🌊 Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China
UNESCO World Heritage maritime trading hub of the Song and Yuan dynasties
📋 Fast Facts
- UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2021
- Major Maritime Silk Road port during Song (960–1279) and Yuan (1271–1368) dynasties
- Located on southeastern coast of Fujian Province, China
- Centre of cultural and religious diversity including Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Taoism, and Hinduism
The Old City of Quanzhou stands as one of history's most significant maritime trading centres. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, the site preserves archaeological and architectural evidence of a cosmopolitan port that connected China to Asia, the Indian Ocean world, and beyond during the 10th to 14th centuries. Quanzhou was instrumental in establishing and maintaining the Maritime Silk Road as a viable route for global commerce and cultural exchange ...