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The Xunpu Oyster Shell House Residential Cluster

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Xunpu is a small fishing village located at the mouth of the Jinjiang River in Quanzhou Bay. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, it was the site of what was known as the “World’s Largest Eastern Port — Citong Port.” The village is dotted with ancient Minnan-style houses featuring oyster shell walls and red brick facades, with over 60 traditional buildings of heritage value. The oyster shell houses were once an inseparable part of life for the people of Xunpu. It is said that the oyster shells were not locally sourced but were brought by ancient merchant ships from the east coast of Africa during the Song and Yuan periods. They were used by locals as building materials, resulting in these unique structures. Living in such oyster shell houses is airy and comfortable, staying warm in winter and cool in summer, while the exterior walls are both rugged and aesthetically striking. For generations, the area has been home to the Xunpu women, affectionately called “Aunties of Xunpu” due to their distinctive clothing and headdresses. Over the centuries, this has given rise to the uniquely styled Xunpu women’s customs, preserving the village’s original ecological Minnan residential features and forming a typical traditional folk culture village of Xunpu.

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Xunpu is a small fishing village located at the mouth of the Jinjiang River in Quanzhou Bay. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, it was the site of what was known as the “World’s Largest Eastern Port — Citong Port.” The village is dotted with ancient Minnan-style houses featuring oyster shell walls and red brick facades, with over 60 traditional buildings of heritage value. The oyster shell houses were once an inseparable part of life for the people of Xunpu. It is said that the oyster shells were not locally sourced but were brought by ancient merchant ships from the east coast of Africa during the Song and Yuan periods. They were used by locals as building materials, resulting in these unique structures. Living in such oyster shell houses is airy and comfortable, staying warm in winter and cool in summer, while the exterior walls are both rugged and aesthetically striking. For generations, the area has been home to the Xunpu women, affectionately called “Aunties of Xunpu” due to their distinctive clothing and headdresses. Over the centuries, this has given rise to the uniquely styled Xunpu women’s customs, preserving the village’s original ecological Minnan residential features and forming a typical traditional folk culture village of Xunpu.