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Places in China: Fujian Province

There are several towns besides the provincial capital of Fuzhou in this major coastal province between Shanghai and Hong Kong. Shipbuilding and sea-based trading projects help to bring prosperity to Fujian Province. Over one hundred twenty countries, including Taiwan, help to bring a greater amount of prosperity to this province than to many of China's other provinces.

Farming would bring in more income except that arable farmland is scarce in this very mountainous region. According to research, only ten percent of Fujian's land is used for farming. The province is around eighty percent mountains. This feature helps to bring in tourists but retards farming efforts.

The major river in Fujian, the Min Jiang River, becomes wider as it nears Fuzhou and before it empties into the Taiwan Straight. Many ports have built up around this great river, bringing in more income for the province's people.

In the distant past, Fujian has been listed as linked to Indian trade by Marco Polo during the 13th century. The Fujian capital city of Fuzhou was the home port for the international voyages of Huang He in the 15th century. After the Opium Wars in 1842, the port at Fuzhou was one of only five ports open to foreign trade.

The learning of literature and philosophy became important during the Southern Song Dynasty (960-1279) and has continued to be a strong element in Fujian Province.

Fujian is the nearest mainland province to Taiwan and continues to enjoy close business ties with the province. Its 121,000 square kilometre area is subtropical in nature and experiences the monsoons during their season. Ninety-eight percent of the population of this province are Han Chinese. The people tend to remain true to their ethnic roots due to the extremely difficult terrain in which they live.

Fujian maintained a somewhat isolated existence until the mid-1950s when railways opened the area to visitors. Although a coastal province, the Fujian landscape is largely high mountains with gorges beneath the cliffs. White-water is found beneath many of those cliffs. This landscape, although beautiful, is difficult to cross. Some recent modifications have made the rough terrain more accessible to tourists.