Mutual Support, and is the only province in China that all the nine major cities have been cited as “National Model City of Mutual Support between Civilian and the Armed Forces”. |
|||
New round development progresses in an all-round manner |
|||
Entering the 21st century, based on the general situation of national development and the motherland’s reunification, the CPC Fujian Provincal Committee and the Provincial People’s Government have taken great efforts to build an economic zone on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits characterized by highly opening up, coordinated development and overall prosperity in a bid to bring about a steady, fast, balanced and healthy economic and social development In 2004, the GDP of the province and the GDP per capita ranked 11th and 7th respectively among all the provinces in China. The formulation of essential concept, basic thinking, general situation and layout for a new round development has taken shape. A favorable situation has emerged where people live in harmony and businesses are prosperous, and the spirit of risk-taking, surmounting difficulties, working for development and sticking together has been constantly intensified. |
|||
The economic zone on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits, centered on Fujian, covering its surrounding areas and interacting with Taiwan, is an existing regional economic complex, boasting unique characteristics and advantages, This strategic thinking has not only won the approval of the central government, but positive responses both at home and abroad as well, and the whole province has reached consensus on such a strategic decision. |
|||
The essential concept of the new round development may be summarized as “four three”, ”four two”, ”eight measures”, ”nine supporting systems” and “one fundamental build-up”. To be more specific, “four three” stands for building three strategic passages, i.e., cooperation between coastal and mountainous areas, interaction with hinterland and further opening up, and the province will realize the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects three years ahead of the national schedule, in three levels and in three phases; “four two” refers to implementing two strategies, i,e., vitalizing the province through qualified personnel and adhering to the principle of sustainable development ,carrying out two “Outlines” concerning the build-up of community and work in villages and towns, establishing long-term mechanism on clean government and fair personnel placement and laying solid foundation for agriculture development and a stable society; “eight measures” includes project-motivated progress, developing county-level economy, speeding up industrial assemble, scaling up central cities, upgrading private sector, transforming government function, promoting cultural industry and propelling marine economy. “nine supporting systems” covers highly competitive industries, modernized infrastructure facilities, unified and coordinated development of both urban and rural area, human-centered social development, export-oriented opening up, mutual-benefit and win-win inter-regional cooperation, reliable disaster prevention and reduction and harmonious society management and service; “ one fundamental build-up” is to improve the ruling ability of the CPC. |
|||
The general situation for a new round development can be summarized as “expanding both wings, connecting with the two deltas, developing the coastal areas, rallying the resources in China’s mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, interacting with hinterland and striving for common prosperous, further opening up and serving the overall situation. To be more specific, Fujian will develop both the northeast and southwest parts of the province and working vigorously to form closer economic ties with Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta. It will also bring its advantage as being the junction of both sides of the Straits, Hong Kong and Macao, the close ties with Taiwan in particular, into full play and push forward the cooperation with the said areas for the reunification of the motherland. Basing on improving infrastructure facilities, Fujian will interact with interact with hinterland and promote the growth of regional economy. By deepening the opening-up drive, it will boost its export-oriented economy as well. |
|||
The layout for a new round development, in general, is “accurate positioning, Vigorous involvement, advantages integration, rational layout, neighboring extension, inland development, regional interaction and balanced development”. All walks of life shall accurately position themselves in the drive of building an economic zone on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits, integrate various advantages, enhance the awareness as being a coastal province, transform the economic growth way, scale up aggregate economic power, strike balance in development and make due contribution to the overall development of the country. |
|||
The build up of an economic zone on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits is clearly planned, with a grand goal, a sound beginning and a bright prospect. Fujian will adhere to the science-based view of development, work hard to build a society of harmony, promote motherland’s reunification and make greater contributions to national development. Fujian will exert every effort to turn the west coast of the Straits into a forward platform for the cause of national reunification, a hub of communications and cooperation among China’s mainland, Taiwan Province, Hong Kong and Macao, and a vital increasing polar of Chinese economy. |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| '''Administration Type''' |
| '''Administration Type''' |
||
|Administrative Division: Fujian Province exercises jurisdiction over 9 municipalities (Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Putian, Longyan, Sanming, Nanping, Ningde), 14 cities at county level and 72 counties and districts, with a population of 35,110,000. |
|||
| [[Prefecture-level city]] |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| '''[[Area]]''' |
| '''[[Area]]''' |
||
Line 68: | Line 97: | ||
==Geography== |
==Geography== |
||
Geography advantage: Fujian lies in the southeast of the country and to the west of Taiwan Strait. It is an important port of China Mainland. |
|||
basin |
|||
Natural advantage: Fujian faces the sea in the east and boasts 3324 kilometers of coastline, ranking second in the country. There are 22 big bays, which is enough for over 100 berths of over 10 thousand tons. To its west is the mountain area. The 7.37 million hectares of forest makes it one of the four forest zones of the country, with forest acreage of 60.5%, ranking first in the country |
|||
==Transport== |
==Transport== |
||
[[Fuzhou Changle International Airport]] |
[[Fuzhou Changle International Airport]] |
Revision as of 01:58, 15 June 2007
- For the city in Jiangxi province, see Fuzhou, Jiangxi.
