Quanzhou, a prefecture-level administrative region under the jurisdiction of Fujian Province, referred to as "Li", also known as Licheng and Citongcheng, is located on the southeast coast of Fujian Province, bounded by Fuzhou to the north, Xiamen to the south, and Taiwan, the treasure island to the east. The four districts, three cities, five counties, Quanzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, and Quanzhou Taiwanese Investment Zone are one of the three central cities determined to become bigger and stronger in Fujian Province. It is the first East Asian Cultural Capital in the country and a UNESCO The only recognized starting point of the Maritime Silk Road is the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Pilot Zone included in the national “Belt and Road” strategy.
Quanzhou is one of the 18 typical areas of reform and opening up in the country. It is one of the first batch of historical and cultural cities, an international garden city, a national garden city, a Chinese brand city that moves the world, the best commercial city in mainland China, and has won the United Nations Dubai International Award for Best Example of Improving the Living Environment, and has the famous eighteen scenic spots in Quanzhou.
Quanzhou was first developed in the Zhou, Qin and Han Dynasties. Dong'an County was established in 260 AD. During the Tang Dynasty, it was one of the four major ports in the world. It was hailed as the City of Light by Marco Polo. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, it was the largest port in the East. The grand scene of "people from ten continents in the market" and "businessmen from all over the world amidst the sound of the rising sea". Quanzhou is known as the Museum of World Religions, and UNESCO has designated the world's first "World Multicultural Exhibition Center" in Quanzhou.
Quanzhou is the hometown of overseas Chinese and the main ancestral home of Taiwan compatriots. There are 7.5 million overseas Chinese from Quanzhou distributed in 129 countries and regions around the world, 700,000 compatriots living in Hong Kong, 60,000 compatriots living in Macao, and Taiwan Among the Han compatriots, 44.8 or about 9 million people have their ancestral home in Quanzhou, and the China Fujian-Taiwan Marriage Museum is located in Quanzhou.
Quanzhou is the first local pilot of "Made in China 2025". As of August 2015, the city has 142 well-known Chinese trademarks, accounting for one-third of the province's total, ranking first among prefecture-level cities in the country. Known as the "City of Brands"; in 2015, it achieved a regional GDP of 613.774 billion yuan, ranking first in Fujian Province for 17 consecutive years; in 2016, it was selected as one of the four branch venues of the Spring Festival Gala.
Quanzhou, which was called the "City of Light" by Italian Marco Polo more than 700 years ago, enjoyed more than 400 years of glory in the Middle Ages and is known as "Xi'an when viewed underground and Quanzhou above ground".
The "Eighteen Scenes of Quanzhou" are: Twin Towers Lingkong (Kaiyuan Temple), Chongwu Tingtao (Chongwu Ancient City), Luoyang Chaosheng (Luoyang Bridge), Confucian Temple Shining (Fu Confucian Temple), Niumu Tanyou (Niumulin), Qingshui Fairy Scenery (Qingshuiyan), Qingyuan Dingzhi (Qingyuan Mountain), West Lake Haze (West Lake Park), Shenhu Haiyun (Shenhu Bay), Tianhou Liufang (Tianhou Temple), Gold Coast (Gold Coast), Xiangong Guanri (Xiangong Mountain), Daixian Waterfall (Daixian Waterfall), Chenggong Monument (Historic Site of Zheng Chenggong), Ancient House Grand View (Cai's Ancient Residence), Anping Feihong (Anping Bridge) , East Lake Lotus Scent (East Lake Park), Muslim Sunset (Qingjing Temple).