Mysterious China Blog

An attractive city with a bustling nautical atmosphere, Xiamen was known as Amoy in the 19th century. A relatively new settlement by Chinese standards, it was founded in the 14th century and became a significant port during the Ming Dynasty. The city was declared one of China's first Special Economic ...

Located on the Jin Jiang, Quanzhou was China's principal port during the Song and Yuan dynasties. The city's trade with India and elsewhere resulted in a permanent community of foreign residents. It was known to Arab geographers as Zaitun, from which the word "satin" is derived. Although Quanzhou's importance declined ...

With its scenic location on the Min Jiang, Fujian’s capital was a major maritime port for more than 1,000 years. It was the center of a lucrative trade first in tea and sugar, and later in cotton, ...