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A seaside city of 8 million people， Quanzhou in southeast China’s Fujian Province was once described by Marco Polo （1254-1324） as the “Alexandria of the East” in the late 13th century， when it was known as Zayton （or Zaitun） by traders arriving from the Arab world and heralded as one of the world’s most glorious ports.
Quanzhou was established in 718 during the Tang Dynasty （618-907）. It later became one of the most important Chinese ports along the Maritime Silk Road during the Song （960-1279） and Yuan （1271-1368） dynasties.
Quanzhou has welcomed sailors and travelers from many different cultures and religions. A number of famous medieval explorers， such as Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta （1304-68） from Morocco， described the port as one of the most vibrant harbors in the world.
During Song times， Chinese maritime trade flourished. From Quanzhou， Chinese ships reached many ports of Southeast Asia， India， Persia， Mesopotamia， Africa， the Arabic Peninsula and finally Europe. They sold silk， porcelain， tea and books in exchange for various products from the different countries.
Quanzhou’s development coincided with a period of great commercial and cultural interaction in China. Cultural relics in the Quanzhou area， from sacred Muslim tombs to Indian carvings， bear witness to the variety of cultural and religious practices that converged there.
However， with the restrictions of trade imposed from the Ming Dynasty （1368-1644） onward， the city lost its position as a commercial hub. Shortage of arable land forced people to seek a livelihood elsewhere. During the late Ming Dynasty， the continuation of the Silk Road’s overseas connections facilitated large-scale migration from Quanzhou to Southeast Asia.
A symbol of openness
Because of its history， Quanzhou has become a symbol of cultural pluralism and international cooperation. The presence of sailors， merchants and explorers contributed to the development of peaceful coexist- ence between the many different ethnic and religious groups in the city， including Buddhists， Hindus， Jews and Catholics.
This cultural openness is illustrated by the diversity of historic religious sites and monuments in the city. In addition to this， the numerous tombstones and artifacts that are exposed in Quanzhou’s Maritime Museum also tell a story of strong inclusiveness， as they show different religious and cultural symbols brought together.
Islam provides clear evidence of Quanzhou’s openness and inclusiveness. This religion was introduced into Quanzhou in the Tang Dynasty， when large numbers of Arabian-Persian merchants settled in the city. Quanzhou provided a cultural environment that valued religious freedom and openness. As a result， many mosques were built， one of which， Qingjing Mosque， is the oldest Muslim place of worship in China. Although Quanzhou’s openness was seriously dampened during the Ming and Qing （1644-1911） dynasties， the city now has the ambition to become a new cultural meeting point. Meanwhile， the tradition of religious and cultural integration is a strong asset for Quanzhou as the Chinese Government emphasizes cultural dialogue and cooperation.
A tradition of trade
Quanzhou’s cultural traditions also include many products and handicrafts that were exported through the Maritime Silk Road. The most important products， tea and porcelain， still play an essential role in the city’s economy.
Tea has been produced in the district of Anxi， on the periphery of Quanzhou， for at least 1，000 years. It was exported to as many as 58 countries in Europe， Africa and Asia during Tang， Song and Yuan dynasties. Until the middle of the 19th century， Fujian remained the top region in the world for tea exportation， before India took over.
The porcelain sector also reflects the intertwining of art， innovation and mass production in Quanzhou. Many companies were successful in introducing new technologies for porcelain production. Some of them now meet the expectations of the global market by producing occidental-style porcelains that are exported en-masse to the United States and Europe. Moreover， Quanzhou also attracts many artists that revisit handicraft traditions and make them all the more alive.
Besides its tradition of handicrafts， Quanzhou is also well known as a historical example of successful trade relations and strong entrepreneurial culture.
The Maritime Silk Road and local traditions have indeed contributed to the development of a very original economic model， based on a multitude of small familial enterprises. Even today， unlike many other industrializing areas in China， the majority of Quanzhou’s factories and enterprises are neither joint ventures nor public enterprises， but privately owned companies that rely heavily on familial relations.
This economic tradition may explain why Quanzhou has recently become a very prosperous city in Fujian and has developed rapidly over the last few decades. The city has successively attracted thousands of migrant workers from all over the country to work in the production of shoes and sportswear.
Quanzhou also benefits from very important commercial ties with overseas Chinese. The Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties， as well as the closing of all seaport trade with the outside world during the Ming and Qing dynasties， have indeed encouraged many people from Quanzhou to settle in other countries in Southeast Asia. Today， Quanzhou is said to be the hometown of over 60 million overseas Chinese. Valuable asset
In spite of its glorious past， Quanzhou’s cultural heritage has only recently become an asset for the city’s tourism industry.
Quanzhou declined after the Ming Dynasty， while Xiamen， a few kilometers away， has become one of the most important ports in China in the last 100 years. For this reason， Quanzhou suffers from a lack of attention from Chinese tourists and international travelers alike.
More steps have already been made in recent years toward a wider recognition of Quanzhou’s cultural past. First of all， Quanzhou was one of the first historic cultural cities approved by the State Council， China’s cabinet， in 1982.
