The capital of the Fujian province in southeast China, Fuzhou is a coastal port city with a long and rich history. Surrounded by mountains, the city’s numerous beaches, parks, gardens, banyan trees, and hot springs provide a nice contrast to the modern urban sprawl, with plenty of things to do. Fuzhou is also home to one of the largest historic districts in China, with more than 200 Ming and Qing dynasty buildings and many important Buddhist temples. It’s also known for its mild seafood-heavy cuisine, refined tea culture, and distinctive handicrafts.
Fall is the best—and most popular—time to visit Fuzhou, and it offers the most pleasant temperature. Spring is humid and rainy, though blooming flowers are a sight to behold, especially around West Lake Park. Summers are hot and humid and can see a few tropical storms and typhoons. Winters, though dry, can be cold. Visit from April to August to see the bioluminescent “blue tears” of Pingtan Island.
Fuzhou has a good public transportation network, with an extensive network of buses and a more limited metro system with just a few lines (though more are under construction). Taxis are plentiful though taxi drivers often do not speak English. Rideshare apps like Didi, with built-in translators, are a good alternative. As a central transport hub and port in southeast China, Fuzhou is well connected to other cities by planes, trains, ships, and buses.
One of the best places to try Fuzhou’s distinctive cuisine and iconic dishes is at Student Street. Located near Fujian Normal University, it offers numerous small stalls selling different types of street food, making it easy to sample various dishes. It also offers countless other goods for sale, including clothing, luggage, and souvenirs. The prices here also tend to be lower than elsewhere in the city.
