The Journey to Quanzhou – A Testament to Cultural Confidence Not to Be Underestimated

Quanzhou: The starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, the world's largest port during the Song and Yuan dynasties, a city of World Cultural Heritage What impresses visitors most about Quanzhou is the temples and halls that are scattered throughout its streets and alleys, as well as the varying intensities of incense that can be sensed both near and far. No other city has managed to preserve such a rich and complex religious culture into the 21st century. Over a thousand years, religion has subtly permeated every corner of this ancient city. Walking through the streets of Quanzhou, one does not need to search intentionally to encounter various religious cultures unexpectedly. Standing at the west end of Xi Street, with Kaiyuan Temple at the center, looking west, the Christian Quanxi Church faces Kaiyuan Temple across the street; to the south, there are the Tianhou Palace worshipping Mazu, the Tudian Street Guandi Temple, and the Qingjing Temple; to the east, there are the Chengtian Temple, Yuanmiao Guan, and Quannan Church on Zhongshan Road. Within a radius of one or two kilometers, local sages, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, and even Hinduism coexist in harmony.