Fujian

Fujian is a province in southeastern China. It is next to Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. To the east is the Taiwan Strait. The capital city is Fuzhou. The biggest city is Quanzhou. Other important cities are Xiamen, a port city, and Zhangzhou.

Fujian has many different cultures and languages. Many people speak dialects of the Min Chinese language group. These include the Fuzhou dialect, Eastern Min, Hokkien dialect, and Southern Min. Some people also speak Hakka Chinese. Because people from Fujian moved to other places long ago, many people in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines also speak Southern Min.

In 2022, Fujian's economy was very strong. The province is also known for its education and research. Cities like Xiamen and Fuzhou are good at scientific research.

Name

The name Fujian (福建) comes from the city names of Fuzhou (福州) and nearby Jianzhou (建州), which is now Nanping (南平). The name Fujian means "happy establishment".

One of the Chinese characters in the province fu (福), meaning 'fortune' or 'good luck', is often found on figurines of a male god. The second character, jian (建), means 'establish'.

For much of the 20th century, Fujian was called Fukien or Fuchien in older writing styles. In 1958, the current name "Fujian" was adopted. Later, many places around the world started using this name as well.

History

Prehistoric Fujian

Archaeological discoveries show that Fujian entered the Neolithic Age around the middle of the 6th millennium BC. Tools made from stones, shells, bones, jades, and ceramics have been found at sites like Keqiutou in Pingtan Island, about 70 kilometres southeast of Fuzhou. These tools include spinning wheels, showing evidence of early weaving.

The Tanshishan site in suburban Fuzhou dates from 5500 to 4000 BP and features semi-underground circular buildings. The Huangtulun site, also in suburban Fuzhou, dates to around 1325 BC and belongs to the Bronze Age.

During the Neolithic period, Fujian's coast had a low population density, with people mainly depending on fishing, hunting, and some agriculture. There were four major Neolithic cultures along the coast and two distinct cultures inland.

Minyue kingdom

Fujian was home to the kingdom of Minyue. The name "Mǐnyuè" combines "Mǐn," possibly an ethnic name, with "Yuè," referring to the State of Yue to the north. This is because the royal family of Yue fled to Fujian after their kingdom was taken over by the State of Chu in 306 BC.

Qin dynasty

The Qin dynasty ended the rule of the King of Minyue and established Minzhong Commandery in its place.

Han dynasty

After the fall of the Qin dynasty, civil war broke out. The Minyue king Wuzhu supported Liu Bang, who later founded the Han dynasty. In 202 BC, Liu allowed Minyue to remain an independent kingdom. However, after Wuzhu's death, Minyue attacked its neighbors, leading the Han dynasty to launch a military campaign in 111 BC. The rulers in Fuzhou surrendered, ending Minyue as a kingdom.

Jin era

When the Western Jin dynasty collapsed in the early 4th century, many noble families from central China moved to Fujian. These families include Chen, Lin, Huang, Zheng, Zhan, Qiu, He, and Hu, and their names remain common in Fujian today.

Sui and Tang dynasties

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, many migrants settled in Fujian. The Tang dynasty brought a golden age to China, boosting Fujian's culture and economy, especially in Fuzhou.

Five Dynasties Ten Kingdoms

As the Tang dynasty ended, Fujian became a safe haven. Wang Brothers established the Kingdom of Min with its capital in Fuzhou. Later, parts of northern Fujian were taken over by the Wuyue Kingdom.

Song dynasty

In 985, the area was reorganized into the Fujian Circuit, the first time the name "Fujian" was used for an administrative region.

Vietnam

Many people from Fujian's ports moved to Vietnam's Red River Delta, creating places like Trần port and Vân Đồn. Chinese groups with the surname Trần settled along Vietnam's coast and married into the royal Lý clan, founding the Trần dynasty in 1225.

Yuan dynasty

Fujian became part of Jiangzhe province under the Yuan dynasty. In Quanzhou, Muslims took part in a rebellion from 1357 to 1366 but were defeated.

Ming dynasty

After the Ming dynasty began, Fujian became a province with Fuzhou as its capital. Fuzhou Changle was a key base for Zheng He's naval expeditions. However, Fujian's development was slowed by bans on sea trade, and nearby ports like Guangzhou and Ningbo became more important.

