Things to do in Yongchun

Baizhangyan is a holy place of Taoist culture. The Fairy Mother is really very spiritual. Believers bow down and pray to the Fairy Mother with sincerity, and she will give very clear instructions.

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.

The performance, priced at around seventy yuan, was well worth it. The Shaolin monks all gave their all, and the applause was constant throughout the performance. This was not only an affirmation of their performance but also a praise and expression of confidence in the spirit of traditional Chinese martial arts. There was especially a cute little monk, about four or five years old, who could even make a hand gesture, eliciting constant laughter.

There's no excessive commercialization, and the bamboo raft boatmen are quite interesting and don't charge extra. A special shout-out to the "One Line Sky"! Having climbed countless "One Line Skys" across the country, only this one is truly authentic!! A place where you can calmly focus on the scenery, a truly peaceful and beautiful landscape.

The 68-nautical-mile scenic area is well worth a visit. It's the closest point between mainland China and Taiwan. Be careful not to cross the yellow lines marked in the scenic area, as it can be dangerous. The staff are very responsible and will blow whistles to warn you if you cross the yellow lines. It's a great place for taking photos, and it's not too hot to walk around in the scenic area right now.

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.

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.

When visiting Fuzhou, a leisurely stroll through the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys is a must. Walking on the cool cobblestone streets, looking up at the staggered saddle-shaped walls, white walls and gray tiles, you'll see the quintessential old Fuzhou. No need to rush to see the must-see spots; just wander into any alley, and you'll find ancient houses and courtyards brimming with stories. The streets are bustling with the aroma of everyday life—meat dumplings, fish balls, and peanut soup fill the air—a truly blissful experience as you stroll and savor the delicious treats.

There are lots of porcelains, it is worthy of being the porcelain capital. There are also hot springs♨️ to soak in, and there is also a Jiuxian Mountain, which freezes in winter. And the reason why I have a special liking for Dehua is that my boyfriend is from Dehua,

We didn't catch any squid, but the owner helped us by casting a net every half hour, bringing up quite a few. We had a barbecue on the boat, which was a nice way to relax and have some fun in the evening. Even though we didn't catch any fish, we still had a barbecue and seafood porridge dinner.