Quanzhou Things to Do

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A very old and famous pair of giant stone pagodas surrounded by temples and wonderful gardens and trees. Very big territory so you can walk here a long time. Unfortunately it is not possible to go inside of towers.
Closed at 17 o'clock.

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One of the oldest Mosques in the world and the only one build in that century.
Territory is very small, you will no see much there. Just some ruins, small mosque model, mango tree )
asmission is 10 rmb

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Qingyuan Mountain is main attraction in Quanzhou, it is one of the national park in China. It covers area more than 56 sq.m. The mountain situated at the north part of Quanzhou.
Here you can see the biggest statue in China of philosopher Lao Tse (Laozi). There is a legend that if you can touch his nose you will be the happiest person (his nose is very high ))

Also you can find here Islamic Holy Tombs from the Tang dynasty (618-907), "Maritime Silk Route" (the grouped stone inscriptions on Jiuri Hill),Tibetan Buddhist stone "Three Lives Buddha".

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To be more exact, it's called the China Museum for Fujian-Taiwan Kinship, in Chinese it's the Min3 Tai2 Yuan2 Bo2 Wu4 Guan3. This's the only museum in mainland China that focuses on Taiwan. It opened in end-May 2006 and there's also a new Quanzhou Museum beside it. Admission is free.
Actually, if you're able to see the entire museum compound from above, you'll realise that it resembles the Chinese character "tai", as in Taiwan. :) Since I doubt any of us can fly, look at http://www.fjsen.com/images/2008-09/16/xin_0809051611200302074712.jpg for an example.
There're interesting exhibits on folk customs (traditional musical instruments used in Fujian nanyin music, elaborate puppets and such) and the history of Fujian-Taiwan Kinship -- with loads of the obligatory proclaimations of "Taiwan's bond to the Motherland is everlasting" and etc.
Extremely unique and huge painting of a tree in the front atrium which was made partly by exploding gunpowder.
Shallow water-filled area in square in front of the museum where locals gather to dip their feet in the cool water on a hot summer's day.
The museum opens daily at 0900. The last admission is at 1600, guards start chasing people out at 1630, and the museum closes at 1700.

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One of the first bridges built over the sea, Luoyang Bridge is about 1000 years old. It has 834m long and 7m wide, with a lot of stone carvings.

It's nearly half way between Quanzhou and Chongwu. The visit ould be done the same day as Chongwu. Eg. when returning to Quanzhou ask the bus driver to stop near the bridge. When you decide to leave the place, go where the bus stopped and wait for a a bus that goes to Quanzhou (learn the Chinese writing of Quanzhou) and hitch it with your hand.

This one day trip offers the opportunity to visit a huge tea market and an interesting temple located in the mountains near Anxi.
For more informations read my Anxi/Fencheng pages

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The museum has four exhibition halls: Quanzhou Overseas Communications, Quanzhou Religious Sculpture, Ancient Chinese Sailboats Models, and Quanzhou Customs and Culture. The Maritime Museum gives an excellent portrayal of the city throughout the ages.

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If you like sacred mountains, Qingyuanshan is an interesting option. Of course it not as spectacular as Huangshan or Taishan, but the atmosphere is quieter: no crowd, no harrassing steet vendors, a kind of spirituality. You have also good views on Quanzhou. By climbing, you cross some Buddhist temples, Daoist shrines and Islamic tombs. At the top you find a lake (dam) with a restaurant. The climb is a bit tough.
At the bottom of the mountains there a big statue of Lao Tse (Laozi), worth to see.