Land of Blessings

By+Pamela+tobey

fuzhou is currently reaching back into its long history to re-establish its links to the maritime Silk Road， placing a special emphasis on tourism. The abundance of blue skies， clean air， clear waters and green mountains give the city and its environs a great deal to experience. With the theme of “Refreshing Fujian，” and a city name that means “Land of Blessings，” the area has much to offer visitors.

Most international tourists have a familiar itinerary when they come to China that usually includes Beijing and its many historical attractions， the Great Wall， Xian with its terracotta warriors， and Chengdu with its pandas and spicy cuisine. But there are many cities in China with rich cultural histories that are reaching out to the world， waiting to make their mark on the tourism industry.

The Third Maritime Silk Road International Tourism Festival kicked off in Fuzhou on November 19 to present Fuzhou and the area around it to both Chinese and international tourism companies while also seeking to foster personal exchanges. Several ceremonies and forums were conducted to highlight different areas of local tourism， and the multi-day program included visits to many natural and cultural sites representing some of the best aspects of the area.

A night-time cruise on the Minjiang River highlighted the modernity of Fuzhou， with its many bridges and skyscrapers whose tall forms were lit with animated light shows that moved across the many buildings with dazzling art and special effects.

An afternoon tour of the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys neighborhood in Fuzhou showcased some of the cultural history， with wellpreserved ancient buildings of white walls and grey tiles， and streets paved with slab stones， all of which date back to the Ming （1368-1644） and Qing （1644-1912） dynasties. Although the many shops and restaurants are now modern inside， the architecture makes you feel as if you have stepped back in time. Even the large Starbucks is only noticeable by the round green logo on the side of the building， priority instead given to the presentation of the ancient architecture.

The second day took participants to the Yongding Scenic Zone south of Fuzhou， with a slow and winding ascent by bus through the mountains to the Tianchi Grassland and its scenic crater lake. The day was a little rainy， with clouds shrouding the grassland， lending the area a mysterious quality. Along the walk were spots where small beehives had been established by enterpris- ing beekeepers. I was reminded of my grandfather and the many beehives that produced my familys honey on his farm in southern United States. Afterward， a trip down the mountain in a cable car brought everyone to the Glacier Canyon， where a trail wound along its steep sides， presenting vistas of the cloud-shrouded mountains above and the crystal clear stream with its many little waterfalls below.endprint

The evening brought everyone to Yongtai and another forum， this one dedicated to the famous hot springs of an area enjoyed since the Tang Dynasty （618-907）. One county official said that there were over 20 elements beneficial to health in the water. My hotel， rather aptly named the Smiley Hot Springs Hotel， not only had a lovely outdoor hot spring where everyone could relax and bathe in the warm mineral waters， but my room itself had its own large granite-lined tub that was easily fi lled with the spring waters for a more personal and relaxing mineral bath. The hot springs definitely made me smile. I wish the hot springs of Yongtai were closer to where I live in Beijing so I could visit them more frequently.

The fi nal day was spent back in the city with a walk along the new Fuzhou Forest Walkway that winds up and around the mountain， giving scenic views of the forest and of the city， including its two renowned pagodas. Once completed， the trail will connect fi ve areas of the park.

And of course， no visit to Fuzhou is complete without a jasmine tea tour. The Chunlun Jasmine Tea Culture Creation Garden showcases the famous fl ower that makes Fuzhou jasmine tea so special. It can take up to 100 days to create the tea， with many specific steps. The jasmine flowers are grown locally， along with the Da Hao green tea used with it. Now， every time I brew a cup of jasmine tea， the scent will carry me back not only to China， but to Fuzhou and the special memories made there.endprint