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[Quanzhou Free Travel] How to enjoy a 3-day and 2-night trip to Quanzhou, a comprehensive itinerary planning guide!

# Quanzhou

Travellers Magicians

Sep 18, 2025

Contents

Trip Planner
Overview of Quanzhou itinerary planning
Quanzhou Day 1
- West Street
- Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple
- Qingjing Mosque
- Guanyue Temple
- Tianhou Temple
- Quanzhou Zhongshan Street
Quanzhou Day 2
- Qingyuan Mountain
- Quanzhou Shaolin Temple
- Overseas Transportation History Museum
Quanzhou Day 3
- Xiapu Village
- Jinjiang Wulin Traditional Village

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This guide carefully plans a perfect 3-day and 2-night trip to Quanzhou for you. Covering local attractions, authentic food and popular shopping areas, you can easily travel around Quanzhou and enjoy a worry-free holiday. Whether it is an in-depth exploration of history and culture or a fashionable check-in in a modern city, this guide can meet your needs. Come and start your wonderful trip to Quanzhou!

Eat vermicelli with earthworm jelly at West Street, tell fortunes by throwing cups at Guanyue Temple, see the southern Fujian architecture at Tianhou Temple, and visit various religious sites in one day.
You can overlook the whole view of Quanzhou from Qingyuan Mountain, watch the monks wielding sticks at Shaolin Temple, and experience the maritime stories of Song and Yuan Dynasties at the museum.

Date	Journey
Day 1	West Street->Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple->Qingjing Mosque->Guanyue Temple->Tianhou Temple->Quanzhou Zhongshan Street
Day 2	Qingyuan Mountain->Quanzhou Shaolin Temple->Overseas Transportation History Museum
Day 3	Xiapu Village->Jinjiang Wulin Traditional Village

West Street is a street and area in Quanzhou. As early as the Song Dynasty, it symbolized the prosperity of Quanzhou. It is also a well-preserved ancient street district in Quanzhou city, retaining a large number of buildings with original historical features. For more than a thousand years, this ancient street has been like a dazzling string of pearls, connecting Quanzhou's numerous colourful cultural relics and ancient streets and houses since the Tang and Song dynasties, as well as the stories and folk legends attached to them.

Address: Intersection of Chengxi Road and West Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, all year round

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It’s a short pedestrian street, only about five or six hundred meters. The main attractions are Kaiyuan Temple and Bell Tower. Snack bars or small shops are selling local products on the road. There are also many distinctive buildings and small shops on the fork. I went shopping, had a bite to eat and a drink when I was tired, and the day passed quickly. In the afternoon, there are street performers performing in front of the theatre. Who knows, they might be future big stars.

Da Kaiyuan Temple is located on West Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City. It has a history of more than 1,300 years. It is an important cultural relic and historical site on the southeast coast of my country and one of the larger Buddhist temples in Fujian Province. The scenic spots of Kaiyuan Temple along the central axis include the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the worship pavilion, the worship courtyard, the Main Hall, the Sangpong ruins, the Ganlu ordination platform, and the Sutra Library. The Sutra Repository houses cultural relics from the heyday of the Tang Dynasty to the Republic of China. In addition, there are stone towers on the east and west sides and east and west corridors.

Address: No. 176 West Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City

Business hours: Open from 06:30 to 17:30 tomorrow (no admission at 17:00)

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• 🏛️Profound historical and cultural heritage: Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple is an important Buddhist temple on the southeast coast of China. It was built in the second year of Chuigong in the Tang Dynasty (686) and has a history of more than 1,300 years. The temple has a unique architectural style that integrates the traditional architectural art of southern Fujian and is representative of southern Chinese Buddhist culture. • 🎨Unique architectural style: The architectural style of Kaiyuan Temple integrates the traditional architectural art of southern Fujian. The East and West Twin Towers are the tallest pair of stone towers in China. The East Tower is one of the filming locations for "Black Myth: Wukong". Buildings such as the Main Hall, Guanyin Hall, and Ganlu Ordination Platform all have extremely high artistic value. • 🌿Beautiful natural scenery: The temple is shaded by green trees and has a quiet environment, making it a peaceful place in the city. The East and West Twin Towers look particularly spectacular against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds. • 🎭Rich cultural experience: Kaiyuan Temple is not only a place for the spread of Buddhist culture but also an important part of Quanzhou’s history and culture. There are rich Buddhist cultural displays in the temple, and visitors can feel the strong religious atmosphere here. • 🎫Free opening: Kaiyuan Temple is open to the public free of charge, no reservation is required, making it convenient for tourists to visit at any time. • 🍔Abundant food around: There are many snack shops and restaurants around Kaiyuan Temple, where you can taste authentic Quanzhou snacks such as rice dumplings, noodle soup, etc. • 🏡Diverse accommodation options: There are a variety of accommodation options in Quanzhou city, ranging from high-end hotels to budget hotels, making it convenient for tourists to arrange accommodation. 🎉Summary: Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province, with a profound cultural heritage and magnificent architecture. May is a good time to travel as the weather is pleasant.

