Quanzhou 2 Days 1 Night Guide | A Millennium-Old Maritime Silk Road Journey

Quanzhou, an ancient city listed by UNESCO as the "World Maritime Trade Center of Song and Yuan China," boasts 22 World Heritage sites and blends diverse religions with Minnan culture. Two days are enough to experience its unique charm of "half city smoke and fire, half city fairyland." 🚄 Transportation Guide Guangzhou → Quanzhou: - High-speed rail: Guangzhou South → Quanzhou Station, about 5 hours, second-class seat around 330 RMB (recommended D4105, 07:52-12:52) - Flight: Fly to Jinjiang Airport, then taxi 30 minutes to downtown (about 60 RMB) City transportation: - Within the ancient city: walking + community bus "Xiaobai" (2 RMB per ride, hail to stop) is the most convenient - Cross-district attractions: taxi starting fare 9 RMB, or bus (starting at 1 RMB) 🏨 Accommodation Recommendations Top choice: Guesthouses around West Street / Kaiyuan Temple (highly recommended) - Advantages: walking distance to all core attractions, experience the ancient city's morning and evening life, and visit West Street night market at night 📜 Day 1: Ancient City Cultural Immersion Day Millennium West Street + Kaiyuan Temple (Stroll West Street: start from the Bell Tower, check in at the "Quanzhou, a city you must visit in your lifetime" popular wall, walk through the thousand-year-old stone slabs, feel the bustling city life) Morning: 1️⃣ Kaiyuan Temple (end of West Street): Fujian’s largest Buddhist temple, 1300 years old, must-see East and West Pagodas (the tallest surviving Song Dynasty stone pagodas in China) 2️⃣ Bell Tower (traffic light 🚥 at the end of West Street) 3️⃣ Quannan Church: next to it is a large "Love" character photo spot Afternoon: 4️⃣ Qingjing Mosque (3 RMB ticket): the oldest existing Islamic mosque in China, stone arch gate + Moon Viewing Tower, experience the fusion of Chinese and Arab architecture 5️⃣ Guanyue Temple (free): very popular for incense offerings, highly effective for career and health prayers, exquisite architecture 6️⃣ Tianhou Temple Evening: West Street food + night tour - Must-eat list (about 50 RMB per person): - Wu’s Handmade Mochi (8 RMB): freshly made, soft outer skin, crispy filling, sprinkled with peanut powder - Grandma Hou’s Meat Zongzi (15 RMB): solid ingredients, fragrant and soft glutinous rice - Yafo Spring Roll Wrapper (6 RMB): DIY wrapping, super fun - Four Fruit Soup (10 RMB): Bingzhengtang’s signature, a great palate cleanser - Recommended restaurant: Bafanglin Quanzhou Cuisine Restaurant (taste authentic Minnan dishes) 🌄 Day 2: Natural Scenery + Folk Experience Morning: Qingyuan Mountain (5A Scenic Area) Qingyuan Mountain (70 RMB ticket): - Highlights: Song Dynasty Laojun Rock (Laozi statue), lifelike, thousand years old; panoramic view of Quanzhou from the summit - Route: Laojun Rock at the foot → Tianhu → Nantai Rock (excellent viewpoint), about 3 hours total, easy and effortless - Opening hours: 07:00-18:00 Afternoon: Xunpu Village Flower Hairpin Experience (a must-try specialty) - 13:30-16:00 Xunpu Village (taxi about 20 RMB, 30 minutes): - Highlights: experience "Flower Hairpin Wrap" (traditional headwear of Xunpu women), rent full makeup and costume for 40 RMB, perfect for photos - Check-in spots: Oyster Shell House (house built with oyster shells, unique Minnan architecture), Mazu Temple, seaside alleys - Lunch: seafood stall at the village entrance, recommended "Xunpu Stew" (seafood hot pot, about 35 RMB per person) A treasure travel destination worth multiple visits