Putian Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 莆田市 (pú tián shì)
Population: 3,603,000
Area: Land Area: 4,200 square kilometers (1,622 square miles), Sea Area: 11,000 (4,247 square miles)
Location: in the central part of the coastal area of Fujian Province, southeastern China
Administrative Division: 4 districts (Chengxiang, Hanjiang, Licheng, Xiuyu); 1 county (Xianyou)
Area Code: 0594
Zip Code: 351100
GDP (2018): CNY 225.2 billion (USD 34.03 billion)
 

Situated in the central part of the coastal area of Fujian Province, Putian neighbors Fuzhou on the northeast and Quanzhou on the southeast, separated from Taiwan by the Taiwan Strait. Putian's shoe making technology is very developed, especially the sneaker manufacturing. Since the 1980s, some sports brands like Nike, Adidas, Puma successively settled in Putian for production and processing. Until now, more and more luxury brands move their factories to Putian because of excellent production technology and high-quality production process here. Putian is also known for Mazu culture as the Meizhou Island in Putian is the hometown of Mazu, who is a sea goddess on the southeast coast of China.

Putian is adjacent to the sea, and consequently the weather is moderate and humid all the year round. Enjoying a typical subtropical oceanic monsoon climate, the city has plentiful rainfall and adequate sunshine. The weather in spring and autumn is favorable and cool.

 When to Go: The winter is short so April to October is the best time to visit Putian.   History: Putian County was formed in the year of 568. Over the hundreds of years following that, it was abolished and then re-established several times. Through all these major and minor changes, Putian City emerged in 1983.

 Physical Features: The city nestles to the hilly area of southeastern coastal area of Fujian. The whole terrain inclines from the northwest to the southeast, and the land is higher in the north, lower in the south. There is a shortage of cultivated areas.

 Local Products: Fruit: longan, loquat, lychee, honeyed shaddock (pomelo)
Others: rice noodles, lacquer wooden bowl

Mazu is the most respected god on Meizhou Island, even southern Fujian Province. There are several festivals on the island to celebrate the birthday of this Goddess of Peace on the sea, as well as the day of her ascension. Celebrations are held on the twenty-third day of third lunar month and ninth day of the ninth lunar month respectively and it is the best time to learn more about the Mazu culture of the city.