Qingjing Mosque was first built during the Northern Song Dynasty. It is the oldest existing Islamic mosque founded by Arab Muslims in China. In the 1990s, it was listed as one of the "Top Ten Famous Temples in China". The mosque has been built for thousands of years and has a great influence at home and abroad. It was announced as a national key cultural relic protection unit in March 1963.

Address: No. 108-110 Tumen Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province

Business hours: Open from 09:00 to 17:15 tomorrow (no admission at 17:15)

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With a long history and witnessing the changes of time, the Qingjing Mosque was built in the second year of Dazhong Xiangfu in the Northern Song Dynasty (1009 AD) and is one of the earliest existing mosques in China with Arabic architectural style. It stands quietly in the middle of Tumen Street in Quanzhou like a thousand-year-old man, witnessing the prosperity and changes of Quanzhou. It is one of the important historical sites of Quanzhou's overseas exchanges. It has been renovated and maintained during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties so that it has survived the test of time and is still preserved today. Every brick and stone bears the traces of time and carries a rich history. The Qingjing Mosque, with exquisite architecture and integration of multiple cultures, was built in the style of the Islamic chapel in Damascus, Syria. The existing buildings in the mosque include the gatehouse, chapel, Mingshan Hall, etc. The gate tower faces south, is 20 meters high and 6.6 meters wide. It is built with diabase and white granite and has three arches. The dome is carved with exquisite lotus patterns, similar to the "caisson" in ancient Chinese buildings. On the dome wall inside the middle arch, there are 87 small pointed arches stacked up on top of each other, plus 8 huge pointed arch wall doors, niches, and 4 pointed arch doors on the east and west walls of the gatehouse. The entire gate lattice has a total of 99 pointed arches of various sizes, symbolizing the 99 beautiful names of Allah. The Moon-Viewing Platform on top of the gatehouse combines Chinese and Western cultural features. The surrounding "U"-shaped battlements look like city battlements and are unique. The temple has a profound culture and demonstrates communication and integration. The two steles inscribed in the temple, "Inscription on the Reconstruction of the Qingjing Mosque" and "Inscription on the Re-establishment of the Qingjing Mosque", are the earliest Chinese steles that can be verified in Chinese Islamic temples. They provide important information for the study of the history of early religious and cultural exchanges between Arabia and China. Qingjing Mosque is not only a religious place but also a symbol of cultural exchange. It witnessed the history of Muslim merchants from Persia, Arabia and other places coming to Quanzhou to do business and settle down during the Song and Yuan dynasties. It embodies the multicultural integration of Quanzhou as the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road and attracts many Muslims and tourists from home and abroad to visit every year. In Quanzhou, a famous historical and cultural city, Qingjing Mosque shines with its unique charm. It is a treasure of architectural art, an inheritor of historical culture, and a witness to the exchange and integration between China and foreign countries. Whether you are a history and culture enthusiast or an ordinary tourist, you should not miss Qingjing Mosque when you come to Quanzhou. Here, you will travel through time and space and appreciate the unique charm of the thousand-year-old ancient city and the charm of its diverse culture.

Guanyue Temple is located on the prosperous Tumen Street in the ancient city of Quanzhou. You can smell the strong smell of incense from a long distance away on Tumen Street. It is one of the ancient monuments of the historical and cultural city of Quanzhou and is also a rare temple in China that worships Guan Yu and Yue Fei in the same temple. The architectural style of Guanyue Temple reflects the characteristics of ancient southern Fujian architecture, with exquisitely decorated wood carvings, stone carvings and clay sculptures. The beautiful building itself is worthy of photographing and viewing.