Also known as: Foochow or Fuchow | |
Building an economic zone on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits
Fujian, called‘Min’for short, is located on China’s southeast coast. Facing the Taiwan Straits, it neighbors Yangtze River Delta on the north and Pearl River Delta on the south, backed up by a vast hinterland. Fujian covers a landmass of 121.4 thousand sq.km.and a sea space of 136.3 thousand sq. km..Under its jurisdiction are nine cities, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, Sanming, Putian, Nanping, Longyan ,Ningde and 84 counties and cities at county level (County of Jinmen not included).By the end of 2004, the population of the province totaled 35.11 million(Counties of Jinmen and Mazu not included). Unique Land and Marine Resources In Fujian, 80% of landmass are mountainous and hilly areas. Known as a “green treasure in south China”, its forest coverage rate stands at 62.9%, topping all the provinces in China. Fujian boasts richest waterpower resources in East China and the deposits of 86 out of all the mineral resources in the province have been verified. The total length of the continuous and winding coastline reaches 6,128 kilometers, among which 3,324 kilometers are continental coastline. The number of sites that may be built into berths with handling capacity ranging from 100-300 thousand tons ranks 1st in China. In addition, Fujian is endowed with vast fish-farming space, large reserve of tidal energy, abundant fish resources and the aquatic product per capita of the province ranks 1st among all the province in the country. Long standing and close ties between Fujian and Taiwan 80% of Taiwan’s residents have their ancestral homes in Fujian .in addition to the geographical factor, Fujian and Taiwan share close ties in kinsfolk relations, dialect, history, custom, culture, business and legal ground. We are making every effort to bring about closer economic and trade ties, the three direct links, cooperation in tourism and agriculture, further exchange in culture and more communication platforms between both sides of the Taiwan Straits. The economic cooperation, trade and personnel exchanges between both sides have witnessed increasing growth. By the end of 2004, Fujian has accumulatively recruited over USD 10 billion worth of investment from Taiwan. The province is home to 4 Taiwan Investment Zones, namely, Xinglin, Haicang, Jimei and Mawei, 2 experimental zones of agricultural cooperation between both sides of the Straits in Fuzhou and Zhangzhou , together with 35designated anchor places for Taiwan. vessels and 21 trading ports with Taiwan, Fuzhou and Xiamen ports have been the designated ones carrying out pilot direct navigation with Taiwan’s Kaohsiung Port and there have been direct links between Fujian’s coastal areas and Taiwan’s Jinmen, Mazu and Penghu counties. The exchanges and cooperation between Fujian and Taiwan, based on South Fujian Culture, Hakka Culture, Mazu Culture and Folks Culture, are in the ascendant. Pioneer in China’s reform and opening up drive Fujian is among the first in China that has trading relations with the outside world. In as early as the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Quanzhou was one of the biggest trading ports in the world and the starting point of the “Marine Silk Route ”. Fuzhou was the anchor and starting place for the fleet of Admiral Zheng He’s seven voyages to the westerm seas. As one of the earliest provinces in China opening up to the outside world with “special policies and flexible measures” granted by central government since the launch of reform and opening up drive, for many year, the export volume of Fujian has ranked 6th among all the provinces in China. Fujian has established economic and trade ties with more than 200 countries and regions in the world and friendship cities relationships with 41 provinces and cities from 19 countries. As an experimental area of China’s comprehensive reform, the economic restructuring of the province has progressed in an all round way and it has become one of the most dynamic areas in China in terms of the development of private sector. Steady improvement in infrastructure facilities A well-knitted communication network has basically taken shape and steadily improved, which includes “three vertical and four horizontal” expressways and “eight vertical and nine horizontal” provincial-level trunk roads networks. The number of railways connecting Fujian with its neighboring provinces have increased form 4 to 7 and inter-regional railways have been improved. Five airports, namely, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Wuyi Mountain, Jinjiang and Liancheng, constitute the modern airport facilities for the province. There are 54 berths, each with a handling capacity of or above 10-thousand-ton in the province, and the ports of Xiamen and Fuzhou are among the top 10 in China. A group of information-based ports on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits have emerged with considerable scale and great container handling capacity. The total installed capacity of generating units in the province has reached 16,000mega watt and is bridged with power grid of East China. In addition,a number of power plants are under construction, which would bring about a reliable power supply system in the province. The build-up of Digital