Flights from Hong Kong to Quanzhou on Greater Bay Airlines

Quanzhou - City of World Heritage

Quanzhou, the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, was an important hub for foreign trade during the Song and Yuan dynasties. This ancient city boasts numerous historical, cultural, and religious sites that can proudly be termed as "the best." In 2021, Quanzhou was recognized as a World Heritage site under the title "Quanzhou: Starting Point of the Maritime Silk Road," with 22 sites included, making it worthy of exploration.

Historical Highlights of Quanzhou

Among the 22 World Heritage sites, various categories include religious sites (temples, sculptures, tombs), ancient pagodas, bridges, ruins, kiln sites, and docks. The iconic twin pagodas and bridges are particularly well-known.

The East and West Pagodas of Kaiyuan Temple (開元寺) are landmarks of Quanzhou. The East Pagoda, named "Zhenguo Tower," was built in 865 AD during the Tang Dynasty, while the West Pagoda, 200 meters away, named "Renshou Tower," was constructed in 916 AD during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms perido. Both towers stand at 5.48 meters, making them the tallest existing pair of stone pagodas in China.

The Luoyang Bridge, known as "the first bridge in the country," is the earliest existing large stone bridge in China, built in 1059 AD at a cost of 14 million taels of silver. It is also the first bridge in the world to apply biological principles—the "clam foundation method"—to bridge engineering. Along with Lugou Bridge, Zhao Zhou Bridge, and Guangji Bridge, it is known as one of China's Four Great Ancient Bridges. In 2024, China Post and the Luojiang District government released a stamp featuring the Luoyang Bridge.

Anping Bridge, celebrated for its length, is the longest ancient stone bridge in China, completed in 1152 AD. After over 800 years of continuous repairs, it now spans 2,070 meters, nearly three times the length of Luoyang Bridge. Due to its uniqueness, a men's fashion brand chose Anping Bridge as the venue for its annual fashion show, connecting this ancient bridge with contemporary fashion.