Address: No. 186-198 Tumen Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province

Business hours: Open from 06:00 to 18:00 tomorrow

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Guanyue Temple: Echoes of the Soul of Loyalty Stepping into Guanyue Temple is like stepping into a corridor of time, with the heavy sense of history overwhelming. This temple, which carries the admiration and remembrance of countless people, stands quietly in the long river of time, telling the legendary stories of Guan Yu and Yue Fei, and also conveying the Chinese nation's eternal spirit of loyalty and righteousness. As you enter the temple gate, you will see the carved beams and painted buildings, and the flying eaves and brackets, which demonstrate the unique charm of traditional architecture. The swallowtail ridge in the Minnan style is raised high, as if it is about to break through the sky, showing the extraordinaryness of this place to the world. On the walls and between the beams and pillars, exquisite wood carvings and delicate stone carvings complement each other, and every detail tells those popular stories. Look at Guan Yu in the wood carving, with his phoenix eyes, drooping brows, holding a Green Dragon Crescent Blade, looking majestic, as if he is about to charge into the battlefield in the next second; while the stone carving of Yue Fei shows his noble bearing and awe-inspiring righteousness, which makes people can't help but stand in awe. In the main hall, the statues of Guan Yu and Yue Fei are majestic and solemn. Guan Yu has a red face, a long beard, and bright eyes, revealing a spirit of loyalty and righteousness, which makes people firmly believe that he will protect the prayers of believers; Yue Fei is wearing armour and looks heroic. His ambition to "return our rivers and mountains" seems to still echo in our ears, telling of his infinite loyalty and responsibility to the country. The wisps of incense rose up and filled the entire hall, spreading loyalty and faith further. The plaques and couplets hanging around highly praised the achievements and virtues of the two heroes with concise and powerful words, and every sentence is full of deep respect from future generations. Walking in the temple, you can see devout believers holding incense sticks and praying silently, or kneeling on cushions, casting lots and asking for divination, with their faces full of expectations for the future. Their expressions were focused and serious, as if at this moment, all worries and concerns were thrown behind them, and the only thing left in their hearts was the yearning for a better life and the adherence to the spirit of loyalty. Here, faith has nothing to do with age, gender or occupation, and everyone can find spiritual comfort and strength. Guanyue Temple is not only a temple, but also a symbol of loyalty and righteousness, and a treasure of the traditional culture of the Chinese nation. Here, history and reality blend, allowing us to deeply feel the great power of the spirit of loyalty and righteousness. Walking out of the temple, the shock and emotion still linger in our hearts, inspiring us to uphold justice, loyalty and responsibility in life, and to inherit and promote this precious spiritual wealth.

The Tianhou Temple was first built in the second year of the Qingyuan period of the Song Dynasty. This place was "a gathering place for foreign ships and passengers", and the government often held sea sacrifice ceremonies for merchant ships going out to sea. Immigrants from Quanzhou also welcomed the spirit of Mazu from this temple to be worshipped overseas. It had a great influence on Taiwan and Southeast Asia and was an important place for the spread of Mazu beliefs. The Museum of the History of Fujian-Taiwan Relations built in the palace houses a large number of precious historical and folk relics.