Qing dynasty

The late Ming and early Qing dynasties saw many refugees arrive in Fujian and a ban on sea trade to counter Ming loyalists in Taiwan. In 1683, the Qing dynasty conquered Taiwan and added it to Fujian. Later, Taiwan was separated into its own province. In the 1890s, Taiwan was ceded to Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War.

Republic of China

The Xinhai revolution brought Fujian under the Republic of China. Fujian briefly had independent governments but was later re-controlled. During World War II, Fujian faced a Japanese sea blockade.

People's Republic of China

After the Chinese Civil War, the People's Republic of China took control of most of Fujian, except for the Quemoy and Matsu Islands.

Fujian grew more slowly at first because of disagreements with Taiwan. Today, Fujian has many forests and a strong economy. Its wealth per person has been high in China in recent years.

As Fujian has grown, many people have moved there from crowded areas. This growth has led to tall buildings, but it has also taken away some farmland, forests, and old temples. Fujian now works to balance growth with protecting nature and history.

In 2023, leaders in China suggested making Fujian a special area to improve ties with Taiwan. This would help people from Taiwan live, work, and study in Fujian.

Geography

Fujian is a mountainous province in China. The Wuyi Mountains form a natural border with Jiangxi. Fujian's highest point is Mount Huanggang, which is 2,157 metres tall.

The province has a rugged coastline along the East China Sea, South China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait. It includes many islands such as Quemoy, Haitan Island, and Nanri Island. The Min River and its tributaries flow through much of northern and central Fujian.

Fujian has a warm, subtropical climate with mild winters. Coastal areas are around 7–10 °C (45–50 °F) in January, while hilly regions are slightly cooler. Summer temperatures can be quite high, and the area sometimes faces strong storms called typhoons from the Pacific. Annual rainfall ranges from 1,400 to 2,000 millimetres (55 to 79 inches).

Transportation

Roads

As of 2012, Fujian had 54,876 kilometres (34,098 miles) of roads, including 3,500 kilometres (2,200 miles) of expressways. Major projects were the Zhangzhou-Zhaoan Expressway and the Sanmingshi-Fuzhou expressway. Plans from 2011 to 2015 wanted to double the length of expressways to 5,500 kilometres (3,400 mi).

Railways

Fujian’s hilly land meant railways came later than in other places. The first rail links to neighboring Jiangxi, Guangdong, and Zhejiang opened in 1959, 2000, and 2009. By October 2013, Fujian had four rail links with Jiangxi and connections to Guangdong. High-speed trains now link the province with Zhejiang, going up to 250 km/h (155 mph).

Inside Fujian, cities are connected by several railways. The province plans to grow its rail network by 50 percent to bring in more business.

Air

The main airports are Fuzhou Changle International Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport, Nanping Wuyishan Airport, Longyan Guanzhishan Airport and Sanming Shaxian Airport. These airports see millions of travelers each year and fly to many places, including Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Administrative divisions

Main articles: List of administrative divisions of Fujian and List of township-level divisions of Fujian

Fujian is divided into nine main areas called prefecture-level cities. Most of these cities are near the coast, except for Nanping, Sanming, and Longyan.

These nine cities are split into 84 smaller areas. These include districts, county-level cities, and counties. The smaller areas are then divided into 1,102 tiny parts called township-level divisions.

The People's Republic of China also claims some islands that belong to Taiwan. These islands are part of cities like Quanzhou, Putian, and Fuzhou.

Politics

Further information: List of provincial leaders of the People's Republic of China

Main article: Politics of Fujian

Fujian is a province in China with its own local government. The leaders of Fujian help manage the province and make important decisions for the people who live there. To learn more about how Fujian is governed, read about the politics of Fujian.

List of provincial-level leaders

CCP Party Secretaries

Here are the leaders who have guided Fujian since 1949:

1. Zhang Dingcheng (张鼎丞): 1949–1954
2. Ye Fei (叶飞): 1954–1958
3. Jiang Yizhen (江一真): 1958–1970
4. Han Xianchu (韩先楚): 1971–1973　
5. Liao Zhigao (廖志高): 1974–1982
6. Xiang Nan (项南): 1982–1986　
7. Chen Guangyi (陈光毅): 1986–1993　
8. Jia Qinglin (贾庆林): 1993–1996　
9. Chen Mingyi (陈明义): 1996–2000　
10. Song Defu (宋德福): 2000–2004
11. Lu Zhangong (卢展工): 2004–2009　
12. Sun Chunlan (孙春兰): 2009–2012
13. You Quan (尤权): 2012–2017
14. Yu Weiguo (于伟国): 2017–2020
15. Yin Li (尹力): 2020–2022
16. Zhou Zuyi (周祖翼): 2022–present