In recognition of the role played by Quanzhou as one of the major ports along the Maritime Silk Road， a team from the UN Educational， Scientific and Cultural Organization also visited the city in 1991. The city is now present in a number of different heritage lists of the organization， including the World Heritage and the Intangible Heritage lists.
Quanzhou was established in 718 during the Tang Dynasty （618-907）. It later became one of the most important Chinese ports along the Maritime Silk Road during the Song （960-1279） and Yuan （1271-1368） dynasties.
Quanzhou has welcomed sailors and travelers from many different cultures and religions. A number of famous medieval explorers， such as Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta （1304-68） from Morocco， described the port as one of the most vibrant harbors in the world.
During Song times， Chinese maritime trade flourished. From Quanzhou， Chinese ships reached many ports of Southeast Asia， India， Persia， Mesopotamia， Africa， the Arabic Peninsula and finally Europe. They sold silk， porcelain， tea and books in exchange for various products from the different countries.
Quanzhou’s development coincided with a period of great commercial and cultural interaction in China. Cultural relics in the Quanzhou area， from sacred Muslim tombs to Indian carvings， bear witness to the variety of cultural and religious practices that converged there.
However， with the restrictions of trade imposed from the Ming Dynasty （1368-1644） onward， the city lost its position as a commercial hub. Shortage of arable land forced people to seek a livelihood elsewhere. During the late Ming Dynasty， the continuation of the Silk Road’s overseas connections facilitated large-scale migration from Quanzhou to Southeast Asia.
A symbol of openness
Because of its history， Quanzhou has become a symbol of cultural pluralism and international cooperation. The presence of sailors， merchants and explorers contributed to the development of peaceful coexist- ence between the many different ethnic and religious groups in the city， including Buddhists， Hindus， Jews and Catholics.
This cultural openness is illustrated by the diversity of historic religious sites and monuments in the city. In addition to this， the numerous tombstones and artifacts that are exposed in Quanzhou’s Maritime Museum also tell a story of strong inclusiveness， as they show different religious and cultural symbols brought together.
Islam provides clear evidence of Quanzhou’s openness and inclusiveness. This religion was introduced into Quanzhou in the Tang Dynasty， when large numbers of Arabian-Persian merchants settled in the city. Quanzhou provided a cultural environment that valued religious freedom and openness. As a result， many mosques were built， one of which， Qingjing Mosque， is the oldest Muslim place of worship in China. Although Quanzhou’s openness was seriously dampened during the Ming and Qing （1644-1911） dynasties， the city now has the ambition to become a new cultural meeting point. Meanwhile， the tradition of religious and cultural integration is a strong asset for Quanzhou as the Chinese Government emphasizes cultural dialogue and cooperation.
A tradition of trade
Quanzhou’s cultural traditions also include many products and handicrafts that were exported through the Maritime Silk Road. The most important products， tea and porcelain， still play an essential role in the city’s economy.
Tea has been produced in the district of Anxi， on the periphery of Quanzhou， for at least 1，000 years. It was exported to as many as 58 countries in Europe， Africa and Asia during Tang， Song and Yuan dynasties. Until the middle of the 19th century， Fujian remained the top region in the world for tea exportation， before India took over.
The porcelain sector also reflects the intertwining of art， innovation and mass production in Quanzhou. Many companies were successful in introducing new technologies for porcelain production. Some of them now meet the expectations of the global market by producing occidental-style porcelains that are exported en-masse to the United States and Europe. Moreover， Quanzhou also attracts many artists that revisit handicraft traditions and make them all the more alive.
Besides its tradition of handicrafts， Quanzhou is also well known as a historical example of successful trade relations and strong entrepreneurial culture.
The Maritime Silk Road and local traditions have indeed contributed to the development of a very original economic model， based on a multitude of small familial enterprises. Even today， unlike many other industrializing areas in China， the majority of Quanzhou’s factories and enterprises are neither joint ventures nor public enterprises， but privately owned companies that rely heavily on familial relations.
This economic tradition may explain why Quanzhou has recently become a very prosperous city in Fujian and has developed rapidly over the last few decades. The city has successively attracted thousands of migrant workers from all over the country to work in the production of shoes and sportswear.
Quanzhou also benefits from very important commercial ties with overseas Chinese. The Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties， as well as the closing of all seaport trade with the outside world during the Ming and Qing dynasties， have indeed encouraged many people from Quanzhou to settle in other countries in Southeast Asia. Today， Quanzhou is said to be the hometown of over 60 million overseas Chinese. Valuable asset
In spite of its glorious past， Quanzhou’s cultural heritage has only recently become an asset for the city’s tourism industry.
Quanzhou declined after the Ming Dynasty， while Xiamen， a few kilometers away， has become one of the most important ports in China in the last 100 years. For this reason， Quanzhou suffers from a lack of attention from Chinese tourists and international travelers alike.
More steps have already been made in recent years toward a wider recognition of Quanzhou’s cultural past. First of all， Quanzhou was one of the first historic cultural cities approved by the State Council， China’s cabinet， in 1982.
In recognition of the role played by Quanzhou as one of the major ports along the Maritime Silk Road， a team from the UN Educational， Scientific and Cultural Organization also visited the city in 1991. The city is now present in a number of different heritage lists of the organization， including the World Heritage and the Intangible Heritage lists.