Address: No. 1 Tianhou Road, Licheng District, Quanzhou City

Business hours: Open from 07:00 to 18:00 tomorrow

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Quanzhou Tianhou Temple: A historical pious belief and cultural treasure In Quanzhou, Fujian, there is a solemn and historical temple - Quanzhou Tianhou Temple. It is not only a temple dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of the sea, but also an important historical witness of Quanzhou as the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road. It carries a thousand-year-old marine culture and a profound heritage of faith, exudes a unique charm, and attracts countless tourists to come and admire and explore. The history of Quanzhou Tianhou Temple can be traced back to the second year of Qingyuan in the Southern Song Dynasty. It was originally named Shunji Temple. After many expansions and renovations in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, it has gradually taken on its current grand and spectacular scale. It is the existing Mazu Temple in my country with the highest architectural specifications, the earliest age and the largest scale. Its architectural style incorporates the essence of traditional southern Fujian building craftsmanship, with flying eaves, brackets, carved beams and painted buildings. Every detail shows the exquisite skills of ancient craftsmen. When you enter the Tianhou Temple, the first thing that catches your eye is the magnificent mountain gate. The glazed tiles on the top of the gate sparkle in the sunlight, and the wood and stone carvings under the eaves are lifelike, telling ancient myths and historical stories. As you enter the main hall, you will see the statue of Mazu sitting in the middle, with kind eyes and a dignified manner, as if she is protecting every believer, fisherman, and merchant going out to sea. The incense smoke curled up in the hall, and the believers burned incense, kowtowed and made wishes devoutly. The scene was solemn and warm. Here, you can truly feel the powerful cohesive force of the Mazu belief, which transcends time and space and closely connects people from different regions and different classes. Mazu, the goddess of the sea, has become a spiritual sustenance in people's hearts with her kindness, bravery and compassion, inspiring generation after generation to bravely sail into the unknown ocean. In addition to the strong religious atmosphere and exquisite architecture, Quanzhou Tianhou Temple also carries a rich folk culture. Grand ceremonies are held here every year on Mazu’s birthday and ascension anniversary. At that time, Mazu believers from all over the world will gather together to participate in this sacred ceremony. The sacrificial ceremony follows the ancient system and is solemn and dignified. It includes three offerings, reading prayers, and bowing ceremonies, fully demonstrating the unique charm of traditional sacrificial culture. In addition, there are folk performances such as dragon and lion dances, Nanyin singing, and stilt walking, which are very lively and bring the festive atmosphere to a climax. These folk activities not only enrich people's spiritual lives but also become an important carrier for inheriting and promoting southern Fujian culture. Quanzhou Tianhou Temple is not only a religious holy place but also a vivid history textbook. It witnesses the glorious history of Quanzhou's maritime trade and the exchange and integration of different cultures here. Here, you can feel the interweaving of history and reality, and the collision of tradition and modernity. It is a bright business card of Quanzhou culture, attracting people to understand and feel the unique charm of this city. Whether you are interested in history and culture, or seeking spiritual comfort, Quanzhou Tianhou Temple is worth your stop and savour its charm and connotation.

There was once a saying about Quanzhou: "Two towers in the east and west, and one street in the north and south." The "north-south street" refers to Quanzhou Zhongshan Street. Quanzhou Zhongshan Street can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty, but it flourished at the beginning of the last century. Many wealthy overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia invested money in the shops on Zhongshan Street, and the street gradually grew into a prosperous commercial street. On both sides of the street stand arcade-style buildings, an architectural design typical of Southeast Asia and southern China. Pedestrians can therefore easily avoid sudden rainstorms and be protected from the scorching sun. This humane architectural style embodies the dawn of modern civilization.

Address: No. 98, Zhongshan South Road, Licheng District, Quanzhou City

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, all year round

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Zhongshan Road is the core trunk road of Quanzhou Ancient City City Walk, and various scenic spots are distributed on its left and right. With Xinmen Street as the north-south boundary, Zhongshan South Road is currently undergoing upgrading and renovation, but you can still walk along the road to the Tianhou Temple. Beilu is a bustling commercial street. Under the arcades on both sides are food, drink and souvenir shops, which are very complete and have all kinds of well-known snacks and souvenirs. On both sides of the North Road are the Confucian Temple, West Street, East Street, and various well-known alleys. In the process of looking for these attractions, you will inevitably step onto Zhongshan Road intentionally or unintentionally. Zhongshan Road is the central road of the ancient city of Quanzhou.

Qingyuan Mountain is a 5A-level scenic spot in Quanzhou and can be regarded as a landmark attraction in Quanzhou. The mountain is not high, with an altitude of only more than 500 meters, so there is no need to regard the trip to Qingyuan Mountain as a hiking trip. It may be more appropriate to describe it as a leisure exercise. The highlight of the whole mountain is the Laojun Rock at the foot of the mountain, which is the sculpture of Laozi. It is lifelike and has a history of thousands of years. There are many places to rest and make tea during the climb. You can stop to drink some tea and slowly savour the Minnan culture. It is a great pleasure to make tea, enjoy the view and drink tea on the mountain.

Address: Quanshan Road, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province

Business hours: Open from 07:00 to 17:30 tomorrow (no admission at 17:30)

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I followed the advice of the locals and didn't want to play too hard, so I took a taxi to the mountain and played while going down. The scenery on the mountain is nice. There is a temple and a large tea house on the top of the mountain. You can buy corn tea, egg water and other food for lunch. You walk and stop according to your physical strength. After the trip, your legs and feet will still be a little tired.

