Zhangzhou History & Culture

Ten thousand years ago, our ancestors inhabited Zhangzhou, a fertile land where they flourished. In the 25th year of the reign of Emperor Qin Shihuang (222 BC), Zhangzhou was incorporated into the Qin central territories and belonged to Minzhong Commandery. In the second year of the Tang Dynasty's Chuigong era (686 AD), General Chen Yuanguang's request to establish Zhangzhou was approved, and the Zhangzhou prefecture was established. Later, the city was renamed Zhangzhou Commandery and Zhangzhou Prefecture. Following the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the city was designated the Sixth Administrative District of Fujian Province, also known as the Longxi Special District. In 1969, it was renamed the Longxi District, and in 1985, it was renamed Zhangzhou City. In 1985, the State Council designated Zhangzhou as a national coastal economic open zone, making it one of the earliest regions in China to implement the opening-up policy. Zhangzhou's main industries include food, equipment manufacturing, steel, petrochemicals, electronics and information technology, watches, papermaking, auto parts, and biopharmaceuticals. Known as the "Hometown of Chinese Narcissus Flowers," it is a National Historic and Cultural City and a National-level Southern Fujian Cultural Ecological Protection Area. It is a key birthplace and core area of Southern Fujian culture and a significant ancestral home for Taiwanese compatriots. As of April 2021, Zhangzhou City has 26 national key cultural relics protection units and one national 5A scenic spot, the Fujian Tulou (Nanping Scenic Area).