Fujian, characterized by e-government, information-based enterprises and society, is at full steam. Beautiful and comfortable human habitat Fujian enjoys sound ecological system and is all green in the four seasons. Fujian rank 1st in national ecological environment quality appraisal and is home to a number of national landscape cities, environmental protection model cities, international garden cities. Locating here are 7 national excellent tourist cities, 4 national historical and cultural renowned cities, 1 global geo-park, 5 national geo-parks, 13 state key tourist sites, 2 national holiday and tourist resorts, 9 national nature reserves and 15 national forest parks. Besides, there are various brand-name tourist resources well known both at home and abroad in this province, like Wuyi Mountains, Gulangyu Islet in Xiamen, MaZu Culture in Putian, Marine Silk Rout Culture in Quanzhou, Earthen Residential Building and Red Tour To the site of Gutian Meeting, the Ancient Tanshishan Culture, Fuzhou Shipping Culture, the wonder of Baishuiyang in Ningde, the Golden Lake in Taining, the Volcano Geo-park in Zhangzhou, etc.. Unique Culture Fujian boasts a long history, and the Tanshishan Culture emerging here 5,000 years ago may rival the well-known Yangshao Culture and Hemudu Culture in China’s history. Here is also a native place for a great number of prominent figures through the ages, like Zhuxi, Songci, Zheng Chenggong, Lin Zexu, YanFu, LinShu, Chen Jiageng, BinXin, Hou Debang, Chen Jingrun. 88 academicians with Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering are of Fujian origin or have once worked in Fujian. There are a number of exemplary figures in the new era, like Gu Wenchang, Zheng Zhonghua and Zhang Renhe ,who have demonstrated a spirit of enthusiasm, grand pursuit and strong sense of responsibility in ordinary work. As a famous hometown for overseas Chinese, there are 10.88million ethnic Chinese of Fujian origin residing abroad and over 1 million of Hong Kong and Macao compatriots are also of Fujian origin. With their intelligence and hard work, these people have made significant contributions to the economic and social development of their residing countries and regions. Their spirit of seizing and making use of good opportunities, risk-taking, exerting utmost strength, unity, straightforwardness, code of brotherhood, love for the motherland and repaying the native place has been the logo of Fujian businessmen, which Fujian is proud of. Long history of revolution Fujian is one of the key provinces where revolutionary old bases and soviet areas are located. The central soviet areas covered 10 counties and revolutionary old bases took up 62 counties in the province. It was in Gutian, Shanghang County of Longyan that the significant Gutian Meeting, a milestone in the history of CPC and PLA, was held. Over 100 thousand people in Fujian joined the Red Army, the New Fourth Army and guerrilla forces and among them, over 30 thousand took part in the Long March. These people have made great contributions to the birth of New China. Fujian has a glorious history of Mutual Support, and is the only province in China that all the nine major cities have been cited as “National Model City of Mutual Support between Civilian and the Armed Forces”. New round development progresses in an all-round manner Entering the 21st century, based on the general situation of national development and the motherland’s reunification, the CPC Fujian Provincal Committee and the Provincial People’s Government have taken great efforts to build an economic zone on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits characterized by highly opening up, coordinated development and overall prosperity in a bid to bring about a steady, fast, balanced and healthy economic and social development In 2004, the GDP of the province and the GDP per capita ranked 11th and 7th respectively among all the provinces in China. The formulation of essential concept, basic thinking, general situation and layout for a new round development has taken shape. A favorable situation has emerged where people live in harmony and businesses are prosperous, and the spirit of risk-taking, surmounting difficulties, working for development and sticking together has been constantly intensified. The economic zone on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits, centered on Fujian, covering its surrounding areas and interacting with Taiwan, is an existing regional economic complex, boasting unique characteristics and advantages, This strategic thinking has not only won the approval of the central government, but positive responses both at home and abroad as well, and the whole province has reached consensus on such a strategic decision. The essential concept of the new round development may be summarized as “four three”, ”four two”, ”eight measures”, ”nine supporting systems” and “one fundamental build-up”. To be more specific, “four three” stands for building three strategic passages, i.e., cooperation between coastal and mountainous areas, interaction with hinterland and further opening up, and the province will realize the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects three years ahead of the national schedule, in three levels and in three phases; “four two” refers to implementing two strategies, i,e., vitalizing the province through