There is a saying in martial arts films and martial arts books that "all Kung Fu comes from Shaolin", and Shaolin is divided into Northern and Southern Shaolin. Quanzhou Shaolin Temple, formerly known as "Zhenguo Dongchan Shaolin Temple", is the legendary Southern Shaolin Temple. Its architecture is very imposing. After passing through the mountain gate, the first thing you see is the Hall of Heavenly Kings, and then on the central axis are the Main Hall, Guanyin Pavilion and Sutra Library, with Arhat Hall on the left and right. There is also a martial arts hall at the mountain gate, which is a place for martial arts performances.

Address: No. 66, Dongyue Ancient Road Front Street, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province

Business hours: Open from 9:00 to 17:00 tomorrow

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All boys have a dream of practising Kung Fu. When you come to Quanzhou, you must visit Southern Shaolin and watch the martial arts performances. Both adults and children will like it. It can be said that it is a dream come true. It is worth recommending!

The Overseas Transportation History Museum was founded in 1959 and is the only museum in China that focuses on the history of overseas transportation. The theme of the museum is to reflect ancient overseas transportation, the Maritime Silk Road and the various economic and cultural exchanges that resulted from it. The basic exhibits in the museum include "Quanzhou Ancient Ship Hall", "Quanzhou and Ancient Overseas Transportation History Exhibition Hall", "Chinese Ship World", "Islamic Culture Exhibition Hall" and "Quanzhou Maritime Folk Culture Exhibition Hall".

Address: No. 425, Donghu Street, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province

Business hours: Open from 09:00 to 17:30 tomorrow

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Came here on January 5, 2014. Quanzhou is the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, so the Quanzhou Overseas Transportation History Museum is a very interesting museum and was listed as a national first-class museum in 2008. The entire museum includes several permanent exhibitions, including the Quanzhou Bay Ancient Ship Exhibition Hall, the Quanzhou and Ancient Overseas Transportation History Exhibition Hall, the Quanzhou Religious Stone Carvings Museum, the Chinese Ship World and the "Arab-Persian in Quanzhou" Exhibition Hall, all of which are worth seeing. My favourite part here is the religious stone carving exhibition hall, which has a rich variety of stone carvings, including patterns of Christianity, Catholicism, Manichaeism, Islam, Hinduism, etc., and inscriptions in Chinese, Syriac, Phags-pa and other languages. The richness is breathtaking and hard to see in other places.

Xiapu Village is a small fishing village located in the Donghai Community, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province. It is inhabited by descendants of ancient Arabs. Although they have intermarried with the local Han people for generations, the Central Asian customs remain, mainly reflected in the oyster shell houses and the headdresses of Xiapu women. The women of Xiapu wear flowers in their hair, clove earrings, long-sleeved shirts and wide-legged pants, creating a unique style. The headdress of Xiapu women, which includes "flower wreaths and ivory chopsticks", has been passed down from Central Asia since the Song Dynasty.

Address: Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, all year round

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Although it is very photogenic, it is not an interesting scenic spot. It is just for checking in. The buildings are scattered. There are many hairpin shops nearby. It looks too commercial. It is too far from the city centre by taxi. I woke up after a nap and it was not there yet...

Jinjiang Wulin Traditional Village Scenic Area has a long history and beautiful scenery. It is a well-preserved traditional ancient village in southern Fujian. The ancient buildings in the scenic area are very distinctive, and the architectural styles include southern Fujian mansions and Gothic and ancient Romanesque styles. There are folk performances and cultural and creative exhibitions here from time to time.

Address: East-West 3rd Road, Jinjiang City, Quanzhou City

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, all year round

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Before it becomes popular🔥, I strongly recommend you to come to Quanzhou for tourism❗️I have verified it for you "few people, beautiful scenery, great for taking photos and strolling". Not only can you take photos of Minnan-style buildings, but you can also feel the strong Nanyang style📝 Tour route Chaodong➡️Louqianglou➡️Five-story house➡️Banyan tree coffee➡️Qiaopi Pavilion➡️Huaiji Tea House➡️Canghai House📷Photography position 1️⃣ Chaodong Building 2️⃣ Qianglou 3️⃣ Five-story house 4️⃣ Banyan tree coffee entrance and door 5️⃣ Qiaopi Pavilion entrance and second-floor balcony 6️⃣ Huaiji Tea House continuous roof ridge🚗40-50 minutes from Quanzhou city🎫Free🆓