Why Fuzhou ?

A growing number of people are locating themselves in Fuzhou and it is easy to understand why. Its a great place to live, work, relax and prosper, and through abundant efforts in local, national and international cooperation is consistently developing and helping its residents to improve on overall quality of life. Checkout just some of the reasons why Fuzhou is a great place to be.

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1. International education. Fuzhou boasts enriched programs of study from early childhood to university level. FLIS is an authentic and certified center for American education that can accommodate families with children from 3 to 18 years old. Local universities and Chinese style primary and secondary school programs are plentiful and extremely well developed.

2. Climate. We like it warm in Fuzhou. No need to bring heavy winter clothing, but you'd better carry an umbrella. You are likely to encounter a typhoon if you stay more than a year, but don't worry as Taiwan often politely blocks their paths to Fuzhou. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from 10.9 °C (51.6 °F) in January to 28.9 °C (84.0 °F) in July, while the annual mean is 19.84 °C (67.7 °F).

3. Green City. Check your AQI reading when you come to Fuzhou, you will be delighted to be here. Known as the city of Banyan trees, Fuzhou goes out of its way (literally not removing trees from roads) to be green. Parks and river walks are found seemingly ubiquitously. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, fresh air moves down from the mountains and fresh rains wash away city smog.

4. Food. Fuzhou dishes are light but flavorful, with particular emphasis on umami taste (a kind of seafood taste), as well as retaining the original flavor of the main ingredients instead of masking them. In Fuzhou cuisine, the taste is light compared to that of some other Chinese cooking styles, and often have a mixed sweet and sour taste. Soup is served as an indispensable dish in meals. Fuzhou is famous for its street food and snacks. Some notable street food dishes include Fuzhou fish balls and meat-pastry dumplings. Many of these street food dishes have a long history. Fuzhou is also the origin place of Min cuisine, one of the eight major Chinese cuisines. Min cuisine is known for its delicate materials, fresh colors and good taste. Buddha Jumps over the Wall, Braised Sea Clam with Chicken Soup, Sliced Whelk with Weak Wine Sauce, Litchi Pork, Fish Ball, and Dried Meat Floss are the typical dishes in Fuzhou. Fuzhou also contains many styles of international food and fast food. There is something to eat here for both the adventurous and modest tastes. Did we mention TEA? Fuzhou is the center of tea culture in China! It is especially known for several flavorful varieties of Jasmine Tea.

5. Shopping. With some of the best modern shopping malls in China complimented by fascinating street markets and and an abundance of local shops, Fuzhou has a never-ending supply of products available for the most discerning buyers. 

6. Infrastructure and transportation. Fuzhou boasts international shipping and travel ports, an International airport, two top level train stations, top rate interstate highway (toll based) systems in all directions, a huge network of interesting provincial highways, several long distance bus hubs, an underground system (due to open in 2016), robust and economical taxi system, efficient and cheap (most fairs only 1 RMB) public bus system. A free public bicycle system is implemented for your convenience. Just be careful of ebikes. Ebikes are prolific and unrestrained, but may be the most convenient way to get around the city.Trains to Shenzhen or Shanghai are around 4 hours. Flights to Hong Kong or Taipei are just over an hour.

7. Business. As many local residents are known as "oversees Chinese" Fuzhou has abundant international business connections and several well-established special trade zones. Fuzhou is undoubtedly the province’s political, economic and cultural center as well as an industrial center and seaport on the Min River. In 2008, Fuzhou’s GDP amounted to ¥228.4 billion. With support from the former provincial leader and current PRC President Xi Jinping, Fuzhou has set up several important technological and industrial zones which help Fujian boost its GDP.