qualified personnel and adhering to the principle of sustainable development ,carrying out two “Outlines” concerning the build-up of community and work in villages and towns, establishing long-term mechanism on clean government and fair personnel placement and laying solid foundation for agriculture development and a stable society; “eight measures” includes project-motivated progress, developing county-level economy, speeding up industrial assemble, scaling up central cities, upgrading private sector, transforming government function, promoting cultural industry and propelling marine economy. “nine supporting systems” covers highly competitive industries, modernized infrastructure facilities, unified and coordinated development of both urban and rural area, human-centered social development, export-oriented opening up, mutual-benefit and win-win inter-regional cooperation, reliable disaster prevention and reduction and harmonious society management and service; “ one fundamental build-up” is to improve the ruling ability of the CPC. The general situation for a new round development can be summarized as “expanding both wings, connecting with the two deltas, developing the coastal areas, rallying the resources in China’s mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, interacting with hinterland and striving for common prosperous, further opening up and serving the overall situation. To be more specific, Fujian will develop both the northeast and southwest parts of the province and working vigorously to form closer economic ties with Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta. It will also bring its advantage as being the junction of both sides of the Straits, Hong Kong and Macao, the close ties with Taiwan in particular, into full play and push forward the cooperation with the said areas for the reunification of the motherland. Basing on improving infrastructure facilities, Fujian will interact with interact with hinterland and promote the growth of regional economy. By deepening the opening-up drive, it will boost its export-oriented economy as well. The layout for a new round development, in general, is “accurate positioning, Vigorous involvement, advantages integration, rational layout, neighboring extension, inland development, regional interaction and balanced development”. All walks of life shall accurately position themselves in the drive of building an economic zone on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits, integrate various advantages, enhance the awareness as being a coastal province, transform the economic growth way, scale up aggregate economic power, strike balance in development and make due contribution to the overall development of the country. The build up of an economic zone on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits is clearly planned, with a grand goal, a sound beginning and a bright prospect. Fujian will adhere to the science-based view of development, work hard to build a society of harmony, promote motherland’s reunification and make greater contributions to national development. Fujian will exert every effort to turn the west coast of the Straits into a forward platform for the cause of national reunification, a hub of communications and cooperation among China’s mainland, Taiwan Province, Hong Kong and Macao, and a vital increasing polar of Chinese economy. | |
Administration Type | Administrative Division: Fujian Province exercises jurisdiction over 9 municipalities (Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Putian, Longyan, Sanming, Nanping, Ningde), 14 cities at county level and 72 counties and districts, with a population of 35,110,000. |
Area | 12,000 km² |
Population | 6.6 million |
Native Language | Fuzhou dialect (Eastern Min language) |
GDP | ¥31582 (ca. US$3800) per capita (2003) |
Major Nationalities | Han, Manchurian, Miao, Hui |
County-level divisions | 13 |
Township-level divisions | Unknown |
Area Code | 591 |
Chinese: 福州; pinyin: Fúzhōu; Wade–Giles: Fu-chou; BUC: Hók-ciŭ; EFEO: Fou-Tcheou; also seen as Foochow or Fuchow) is the capital and the largest prefecture-level city of Fujian (福建) province, People's Republic of China. It is also referred to as Rongcheng (榕城) which means "city of banyan trees."
(Its GDP was ¥31582 (ca. US$3800) per capita in 2003, ranked no. 21 among 659 Chinese cities.
History
The exact foundation date of this city is not known. When Yue to the north of Fujian was annexed by Chu in 306 BC, a branch of the royal family of the defeated Yue fled Fujian and became the Minyue (闽越) tribe.
The first city wall of Fuzhou was built in 202 BC when Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, gave permission to Wuzhu (无诸), the king of Minyue, to set up his capital in Fuzhou. The city was named Ye (冶), meaning "The Beautiful". The name has changed many times, but the city has been continuously occupied since 202 BC and has never suffered major destruction by wars or natural disasters.
The Minyue was annexed by Han in 110 BC and became a part of China, and Fuzhou became Ye County. During the Jin Dynasty, West Lake, East Lake (now silted up) and numerous canals in the city were constructed (282 AD).
When the Jin Dynasty collapsed, the first wave of immigrants of the gentile class arrived in Fujian (308 AD). During the Tang Dynasty (725 AD), it started to be called Fuzhou.
