Zhangzhou
Discover Zhangzhou
Zhangzhou (漳州; Chiang-chiu in Minnan, Zhāngzhōu in Mandarin) is a city of 4.8 million people (2010) in the west of Fujian Province in China. Prefecture consists of: Xiangcheng District (芗城区), Longwen District (龙文区), Longhai City (龙海市), Changtai County (长泰县), Dongshan County (东山县), Hua'an County (华安县), Nanjing County (南靖县), Pinghe County (平和县), Yunxiao County (云霄县), Zhangpu County (漳浦县), Zhao'an County (诏安县)
What to Experience in Zhangzhou
Taste of Zhangzhou...
Zhangzhou is most famous for its lor mee (卤面 lǔmiàn) braised noodles, the original version of a dish that's become even more well-known as an element of Singaporean, Malaysian, and Indonesian cuisine. Other famous local specialities include muah chee (麻糍) and the local version of oyster omelette (蚵仔煎), which is different from the version in neighbouring Xiamen and the Taiwanese version, being crispier and served with pickled radish on the side. Zhangping White Tea: Zhangping, a city in the Zhangzhou region, is famous for its representation of white tea, known for its fresh white hair (buds) and tender leaves. Varieties of Zhangping white tea include Silver Needle (Yin Zhen) and White Peony (Bai Mu Dan), which have a mild flavor and high health benefits. Black Tea: Zhangzhou's production area also yields high-quality black teas, including Zhangping black tea and Nanjing black tea. These black teas have a distinct black tea aroma and taste. Accommodation within the century-old Fujian Tulou is possible, offering a unique cultural experience. Many of the guest houses and inns are family-run and allow for a glimpse into the local rural life. Take a bus to Nanjing County or Yongding County, and see Fujian Tulou, large fortified earth buildings which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Or go the opposite way, to Xiamen which is the hub of the region and has the scenic island Gulangyu.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThere are frequent buses from Xiamen (about 1 hour), as well as some direct service from most cities and counties in southern Fujian. There are two passenger stations in the Zhangzhou metropolitan area: Zhangzhou Railway Station and Zhangzhou East Railway Station. The spacious new 24.459403117.7114721 Zhangzhou Railway Station (which was known as Zhangzhou South during the planning stage) sits on the new high-speed railway (the Xiamen-Shenzhen line) about 10 km south of downtown Zhangzhou. Many of the high-speed trains travelling along the coast from Xiamen, Fuzhou and points north to Shenzhen stop here. There is also high-speed service inland to Longyan; many of the conventional trains from Xiamen to destinations in the interior of China use that line too. The older 24.567587117....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The city has extensive local bus service, with several routes extending to outlying suburbs (some of which are really cities in their own right, such as Longhai). Most people travel to Nanjing County to see the Fujian Tulou clusters. The Liu'ao Peninsula, in the southern part of Zhangpu County, has the ruins of an ancient fortress, good beaches, and interesting rock formations. Xihu She Ethnic Township, also in Zhangpu County, has two 17th-century fortresses: Zhaojiabao and Yi'anbao. Xiamen University Tan Kah Kee College (厦门大学嘉庚学院) Xiamen University Tan Kah Kee College is located in Zhangzhou Campus of Xiamen University, facing Siming Campus of Xiamen University across the sea. Established in 2003 with the approval of the Ministry of Education, the College is an independent college jointly organized by Xiamen University and Xiamen Jiageng Education Development Co., LTD., operating according to the new mechanism and new model .
Where to Stay
Accommodation within the century-old Fujian Tulou is possible, offering a unique cultural experience. Many of the guest houses and inns are family-run and allow for a glimpse into the local rural life. Take a bus to Nanjing County or Yongding County, and see Fujian Tulou, large fortified earth buildings which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Or go the opposite way, to Xiamen which is the hub of the region and has the scenic island Gulangyu.
Money & Budget
Zhangzhou is most famous for its lor mee (卤面 lǔmiàn) braised noodles, the original version of a dish that's become even more well-known as an element of Singaporean, Malaysian, and Indonesian cuisine. Other famous local specialities include muah chee (麻糍) and the local version of oyster omelette (蚵仔煎), which is different from the version in neighbouring Xiamen and the Taiwanese version, being crispier and served with pickled radish on the side. Zhangping White Tea: Zhangping, a city in the Zhangzhou region, is famous for its representation of white tea, known for its fresh white hair (buds) and tender leaves. Varieties of Zhangping white tea include Silver Needle (Yin Zhen) and White Peony (Bai Mu Dan), which have a mild flavor and high health benefits.
Language & Talk
Minnan is the main language spoken in Zhangzhou. The local dialect differs somewhat from that of neighbouring Xiamen, but they are still similar enough to be mutually intelligible. There are also dialectal differences between the Minnan spoken in different parts of the prefecture-level city, with the dialect in Zhao'an in particular having a strong Teochew influence, though in general, this should also not hinder communication too much. Most locals are also able to speak Mandarin, so Mandarin speakers would not have any problems getting around. English is rarely spoken in Zhangzhou and whenever English speakers do exist, they are mostly concentrated on hotel staff and other touristic sectors. Other European languages are seldom understood.
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Zhangzhou
a large body of water with a building on top of it
Looking for someone to love.
a view of a mountain side with a fence
an aerial view of a boat in a body of water
a large body of water next to a wall
People in Dongshan county have been living off the sea for generations.
A man walking down a street next to parked cars
eyewear store
a whale in the water
A group of people sitting on a train track
a large body of water with a building on top of it
Looking for someone to love.
a view of a mountain side with a fence