8. History and Culture. Fuzhou is a great place to learn about traditional Chinese culture and study the Chinese language. Fuzhou's history dates back to the Tang Dynasty (circa 725AC) getting its present name from a Fu (“fortune”) mountain to the northwest of it. In the Yuan Dynasty, Fuzhou was set as the capital of Fujian province, which it has remained ever since. And fortunate it is, due to the abundant Chinese cultural talents that have come from Fuzhou. Han Yu, the great poet once said: “Fuzhou nurtures many talents who not only excel in writing but also participate in politics.” A poem written during the Song Dynasty described the advanced education and culture of Fuzhou this way: “Nine out of ten pedestrians are scholars, while the sounds of reading can be heard along the street.” Distinguished by its external-oriented location and rich history, Fuzhou boasts its rich Tanshi Hill heritage, Chinese Ship Building, Three Alleys and Seven Lanes, Shoushan Stone, etc. Other historic sites, such as the Cliff-side Inscription at Gu Mountain, Hualin Temple, the earliest wood construction, the Cliff-side Inscription at Wu Mountain, the Inscription on the Tree at Xuefeng Temple, have gained international fame as well. Seventeen national key historical sites are located in Fuzhou, including the Main Hall of Hualin Temple, the Tomb of Lin Zexu (the hero who fought against English opium exports in the late Qing Dynasty), the Majiang Sea Battery, the Martyr Tombs, the Maitreya Portrait on Fuqingrui Stone, the Chongmiaobaosheng Tower, the Office of Luo Yuanchen, Tanshi Mountain heritage, China Maritime Museum, Yongtai Mountain, Changleshengshou Tower, Zhuzi Mill, Confucius Shrine, Stone Carving at Luoyuanqiyun, Clay Sculpture at Changle Palace, Tablet at Linji Palace, Home of Yan Fu. The ancestors of Fuzhou also formed twelve priceless elements of Chinese cultural heritage, inscribed in the national list, including; Min opera, Shifan music, book critic, Fuzhou singing, Stone Carving of Shou Mountain, bodiless lacquer, lantern festival customs, soft wood paintings, Buddha Jumping over the Wall (seafood and fowl cooked in earthen jar), of Juchun Garden, She minority’s medicine at Luoyuan county, play of Chen Jing Goddess, and the costumes of the She minority.

9. Nature. Mountains, caves, rivers and streams, waterfalls, natural hot springs are all commonly found around the hills of Fuzhou and an amazing seaside culture is a dominant part of many local peoples lives. Fujian province also boasts one of the most diverse environments for wildlife and botanical life in all of China, and is packed with amazing scenery and natural landscape from end to end.

10. Tourism. There is plentiful reason why Fujian is one of the top tourist spots in China. World Heritage Sites of Wuyi mountain and Tulou Culture Area are a mainstay of sites to visit, but local treasures also abound. Beaches and Islands, such as Matsu Island, and convenient pleasures like Fuzhou Forest Park and Three Lanes and Seven Alleys are worthwhile. Be sure to visit the plentiful hot springs, both natural and luxury resort type, while you are in town and check into some of the best 5 star hotels around.  

11. Sport. With local officials designating Fuzhou as a sporting destination and green city, tons of capital has been made available for sporting use. With the new Olympic sport center being built for the 2015 National Youth Games, there is a buzz for sport in Fuzhou. Popular local sports are running and biking as well as basketball, swimming and soccer. Of course more traditional Chinese sports like badminton and ping-pong are also well practiced in Fuzhou. Several Expat led sports are also on the increase with local teams being fielded for Rugby and Ultimate Frisbee. A professional Frisbee Golf League and course system is currently being developed by Fuzhou Lakeside International school as well.

12. Safety, Comfort and Affordability. Fuzhou hosts all of the conveniences of modern life with the benefit of living in one of the safest cities in the world. Global brands are abundant in Fuzhou with local supermarkets like Carrefor, Walmart, and Metro to support International tastes. A typical 2 or 3 bedroom apartment in Fuzhou will rent from 2800 to 4000RMB per month, and utilities are surprisingly affordable. Food will cost you according to your taste, but rewarding meals are to be easily found at all ranges of economy. Hospitals are numerous in Fuzhou with some of the best doctors in the region in practice and medicines are quite affordable, even without insurance.

 

      Welcome to Fuzhou!

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Links: Fuzhou (Wikipedia), Fuzhou.gov.cn, China Daily Fuzhou Feature,  Fuzhou Trip Advisor

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