Quzhou Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 衢州 (qú zhōu)
Population: 2,580,000
Area: 8,844 square kilometers (3,415 square miles)
Location: in the west of Zhejiang, east China
Administrative Division: 2 districts (Kecheng, Qujiang); 3 counties (Changshan, Kaihua, Longyou); 1 county-level city (Jiangshan)
Area Code: 0570
Zip Code: 324000
GDP (2019): CNY 157.351 billion (USD 22.808 billion)

Quzhou is situated in the west of Zhejiang Province, lying in the upper reaches of the Qiantang River. As the connection point of four provinces, it is neighbor to Nanping in Fujian Province, Jingdezhen in Jiangxi Province, Huangshan in Anhui Province and the provincial city Hangzhou and Jinhua. Thus, Quzhou has been a transportation hub since ancient times. It is also awarded the title of the famous historical and cultural city with a history of more than 1,800 years. Parts of ancient city walls and gates can still be seen.

The descendants of Confucius once lived here to spread Confucian culture. Located in the urban area of Quzhou, the Nanzong Confucius Temple is one of the only two Confucian family temples in China. This city is also known as the birthplace of Go culture. As early as the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317 - 420), there was a story about Wang Zhi, a woodcutter, playing Go with an immortal in Lanke Mountain. This is the earliest written record of the origin of Go in China. In addition, Quzhou has beautiful natural scenery including mountains, karst caves and bamboo sea.

The region enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate with distinctive four seasons. Spring and summer are abundant in rain and sunshine. Late summer is when typhoon frequently happens. Autumn is cool and pleasant without too much rain. Winter is cold and snowy. Best time to visit Quzhou is spring or late autumn. Every March in Chinese lunar calendar, the locals hold various temple fairs which are full of traditional flavors. In October, Tourism Cultural Festival is held when interesting activities such as rock climbing, Confucianism culture tour and the Go Game culture tour attract millions of visitors. 

 History: Quzhou belonged to the Yue State before and in the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476). In the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), the government set up Xin'an Shire, which was the original form of Quzhou. In 1949, the city was liberated and it became a prefecture-level one in 1985. In 1994, the city got its honor of 'National-level Historical and Cultural City' and in 2006, it was listed into one of the 'China Top Tourist City'.

 Physical Features: Mountains in the south and north form a basin in the middle, which is high in the west and low in the east. Mountains and hills occupy about 85% of the whole area, leaving the 15% plains and basins.

 Local Highlights: Over 1,800-year-history endows Quzhou many historical and cultural heritages. Nanzong Confucius Temple is a rare Confucius architecture in China. Situated in the upper reaches of Qiantang River, the city has quite good environment, hence its name 'Green Source of Zhejiang'. Mountains, stone forests, karst caves and many forest parks provide an ideal holiday resort for visitors.

 Special Local Products: Handicrafts: Yingbai Porcelain (white porcelain)
Foods: oranges, Shaoyongfeng cake, Jiangshengji salty peanut, Dajuyuan dried bamboo shoot