China (Fuzhou, Fujian) Dec 2014

Map of Fuzhou, Fujian

Total cost incurred (2 days) : CNY163

Hotel (1 night): CNY60 per pax (KK Apollo Apartment- twin bed)
Food: CNY35
Transport (high speed train) : CNY65 (Fuzhou South >Xiamen North)

City bus: CNY3

After the Xiamen visit, we took a high speed train to Fuzhou (1.5 hr). The new Fuzhou train station is located an hour bus ride from the city centre. 

Fuzhou used to be an old port and in the 19th century, most of the Chinese tea were exported via this port. Marco Polo had visited Fuzhou when he was "back-packing" in China during the 12th century. 

One of my brother-in-laws from Sibu, East Malaysia has his family roots from Fuzhou. The local people here speak Fuzhou Hua, a local dialect. 

As our stay in Fuzhou was short, we managed to visit the Wuyi Square, Lin Zexu Memorial Hall & Sanfang Qixing (Three Lanes & Seven Alleys).

It is interesting to note that when I was in Chengdu, Sichuan in Sept 2014, I visited the Broad & Narrow Alleys and I observed that some of the old & preserved buildings (Qing dynasty period) in both these places are quite similar in design & outlook. In Beijing, the alleys are called hutongs. 

1) Lin Zexu Memorial Hall (a Qing scholar and official; 1785-1850; famous for banning the opium trade in China during the Opium War)

2) Sangfang Qixiang (Three Lanes & Seven Alleys) in Fuzhou, Fujian

 Datuk Beer Garden
in a Fuzhou alley !!!

3) Broad (Kuanxiangzi) Alley & Narrow (Zhaxiangzi) Alley in Chengdu, Sichuan - in Sept 2014, I made a visit to Broad & Narrow Alley in Chengdu, Sichuan

Broad alley in Chengdu
Sichuan (Sept 2014)

Narrow alley in Chengdu, Sichuan

4) Wuyi Square, Fuzhou, Fujian

5) High speed train from Xiamen > Huizhou (1.5hr)

Average speed is 200km / hr