Fujian Province, also called Min for short, faces Taiwan Province to the east across the Taiwan Straits, borders Guangdong Province on the south, and is not far from Hong Kong and Macao. It has an land area of 121,400 square kilometers, a sea area of 136,000 square kilometers, and a population of 30 million.

Fujian enjoys a favorable geographical position and has long-standing contacts with foreign countries. It has established economic and trade relations with more than 120 countries and regions in the world and formed a multi-level and multi-functioned opening setup. As an important tourist area in China, Fujian Province features an enchanting natural landscape of spectacular mountains and crisscrossing rivers as well as man-made scenic attractions, which are exceptional advantages in the development of tourism.

Latest archaeological studies reveal that Fujian has a history of 10,000 years.

Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, three principal religions in the world, have a considerable influence in Fujian. Of the 142 major Buddhist temples in China, 14 are in Fujian. The Qingjing Mosque in the city of Quanzhou is one of the earliest Muslim structures in the country. Minju, Liuyuan, and Puxian operas; Quanzhang puppet show; and Nanyin music have a certain influence in China. Fujian is the native place of Zhu Xi, a renowned philosopher of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), who founded the Zhuzi School of philosophy there. The well-developed culture of Fujian Province produced many heroic people in history. These include Li Gang, Cai Xiang, Li Zhi, Zheng Chenggong, Lin Zexu, Lin Juemin, Lin Xiangqian, and others. Many contemporary revolutionaries, scientists, men of letters, artists, and architects are also from Fujian.

More than eight million overseas Chinese and foreign citizens of Chinese origin come from Fujian. Eighty percent of those now living in Taiwan have their ancestral homes in the province. There are also nearly one million Fujianese residing in Hong Kong and Macao. They are a stable source for Fujian's tourism industry.

Known as a mountanous province in southeastern China, Fujian boasts of famous mountains that rise abruptly above the ground and charming mountain peaks that stand one after another. The Wuyi, Qingyuan, and Tailao mountains, Gulangyu Islet, and Wanshi Crag have found their way into the list of major scenic areas in China. Moreover, the province has over 3,300 kilometers of coastlines, 1,400 islands, and several hundred bays and beaches.

Fujian is a multi-national province. In addition to the Hans, there live the She, Hui, Mongolian, Manchu, Gaoshan, and 26 other ethnic groups. The Shes in Fujian make up half of the total She population in China. These ethnic tribes have colorful customs, such as the She wedding ceremony, the clothing of women in Hui'an, man playing with fish, and man and snake sharing the same dwelling.

Fujian is known for its Wulong Tea and narcissus. The Fujian cuisine is one of China's eight major cooking styles. The local stone carvings, bodiless lacquenvare, cork patchwork, and other handicrafts are much sought after by tourists.

There is an old Chinese saying, "Opportunity can not equal a favorable geographical location, and a favorable geographical location can not compare with the unity of the people." The initiation of China's opening policies has inserted a vigorous lease of life into the tourism industry of Fujian Province.

The famous historical and cultural city of Fuzhou, which was designated as an open city in 1979, is the capital of Fujian Province, where passenger transportation by waterway, highway or airway is rather convenient. Fuzhou's hot springs are known throughout China, and so is its jasmine tea. Major tourist attractions: Gushan Mountain, West Lake, Majiang River, Three mountains and Twopagodas. Gushan Mountain in the eastern suburb of Fuzhou is the site of one of Fuzhou's five major Ch'an temples, Yongquan Temple, whose magnificent buildings dating back to the Qing are enshrined with written and stone-inscribed texts of Buddhist sutras. The walls of Lingyuan Cave east of the temple are covered with calligraphic inscriptions in cursive, official and seal scripts.

Wuyi Mountain in the municipality of Wuyishan is a national scenic resort known for its sand-gravel landform. As the saying goes, the picturesque scenery of Wuyi is "unparalleled in the Southeast". Spread out within a 60 km circumference are 36 peaks, with the Panliu Peak, where Jiuqu (Nine Bends) Stream originates, in the center. Dawang, Yunu, Tianyu and Jiesun are major peaks, and there are also such scenic spots as Miniature Wonderland, Water-Curtained Cave and Sky-in-One-Slip. Boating along Jiuqu Stream is like travelling in a picture. Hanging on some of the cliffs are coffins of the ancient Yue people, and there is no lack of cliff carvings done in various dynasties. The mountain is the site of Ziyang Academy created by Zhu Xu during the Song, and ruins of a Yuan-dynasty imperial tea plantation. On December 1, 1999, UNESCO endorsed Wuyi Mountain as a world natural and cultural heritage site.

Kaiyuan Temple on West Street of Quanzhou is one of the leading Buddhist structures in Fujian. Among its majestic ancient structures are 2 pavilion-like 5-storyed stone pagodas dating back to more than 1,100 years ago, whose gracious images are emblems of Quanzhou.

Sitting at the foot of Wulao Peak, the age-old Southern Putuo Temple dedicated to Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, is an influential religious establishment throughout China. Nearby stands Hulishan Fort.

The beautiful seaboard city of Xiamen in southeast China is one of the country's four earliest special economic zones under the open policy. Encompassing Xiamen Island, Gulang Island and some areas on the northern shore of Jiulong River, Xiamen attracts an increasing number of visitors with its enchanting island scenery, pleasant subtropical climate, splendid history and culture, and colorful folklore. It is the hometown of so many Chinese living overseas. Major attractions: Gulang Island, Jimei School Village, Southern Putuo Temple and Kaige Golf Club.