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| Fuzhou,
also called "Banyan City", is the revered capital of Fujian Province
and faces Taiwan across the strait. It has become rich in cultural
resources by nurturing local talent. There are many historical relics
among the three hills; the picturesque Yu Hill, Ping Hill and Wu
Hill that tower like a giant tripod. The traditional
arts and crafts such as bodiless lacquerware, shoushan stone carving,
cork pictures and other crafts
are very distinguishable |
click to enlarge
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in the world. Fuzhou is famous for is hot springs and travelers
may enjoy a comfortable hot spring bath in most of the hotels. The
food has a distinctive taste, especially the Fujian dishes "Buddha
Jumping Over the Wall" and "Clam Soup" that are representative of
Fuzhou cuisine. The ancient Mawei Port has been modernized with
Mawei being designated as an Economic Development Zone. Fuzhou offers
convenient transport and communication with regular flights connecting
with Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong. |
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Drum Mountain
- Drum Mountain is near downtown Fuzhou and rises on the north shore of
the Min River. Legend had it that there was a huge drum-shaped boulder
on the mountain and during a storm, the boulder would emit the thumping
sound of a drum, thus given its name of Drum Mountain. The 969-meter Drum
Mountain is considered a shrine of Buddhism, with the Gushing Spring Temple
perched atop the mountain. There are 300 carvings of Buddha Rock in Ling
Yuan Cave. The carvings are of great value for the study of Chinese calligraphy
because of the various styles of writing evolving over time.
Xichang Monastery
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is counted among the five major monasteries of Fuzhou, dating over 1,000
years. There is a grove of lychee trees on the fringes of the monastery
and Lychee Festivals are held each year when the delicious fruit is harvested.
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