More immigrants arrived from the north starting from 892 as the Tang Dynasty was collapsing. After the Tang Dynasty fell in 907, the Wang family managed to establish a kingdom called Min (909 – 945) with its capital in Fuzhou, then known as Changle. Min is still used as another name for the province of Fujian, in names of dialects such as minnan, and the river that runs through Fuzhou is called Min Jiang.
New city walls were built in 282 AD, 901 AD, 905 AD, and 974 AD, so the city had many layers of walls — more than the Chinese capital.
Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty (宋) ordered destruction of all the walls in Fuzhou in 978 AD but new walls were rebuilt later. The latest was built in 1371 AD.
During the Southern Song Dynasty, Fuzhou became more prosperous; many scholars came here to live and work. Among them were Zhu Xi (朱熹), the most celebrated Chinese philosopher after Confucius, and Xin Qiji (辛弃疾), the greatest composer of ci (a specialized form of poem). After them came Marco Polo, who transcribed the placename in Italian as Fugiu according to Mandarin Chinese.
Hualin Temple in the original Ye city, which has been declared a national heritage site, was built in 964 AD according to documentation, but was carbon-dated to the 4th or 5th century AD. It is probably the oldest existing wooden structure in China.
Between 1405 and 1433 AD, the Chinese (Ming) navy fleet, led by Zheng He, sailed from Fuzhou to the Indian Ocean seven times; on three occasions the fleet landed on the east coast of Africa. Before the last sailing, Zheng erected a stele dedicated to the goddess Tian-Fei (Matsu) near the seaport.
In the 19th century, Lin Zexu, a native of Fuzhou, led an unsuccessful attempt to resist the British fleet at Canton Bay, and Lin was exiled to the Russian border. At the end of the First Opium War, Fuzhou became one of the five Chinese treaty ports opened by the Treaty of Nanjing (signed in 1842). Lin Zexu died on November 22, 1850 at age of 66.
On November 8, 1911, revolutionaries staged an uprising in Fuzhou. After an overnight street battle, the Qing (Manchu) army surrendered. On November 22, 1933, the leaders of the 19th Army set up a short-lived Republic of China (中華共和國) in Fuzhou (compare the name to Chiang’s “Republic of China” (中華民國), which literally means “People’s State of China”); it collapsed in two months. In 1940, the Japanese army bombed Fuzhou, leaving many civilians fleeing across the river. The Japanese soon took the city until Japan's surrender in 1945.
See also: Battle of Foochow
Geography
Geography advantage: Fujian lies in the southeast of the country and to the west of Taiwan Strait. It is an important port of China Mainland.
Natural advantage: Fujian faces the sea in the east and boasts 3324 kilometers of coastline, ranking second in the country. There are 22 big bays, which is enough for over 100 berths of over 10 thousand tons. To its west is the mountain area. The 7.37 million hectares of forest makes it one of the four forest zones of the country, with forest acreage of 60.5%, ranking first in the country
Transport
Fuzhou Changle International Airport
Tourism
Fuzhou, also known as the City of Banyan after the many Banyan trees that dot the city landscape, may not be as rich in history as some other ancient Chinese cities but still boasts a fair number of historical sights.
- Sanfang Qixiang (三坊七巷) (a cluster of ancient resident buildings dated from late Jin Dynasty)
- West Lake (福州西湖)(an artificial lake built in 282 AD)
- Hualin Temple (华林寺)(founding date uncertain)
- Dizang Temple (founded in 527 AD)
- Xichan Temple (西禅寺)(founded in 867 AD)
- Wu Ta (乌塔)(Black Pagoda) (originally built in 799 AD, rebuilt in 936 AD)
- Bai Ta (白塔)(White Pagoda) (originally built in 905 AD, 67 m in height, collapsed in 1534 AD, rebuilt in 1548 AD, 41 m in height)
- Yongquan Temple (涌泉寺)(founded in 915 AD)
- Gu Shan (鼓山)(Drum Mountain)
- Fuzhou National Forest Park (福州国家森林公园)
Sister cities
Colleges and universities
- Fujian Normal University (福建师范大学) (founded in 1907)
- Fuzhou University (福州大学)
- Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (福建农林大学)
- Fujian Medical University (福建医科大学)
- Fujian College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (福建中医学院)
- Minjiang University (闽江学院)
- Fujian University of Technology (福建工程学院)
Note: Institutions without full-time bachelor programs are not listed.
See also
External links
- Fu Zhou Photo Gallery
- Fujian Travel Guide (Text & Photos)
- Government website of Fuzhou (in Simplified Chinese)
- An early history of Fujian and Fuzhou (Chinese)