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Quanzhou lies in the southeast of Fujian Province and on the north
bank of the Jin River. The district has a population of 6 million - with a mere 500 000
living in the municipal area. It is today one of the 24 cities protected by the State
Council as a historical monument. The city of Quanzhou was founded as early as 718AD. While other areas of China were
still undeveloped, the "Coraltree City" (old name for Quanzhou,) had already
grown into one of the world"s biggest sea ports in the Tang Dynasty - thanks to its deep
natural harbour and strategic position in relation to the islands of Taiwan, the
Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia. In the Song and Yuan Dynasties (10 - 14At that time, the city was a metropolis by world standard. Traders, missionaries and
fortune-seekers from all over the world settled there - tens of thousands of Arabs and
Persians alone. It became a center of the Islamic, Hindu, and Manichean faiths in China,
as well as the site of important Buddhist and Taoist temples. It is thought that the Arabs
of Quanzhou were responsible for introducing the Chinese inventions of the compass,
gunpowder and printing to the West. The city"s decline began in the fourteenth century with the anti-trade policies of the
Ming dynasty. The city started to suffer from the effects of overcrowding and a decaying
harbour. By the nineteenth century, Quanzhou was eclipsed by its neighbours, Xiamen to the South and Fuzhou to the North, both
"treaty ports" which expanded during the era of European colonialism. As its commercial fortunes waned, Quanzhou"s importance as a place of departure for
many Chinese families increased. Millions of Overseas Chinese have their roots in
Quanzhou. An estimated 40% or more of Taiwan"s Han ethnic population trace their ancestry
back here. The government and the residents of Quanzhou still enjoy many valuable
connections to overseas Chinese communities. The close connection has given Quanzhou new
investment, new tourists and above all, new hope. |
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