Things to do in Nan'an

Kaiyuan Temple, a thousand-year-old temple, boasts imposing twin pagodas and towering banyan trees, offering a tranquil escape from the bustling city. Just a wall away lies West Street, a vibrant hub of activity, with its exquisitely carved ancient buildings that blend the diverse cultures of the Maritime Silk Road, making it a worthwhile destination to savor and appreciate the rich heritage of Quanzhou.

Quanzhou's 5A-level scenic area is very close to the city center; there's a direct bus to the scenic area. Take the scenic area shuttle bus up the mountain; the driver will take you all the way to the last stop, so you might miss a few attractions. Hiking down the mountain allows you to see some nice spots. It takes about two hours to see the highlights.

It was quite a show. Even though the performance conflicted with my schedule, I still made time to see it. Chinese martial arts, starting from a young age, has a long history and is very meaningful. Quanzhou is truly a wonderful place, blessed with beautiful scenery and talented people. Due to time constraints, I didn't have a chance to properly see the other sights of Shaolin Temple. I'll definitely visit again next time.

As invited teachers, several of my colleagues and I accompanied parents and children to the puppet theater on the third floor of Kaiyuan Shengshi, witnessing firsthand the vibrant power of traditional craftsmanship during this one-hour performance. Four plays were presented in quick succession: "Little Bald Head Goes Down the Mountain" conveyed the message of diligence and growth through a story from an old Quanzhou street; "Daming Mansion" showcased loyalty and responsibility through acrobatic combat; "Fighting the Tiger" gripped the audience with its portrayal of Wu Song's bravery; and the grand finale, "Monkey Play Training the Monkey," with its ingenious "turning fruit into gold" and play-within-a-play concept, drew gasps of amazement from the teachers and students. The puppets, guided by silken strings, moved with lifelike agility, displaying remarkable skill as they twirled in the hands of the children. The children watched intently, their eyes glued to the screen, applause and laughter filling the theater. The essence of this study tour lay in bringing intangible cultural heritage from the books into reality. The children not only witnessed exquisite performances but also had the opportunity to personally manipulate the strings and hold the puppets in their hands during the post-performance experience, truly feeling the focus and perseverance behind "one minute on stage." Quanzhou string puppets and hand puppets are both listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. These are not forgotten relics, but rather a testament to the life passed down through generations of artisans. When children see the puppet monkey mimicking an artist controlling a clown, the intricate layers of craftsmanship allow them to intuitively understand the difficulty and joy of this heritage. This one-hour experience is not just a captivating performance, but a genuine dialogue with a thousand-year-old craft—approaching tradition with laughter and planting seeds of identification through hands-on experience. This is the most basic yet profound value of study tours.

Quanzhou Ancient City. Quanzhou is a place with a profound cultural heritage, reaching its peak during the Song and Yuan dynasties. It was the "largest port in the East" and the starting point of the "Maritime Silk Road." Designated one of the first batch of National Historical and Cultural Cities in 1982, and in 2021, "Quanzhou: A World Maritime Trade Center of Song and Yuan China" was inscribed on the World Heritage List, with eight World Heritage sites within the ancient city. The core urban area covers approximately 6.41 square kilometers, and the city's outline resembles a carp. The most central areas of the ancient city include: West Street (a thousand-year-old street), Kaiyuan Temple + East and West Pagodas, the Bell Tower, the arcade buildings along Zhongshan Road, Qingjing Mosque, the Confucian Temple, and the Tonghuai Guanyue Temple. Religious diversity coexists here, earning it the title of "World Religious Museum." Here, you can find traditional Minnan red-brick houses, Western-style buildings, and arcade buildings coexisting; intangible cultural heritage such as Nanyin music, Liyuan opera, and puppet shows are vibrant; Minnan delicacies such as tusu jelly, rice noodle soup, and runbing are abundant; the night view is dazzling, making it an excellent place for a walking tour. Don't bother eating at the food stalls on the pedestrian street; most of them are popular tourist spots, the taste is average, and they don't really represent the quality of Quanzhou snacks.

The guide was excellent and very dedicated. I was captivated for over two hours. Although the venue wasn't very large, the entire tour provided a comprehensive understanding of Quanzhou's maritime history and its various religious cultures. After the tour, the guide also led us to the adjacent religious stele museum, where we witnessed the harmonious coexistence of multiple religions. I learned a lot; Quanzhou truly deserves its title as a "religious museum."

泉州关岳庙，坐落于鲤城区涂门街，是福建省最大的武庙，三殿并列（武成殿、崇先殿、三义庙），雕梁画栋间融合闽南古建精髓。飞檐剪瓷龙雕栩栩如生，木石雕刻尽显匠心神韵。夜幕降临，庙宇流光溢彩，古建在灯影中熠熠生辉，香火与宁静交织，比白日更添神秘魅力。乘公交3/4/5路至“关帝庙”站即达，免费开放，建议夜游，沉浸式感受历史与信仰的璀璨之夜。

To understand the history of Taiwan, you have to visit the Fujian-Taiwan Museum. It is very detailed and allows us to trace the history more immersively. It is very worthwhile for study tours and family tours. The guide's explanation is very professional and brings in many small stories, which left a deep impression on us.