Fuzhou

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East China (华东) » Fujian (福建) » Fuzhou (福州)

Contents

Fujian
Fujian

[edit] Overview

Fuzhou is the capital city of Fujian Province. It's located in the eastern part of the Province, and at the lower reaches of the Minjiang River.

Crisscrossed by tributaries of the Minjiang River and Wulongjiao River and dotted with numerous ponds, Fuzhou has all of the elements that are typical of the scenery of southern China. Fuzhou boasts many famous mountains, lakes, and gardens, and offers visitors an abundance of picturesque landscape and beautiful scenery.

A large number of high quality hot springs throughout the city serve as another attraction that draws visitors to the "Spa City".

Fuzhou is also a historical city with an over two-thousand-year of history. Claiming over 150 historic relics, visitors will enjoy exploring the city's temples, tombs, and former residences of many distinguished historical figures.

[edit] History

Fuzhou has a long history, and has been called many different names along the way. It was designated as the national historical and cultural city in 1986.

[edit] Weather


[edit] Map

Click here to open Fuzhou map.

[edit] Video

Fuzhou

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Fuzhou boasts many famous mountains, lakes, and gardens, and offers visitors an abundance of picturesque landscape and beautiful scenery. .

[edit] Culture

The Fujian dialect is distinct, and is also spoken by many people in Taiwan, just across the straits.

Fujian cuisine

[edit] Getting in & Getting out

[edit] By Air

Fuzhou Airport, officially known as Fuzhou Changle International Airport (福州长乐国际机场) is about 55 km from the city center. Flights arrive from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, and 40 other Chinese cities, including Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Haikou, Hangzhou, Kunming, Xiamen, Nanchang, Shenzhen, Wenzhou, Wuhan.

Direct flights with Taiwan are expected to open in late 2008.

Airport shuttles run to and from the city area every 30 minutes. The trip takes about 40 minutes and the fare is 20 RMB. Taxi costs about 120 RMB. From the city, the shuttles start at the Apollo Hotel (No. 132 Fuzhou Wuyi Zhonglu, 200 meters to the north of Fuzhou Bus Station), and along the way stop at White Lake Pavilion (长乐市环岛), Xianan (峡南), the island city of Changle (长乐市环岛), the island town of Zhangzhou (漳港镇环岛).

Telephone inquiries: 0591-28013249, 28013246, 28013247, 28013248

[edit] By Train

Fuzhou is a 18 hour train ride from Guangzhou (You will have to change train somewhere because there are no direct trains), 20 hours from Beijing and 17 hours from Shanghai.

Fuzhou Railway Station is located to the north side of the city, at northern most end of Hualin Road. It can be reached through bus lines 2, 5, 17, 18, 20, 26, 51, 810, 821, 905, 917, 949, 951, 966, as well as East Second Ring Road bus line (东二环专线), West Second Ring bus line (西二环专线), special bus line for Agriculture University. Fuzhou is connected to the national railway network. The railway station's telephone inquiry line is 0591-87579350.

[edit] By Bus

There are long-distance buses running between Fuzhou and Xiamen (about 3 hours), and Fuzhou and Quanzhou (about 2 hours).

In addition, there are more than 300 buses going to more than 30 cities in other provinces every day. These cities include Wenzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Fuzhou is served by three long-distance bus stations: North Station (near the railway station), South Station (near Wuyi Road), and West Station (near Hongshan Bridge).

Below are their inquiry lines:

South Station: 0591-83322847

North Station: 0591-87580118

West Station: 0591-83379934

[edit] By Ship

Passenger ships go to Xiamen from here. There are cargo ships traveling between Fuzhou and Taiwan directly.

Fuzhou is one of the two major commercial ports along the coast in Fujian Province. It is the largest sea, river port, and a major transportation hub in Fujian. Fuzhou also serves as one of China's foreign trade ports, opening to the outside world. From here ships go to other ports along China's coastline and up to some main ports on the Yangtze River. It has a number of international routes connecting with more than 30 ports in more than 20 countries and regions.

The inquiry number for the passenger ferry terminal at Mawei Port (马尾港轮船客运站) is 0591-83682344.

[edit] Getting Around

[edit] By Public Bus

Fuzhou's public transportation system adopts one-ticket system. The fare for all public buses is 1 yuan between Oct 16 and May 14, and 2 yuan from May 15 to October 15 to cover the cost of air-conditioning.

[edit] By Taxi & Rental Car

Shanghai Santana is the only taxi used in Fuzhou. The fare is 7 yuan for the first 3 km, and 1.5 yuan for each additional km. In addition, they will collect 1 yuan as the fuel surcharge. If the taxi has to run more than 5 kilometers "empty" before pick you up, the fee for the "empty-car" distance is 50% of regular fees to cover that distance. The fare for taxi service after 11:00 pm is an additional 20% of regular fare.

