Ancient Architectural Complex of Quanzhou Port

Ancient Architectural Complex of Quanzhou Port

The ancient architectural complex of Quanzhou Port is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The ancient architectural complex of Quanzhou Port is located in the eastern part of Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, and within the territory of Shishi City, about 10 kilometers from downtown Quanzhou.

Historically known as Houzhu Port, Quanzhou Port faces the mountains and the sea, situated at the outlets of the Jinjiang and Luoyang Rivers. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, it was a bustling hub for merchants and a major port for maritime departures from Quanzhou. The ancient Quanzhou Port historically referred to a collective cluster of seaports comprising the “Three Bays and Twelve Branch Ports” in the Quanzhou region. Zheng He’s fleet once anchored here; excavated relics include the Song Dynasty shipwreck in Quanzhou Bay, religious stone carvings of foreign residents from the Song and Yuan periods, and export ceramics. On nearby Jinshan Mountain lies the former site of the Wangyun Tower at the Guanxiang Observatory from the Southern Song Dynasty. The Jinshan Fortress, an anti-Wokou (Japanese pirate) site from the Ming Dynasty, has perimeter walls about 85 meters long, built from granite and still relatively well-preserved. Nearby are also ruins of ancient docks.

The ancient ports of Quanzhou consist of Quanzhou Bay, Shenhu Bay, and Weitou Bay. Among them, Citong Port was one of the largest ports in the world during the Song and Yuan dynasties and served as the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, making great contributions to ancient friendly exchanges and economic and cultural interactions between China and foreign countries. The prosperity of the port brought prosperity to Quanzhou. Through meticulous carving by nature, the ancient Citong Port (also known as the ancient Quanzhou Port) came into being, formed by Quanzhou Bay, Shenhu Bay, and Weitou Bay. Citong Port was one of the largest ports in the world during the Song and Yuan dynasties and served as the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, making great contributions to ancient friendly exchanges and economic and cultural interactions between China and foreign countries.

The ancient architectural complex of Quanzhou Port mainly includes the Gua’sao Pagoda, Liusheng Pagoda, Zhenwu Temple, Shihu Port, Wenxing Dock, and Meishan Dock.

The Gua’sao Pagoda, also known as the Guansuo Pagoda or Wanshou Pagoda, was built during the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1131–1162) and has a history of over 800 years. The “Quanzhou Prefecture Annals” describe it as “a pagoda that guards the waterway entrance, towering above the clouds, from which one can watch merchant ships come and go.” This shows that the true function of the Gua’sao Pagoda was as a navigational beacon.

The Liusheng Pagoda is located on Jinchai Mountain, south of Shihu Port near Hanjiang Port. It was built in the third year of the Song Dynasty’s Zhenghe era (1113). The Liusheng Pagoda, also known as the Wanshou Pagoda, is commonly called the “Shihu Pagoda.”

The Meishan Ferry is located at the end of Shitou Street by the riverside in Fashi Subdistrict, Donghai Subdistrict, Fengze District. It is an ancient structure dating from the Song to the Qing dynasties. Its geographical location is strategic, situated at the crucial junction where the river meets the sea. From there, one can reach as far as Shihu Port and the Gua’sao Pagoda, while inland it connects directly to the Jinjiang River. To the north of Meishan Dock is the Meishan Tianfei Palace, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu. The temple consists of a complete architectural complex including a screen wall, mountain gate, main hall, and two side corridors. During the Zhengde era, the palace also served as the Gaozhou Guild Hall, a gathering place for people from Gaozhou in Guangdong who engaged in maritime trade and settled in Quanzhou.

The Zhenwu Temple was first built during the Song Dynasty and served as the “site for Quanzhou officials to worship the sea.” The temple features important historical traces of diverse religious maritime deity beliefs and also reflects the close connections between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait in terms of kinship, culture, geography, legal systems, and religious faith. In 2002, the Zhenwu Temple was listed as one of the inspection sites for Quanzhou’s application for World Cultural Heritage status for the “Maritime Silk Road.”

In 2006, the ancient architectural complex of Quanzhou Port, recognized as ancient architecture from the Song to the Yuan dynasties, was included by the State Council in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units