Chairpersons of Fujian People's Congress

And here are the leaders of the Fujian People's Congress since 1979:

1. Liao Zhigao (廖志高): 1979–1982
2. Hu Hong (胡宏): 1982–1985
3. Cheng Xu (程序): 1985–1993
4. Chen Guangyi (陈光毅): 1993–1994
5. Jia Qinglin (贾庆林): 1994–1998
6. Yuan Qitong (袁启彤): 1998–2002
7. Song Defu (宋德福): 2002–2005
8. Lu Zhangong (卢展工): 2005–2010
9. Sun Chunlan (孙春兰): 2010–2013
10. You Quan (尤权): 2013–2018
11. Yu Weiguo (于伟国): 2018–2021
12. Yin Li (尹力): 2021–2023
13. Zhou Zuyi (周祖翼): 2023–present

Governors

Finally, these are the Governors of Fujian since 1949:

1. Zhang Dingcheng (张鼎丞): 1949–1954
2. Ye Fei (叶飞): 1954–1959
3. Jiang Yizhen (江一真): 1959
4. Wu Hongxiang (伍洪祥): acting: 1960–1962
5. Jiang Yizhen (江一真): 1962
6. Wei Jinshui (魏金水): 1962–1967
7. Han Xianchu (韩先楚): 1967–1973
8. Liao Zhigao (廖志高): 1974–1979
9. Ma Xingyuan (马兴元): 1979–1983
10. Hu Ping (胡平): 1983–1987
11. Wang Zhaoguo (王兆国): 1987–1990　
12. Jia Qinglin (贾庆林): 1990–1994　
13. Chen Mingyi (陈明义): 1994–1996　
14. He Guoqiang (贺国强): 1996–1999　
15. Xi Jinping (习近平): 1999–2002　
16. Lu Zhangong (卢展工): 2002–2004
17. Huang Xiaojing (黄小晶): 2004–2011
18. Su Shulin (苏树林): 2011–2015
19. Yu Weiguo (于伟国): 2015–2018
20. Tang Dengjie (唐登杰): 2018–2020
21. Wang Ning (王宁): 2020–2021
22. Zhao Long (赵龙): 2021–present

Economy

Fujian is a wealthy province in China with many different industries. It is known for making tea, clothing, and sports products from companies like Anta, 361 Degrees, Xtep, Peak Sport Products, and Septwolves. Fujian was one of the first places in China allowed to get money from other countries. Big companies such as Boeing, Dell, GE, Kodak, Nokia, Siemens, Swire, TDK, and Panasonic have offices in Fujian. The city of Xiamen was one of China's first special economic zones, where businesses can grow quickly.

In 2022, Fujian's economy was very strong, with a total value of CN¥5.31 trillion (US$790 billion). Fujian grows rice, sweet potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar cane, and rapeseed. It is the top place in China for growing longan fruit and also makes a lot of lychees and tea. Seafood, especially shellfish, is also an important product.

Since 1978, Fujian has gotten money from people around the world, people from Taiwan, and other countries, which has helped it grow. The areas of Xiamen, Quanzhou, and Zhangzhou make up a big part of Fujian's economy. Fujian will benefit from new travel links with Taiwan, including direct flights and better ports for trading goods. Each year, Fujian hosts a big fair in Xiamen to encourage businesses from other countries to invest in China.

• Dongshan Economic and Technology Development Zone
• Fuzhou Economic & Technical Development Zone
• Fuzhou Free Trade Zone
• Fuzhou Hi-Tech Park
• Fuzhou Taiwan Merchant Investment Area
• Jimei Taiwan Merchant Investment Area
• Meizhou Island National Tourist Holiday Resort
• Wuyi Mountain National Tourist Holiday Resort
• Xiamen Export Processing Zone
• Xiamen Free Trade Zone
• Xiamen Haicang Economic and Technological Development Zone
• Xiamen Torch New & Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Chinese version)
• Xinglin Taiwan Merchant Investment Area

Demographics

Fujian is a province in China with many people. In 2021, about 41.87 million people lived there. Most of these people, about 98%, are Han Chinese. This large group includes many different people, such as Min Chinese speakers like the Hoklo people, Fuzhounese people, Putian people, and Fuzhou Tanka.

