Fujian, a coastal province in southeast China, faces Tai wan across the Straits. A rolling country that is covered with a series of mountains and river valleys, Fujian is a `Mountain Kingdom South of the Yangtze'. The Minjiang is the longest river in the province. Fujian is a center for China's exchanges with the outside world, and home to numerous Chinese residing overseas and most of the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao compatriots. The province's long historical and cultural tradition is set off splendidly by numerous scenic attractions ranging from majestic mountains to the vast sea, and beautiful lakes. The Wuyi Mountain, a UNESCO world natural and cultural heritage site, is being promoted as one of the five trademark tourist attractions for Fujian along with the Meizhou Island of Putian, the Gulang Island of Xiamen, the ethnic women folks of Hui'an of Quanzhou, and the castle-like Hakka dwellings. The promotion campaign is geared to the effort to build the Fujian-Taiwan Tourist Region.

Abbreviation: Min
Area: 120,000 square km
Population: 31.83 million

THE PROVINCE'S MEAN TEMPERATURE ()

Month City	Jan	Feb	Mar	April	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Fuzhou	10.5	10.7	13.4	18.2	22.1	25.5	28.8	28.2	26.0	21.7	17.5	13.1
Xiamen	13.0	13.4	15.5	19.7	23.2	25.9	27.6	27.2	25.5	22.2	18.6	14.6

Fuzhou

The famous historical and cultural city of Fuzhou, which was designated as an open city in 1979, is the capital of Fujian Province, where passenger transportation by waterway, highway or airway is rather convenient. Fuzhou's hot springs are known throughout China, and so is its jasmine tea. Major tourist attractions: Gushan Mountain, West Lake, Majiang River, Three mountains and Twopagodas. Gushan Mountain in the eastern suburb of Fuzhou is the site of one of Fuzhou's five major Ch'an temples, Yongquan Temple, whose magnificent buildings dating back to the Qing are enshrined with written and stone-inscribed texts of Buddhist sutras. The walls of Lingyuan Cave east of the temple are covered with calligraphic inscriptions in cursive, official and seal scripts.

Xiamen
The beautiful seaboard city of Xiamen in southeast China is one of the country's four earliest special economic zones under the open policy. Encompassing Xiamen Island, Gulang Island and some areas on the northern shore of Jiulong River, Xiamen attracts an increasing number of visitors with its enchanting island scenery, pleasant subtropical climate, splendid history and culture, and colorful folklore. It is the hometown of so many Chinese living overseas. Major attractions: Gulang Island, Jimei School Village, Southern Putuo Temple and Kaige Golf Club.

Guland Island
The beautiful 1.84-square-km Guland Island to the southwest of it is a rolling island covered with dense forests, strewn with 18th-century buildings in European and American styles, and skirted on all sides by a natural beach ideal for sunbathing. A "Garden on the Sea", indeed. The highest point, Sunshine Rock, provides an excellent over view of the scenery. The islanders are music lovers and for this the island has earned the nickname "Island of Music". Shuzhuang Garden is a nation-famous seaside garden. Standing in front of Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall is a giant statue of the patriotic general gazing fondly at the sea.

Jimei School Village
The tomb of Tak Kah-kee, a patriotic overseas Chinese baron, is found among the buildings whose construction he had funded to form the Jimei School Village in the architectural style of south Fujian. The village is the venue of an annual dragon boat competition held during the Dragon Boat Festival.

Southern Putuo Temple

Sitting at the foot of Wulao Peak, the age-old Southern Putuo Temple dedicated to Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, is an influential religious establishment throughout China. Nearby stands Hulishan Fort.

Scenic Wuyi Mountain
Wuyi Mountain in the municipality of Wuyishan is a national scenic resort known for its sand-gravel landform. As the saying goes, the picturesque scenery of Wuyi is "unparalleled in the Southeast". Spread out within a 60 km circumference are 36 peaks, with the Panliu Peak, where Jiuqu (Nine Bends) Stream originates, in the center. Dawang, Yunu, Tianyu and Jiesun are major peaks, and there are also such scenic spots as Miniature Wonderland, Water-Curtained Cave and Sky-in-One-Slip. Boating along Jiuqu Stream is like travelling in a picture. Hanging on some of the cliffs are coffins of the ancient Yue people, and there is no lack of cliff carvings done in various dynasties. The mountain is the site of Ziyang Academy created by Zhu Xu during the Song, and ruins of a Yuan-dynasty imperial tea plantation. On December 1, 1999, UNESCO endorsed Wuyi Mountain as a world natural and cultural heritage site.

Kaiyuan Temple
Kaiyuan Temple on West Street of Quanzhou is one of the leading Buddhist structures in Fujian. Among its majestic ancient structures are 2 pavilion-like 5-storyed stone pagodas dating back to more than 1,100 years ago, whose gracious images are emblems of Quanzhou.

Temple of Mazu

The Temple of Goddess Mazu sits on Meizhou Island in Putian. Legend has it that Lin Moniang, a Meizhou islander born in 960, devoted her life rescuing shipwreck victims. Moved by her philanthropic service, her fellow islanders deified her as Angel of the Sea and Holy Mother. In 987 the Temple of Goddess Mazu was built in her memory. The temple's five buildings, splendorous with carved beams and lacquered rafters, look like a real version of the Dragon King's Palace. The grand Mazu Festival is held at the temple to mark Mazu's birthday on the 23rd day of the 3rd lunar month, and her passing away on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. On both occasions the temple is packed with local islanders and pilgrims from Taiwan.

SOUVENIRS

Bodiless Lacquer ware of Fuzhou:The bodiless lacquer ware of Fuzhou are marked for an artistic style that is rooted in the local folkways.

Other major souvenirs: "Eight-treasure" red ink paste of Zhangzhou, stone carvings of Shoushan, jianbai porcelains of Dehua, black-glazed porcelains of Jianyao, stone sculptures of Hui'an, pearl-embroidery of Fujian, cork mosaics of Fuzhou, and lineal lacquer carvings of Xiamen.

Famous Fruits: Litchis, longans, bananas, pineapples, citruses, and loquats are the six major fruits of Fujian.

Famous Tea: Wulong tea of Anxi, rock tea of Wuyi, and jasmine tea of Fuzhou.

Famous Flowers: Daffodils produced in Zhangzhou are a famous ornamental flower.

Famous Drugs: Litchis-brand Pianzaihuang pills, produced in Zhangzhou Pharmaceutical Plant, is a precious traditional Chinese medicine with high detoxifying and dephlogis ticating effects.