[edit] Attractions

[edit] Hotels

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid Range

[edit] Luxury

[edit] Restaurants

  • Gu Yue Hu - a small, cheap, excellent sichuan place with an English-speaking manager (Wei Jing or Gemma), corner of Hudong Lu and Hubin Lu, at the Southeast corner of West Lake Park. Now, sadly replaced torn down.
  • Hao Shi Jie on the corner of Er Huan Lu and Yang Qiao Lu is very expensive if you go upstairs, but stay on the ground floor and eat the dim sum which is cheap (under 25/head) and delicious.
  • Moby Pizza on the second floor, Northeast corner of Jin Tai Lu and Ba Yi Qi Lu opposite McDonalds.
  • Wai Bo Tai - just off Ye Shan Lu. Good menu, cheap, great fresh seafood. Never had a bad meal there so far!
  • Cafe Forum - on the corner of Er Huan Lu and Wu Shi Lu. Good quality meals in a box and reasonably priced coffee, but the service can sometimes be attrocious. Hit it on a good day, it's great. On a bad day, it's dire.
  • Ajisen Japanese Noodles next to the No. 8 Bus stop on Ba Yi Qi Lu - a great range of noodles and tasty side dishes. Friendly service and pictures in the menu for those who can't read Chinese which is a real Godsend.
  • Lemom leaf on the fifth floor of no.66, Hu Bin Lu. opposite the front door of west lake. Very good thai food. Featured dish: lemom fish and curry crab. Not very cheap, 50RMB per person in average.

--from wikitravel.org

[edit] Shopping

Handicrafts in the area include:

  • shou shan stone, a unique variety of alabaster found only in Shou Shan (about 40km from Fuzhou) used to make name chops and all types of beautiful carving.
  • lacquer work, especially the Fujian bodiless lacquerware, considered one of the three treasures of Chinese arts and crafts. It is lightweight, durable, and often lovely. There is a factory on Wu Yi lu.
  • bamboo arts
  • wooden art objects
  • root carving

--from wikitravel.org

[edit] Night Life & Entertainment

  • Le Cafe on Hualin Lu (Road) a block West of Wu Shi Lu is an expatriate hangout, although it has recently been taken over by the Taiwanese and has lost some popularity. It is busiest on Friday evenings. Tell a cab driver "wu yi dasha"; that is a hotel next door.
  • The Party Bar on Tong Hu Lu, about 50 meters South of the main gate of West Lake Park, has cheap beer, free pool table and live music. Popular with locals, sometimes quite crowded or noisy on weekends. Foreigners have stopped going since the tragic murder of Richard Gribble, a 23 year old Australian, by patrons of this bar.
  • Tony's Small Bar, across the street from Party Bar, has an English-speaking owner and is quieter.
  • Shao Yuan Yi Hao, on Bai Ma Lu has a host of foreign beers, British, German and Belgian as well as fine wines and beautiful decor and people. Bit pricey, but worth it for the music and atmosphere. It is a beautifully remodelled warehouse, the sort of design you might expect in a Western city or perhaps Shanghai, but unique in Fuzhou.
  • 1-2-3 Bar almost opposite Shao Yuan Yi Hao on Bai Ma Lu. Cheap beer, convivial atmosphere, sometimes live music, stays open as long as you're drinking/semi-conscious. The sign says 1-2-3, but Chinese pronounce it "do-re-mi" for reasons that are not at all clear to the writer.
  • "The Pure Drop on Hubin Lu near Xi Hu (West Lake). A lively and convivial atmosphere, cheap, cold beer, live music on Friday nights. All this PLUS a pet iguana in a tank near the door. Stunning.
  • The Bamboo Bar - about 200 metres from Shao Yuan Yi Hao nearer to Yang Qiao Lu. Cheap beer, waterside tables, live football games on TV. Pushy owner, but easily ignored after a couple of beers!
  • Saint Nobody - on bei da lu near gu xi church. The most myterious club in fuzhou with cheap beer and good indie music. An anti-fuzhou look which makes you feel like a traveler lost in an unknown city.

--from wikitravel.org

[edit] Sports & Recreation

  • If pool's your game, you'd be hard pushed to find better tables anywhere in China than the Riley's club on the Yang Qiao Lu. Cheap drinks and open very late too!
  • Eat Yu Wan - Fish balls - a Fuzhou delicacy. Minced beef and pork inside a fishy flour ball of dough in a thin broth. Excellent. Other roadside cheapies include Ban Mian (noodles with peanut sauce) and Bian Ro (a small boiled dumpling) all under 2 RMB a portion.
  • Dawn and dusk, visit Wu Yi Guang Chang (a central square with a huge statue of Mao) and watch the ceremonial raising or lowering of the flag by highly trained and immaculate soldiers.
  • Watch martial arts in Wu Yi Guang Chang, 6 AM or so until about 8, or later on weekends. There are at least half a dozen styles being practiced, armed and unarmed. The founder of Uechi-ryu karate, Uechi Kanbun, spent 13 years in Fuzhou, from 1897 to 1910. There are a group on the East side of the park who say their style is what he studied.
  • Go watch Fuzhou Fighting Ferrets Football Club - a motley assortment of nationalities who play at Jin Shan Wen Ti Zhong Xin every Sunday morning at 9.15. Like football, only funnier!
  • Paintball great fun for those masochists among us who enjoy being hit by high velocity projectiles in delicate parts of the body - at Jin Ji Shan Gong Yuan, right on top of the hill. Not to be attempted in summertime. Believe me!

--from wikitravel.org

[edit] Excursions & Day Trips

The famed Wuyi Mountain is about 5 hour's train ride from Fuzhou city. The mountain itself is situated to the south of Wuyishan City in Fujian. It's known as the "Natural Arboretum", because it's home to many rare plant species, wild animals and reptiles.

Wuyi Mountain is also a well-known hiker's paradise, a great weekend getaway for those who wants to escape from city life.

[edit] Tips & Practical Info

[edit] See also

zh:福州

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