Other groups also live in Fujian. The Hakka people live in central and southwestern parts, and the She people live in the mountains in the north. Many people in places like Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines have ancestors from Fujian.

Religion

Religion in Fujian

1. Chinese ancestral religion (31.3%)
2. Christianity (3.50%)
3. Other religions or people with no religion (65.2%)

Many people in Fujian follow Chinese folk religions, Taoist traditions, and Chinese Buddhism. About 30% of the people believe in Chinese ancestral religion, and 3.5% are Christian. The rest, around 65%, may not follow a specific religion or have other beliefs. There are also some Muslims in Fujian.

Culture

Main article: Hokkien culture

Fujian has a rich culture shaped by its mountains, waves of people from central China, and many different groups living there. The local dialects can vary so much that people just 10 kilometres apart might not understand each other. Most languages here belong to a group called Min, which includes types such as the Fuzhou dialect, Northern Min, and Southern Min.

Fujian also has its own styles of Chinese opera and famous local food, especially seafood dishes. The area is well known for its teas, like oolong and jasmine tea, and for special ways of preparing and serving tea. Music, art, and stone carvings are also important parts of Fujian’s culture.

Tourism

Fujian has many places for visitors to explore, including four special spots chosen by the UNESCO as important World Heritage Sites.

The Fujian Tulou are special old homes in southwest Fujian, and in 2008, UNESCO named them a World Heritage Site.

Gulangyu Island in Xiamen is famous for its sandy beaches, twisty paths, and beautiful buildings. It is one of China’s top tourist spots and became a World Heritage Site in 2017. Xiamen also has the South Putuo Temple.

The Guanghua Temple is a Buddhist temple in Putian, and another Buddhist temple, Nanshan Temple, is in Zhangzhou.

The largest temple in Fujian is the Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou. In the capital city of Fuzhou, there is the Yongquan Temple, which was built a long time ago during the Tang dynasty.

Mount Taimu in Fuding is a popular mountain with beautiful views of nature, including waterfalls and old temples.

The special Danxia landform in Taining was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2010. It has unique red rock shapes formed by natural forces over time.

The Wuyi Mountains were the first place in Fujian to become a World Heritage Site in 1999. They are a beautiful mountain area in Nanping and include the highest peak in Fujian, Mount Huanggang.

Notable individuals

Fujian has produced many important people throughout history. These individuals have ancestors from Fujian, and their influence reaches places like Taiwan and Southeast Asia.

Well-known figures from Fujian include famous Buddhist teachers like Baizhang Huaihai, Huangbo Xiyun, and Guishan Lingyou. Other notable people are Chen Yan, a governor from the Tang dynasty, and Liu Yong, a famous poet from the Song dynasty. More recent figures include Lin Zexu, a scholar from the Qing dynasty, and modern entrepreneurs like Zhang Yiming, founder of ByteDance, the company behind TikTok.

Sports

Fujian has teams in the Chinese Basketball Association and the Chinese League One.

The Fujian Sturgeons are Fujian's team in the Chinese Basketball Association. They are based in Jinjiang, Quanzhou. They started playing in the 2004–2005 season. The Xiamen Blue Lions used to play for Fujian, but they stopped in 2007. Today, Fujian is represented by Fujian Tianxin F.C. in the China League Two, and the Fujian Broncos.

Education and research

Fujian is one of China's top places for learning and science. In 2023, two of its big cities, Xiamen and Fuzhou, were among the best in the world for research, according to the Nature Index.

Colleges and universities

For a more comprehensive list, see List of universities and colleges in Fujian.

National

• Xiamen University (founded 1921, also known as University of Amoy, "985 project", "211 project") (Xiamen)
• Huaqiao University (Quanzhou and Xiamen)

Provincial

• Fuzhou University (Fuzhou)
• Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (Fuzhou)
• Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Fuzhou)
• Fujian Medical University (Fuzhou)
• Fujian Normal University (Fuzhou)
• Fujian University of Technology (Fuzhou)
• Xiamen University (Xiamen)
• Jimei University (Xiamen)
• Xiamen University of Technology (Xiamen)
• Longyan University (Longyan)
• Minnan Normal University (Zhangzhou)
• Minjiang University (Fuzhou)
• Putian University (Putian)
• Quanzhou Normal University (Quanzhou)
• Sanming University (Sanming)
• Wuyi University (Wuyishan)

Private

• Yang-En University (Quanzhou)