Reporter’s diary: Fuzhou, ‘The Land of Good Fortune’

World
Europe

A great city often has at least one catchy nickname, whether or not it's officially recognized. New York is "The City That Never Sleeps." Baltimore is "The Charm City." San Diego is usually called "America's Finest City."

Fuzhou might one day (arguably) earn the nickname "China's Finest City." But currently, it will have to do with the proper and popular moniker "The Land of Good Fortune". So why is that?

A walk along the Fuzhou Skyway is a great way to usher you into this plush, green, hilly land. Nineteen kilometers linking five different parks, the roller-coaster shaped path takes you through a pristine ecosystem nestled above the city of seven and a half million people.

The Fuzhou Skyway resembles a 19-kilometer roller coaster. /CGTN Photo

"It’s my first time here," said visitor Zhou Jin. "I love how fresh the air is, how good the atmosphere is, and how everybody’s very happy."

"Fuzhou is quite a humble city," said You Shiyu, a resident. "It doesn’t market itself the way China’s other travel destinations do, but it has a warmth and human touch, thanks to 2200 years of heritage and culture."

That heritage and culture are alive and well across town at The Three Lanes and Seven Alleys. The ancient part of Fuzhou retains a lot of the city's time-honored history.

Three Lanes and Seven Alleys /NetEase Blog Photo

A 127-hectare enclave in the middle of town has remained little changed since its construction during the Jin Dynasty more than 1,600 years ago. Walking along the lanes and the alleys, one sees the unique architecture while enjoying quality shopping and dining. It’s as enchanting for foreign visitors as it is for the locals.

"It’s actually a lot more relaxed," said John Kolbe, a native of Michigan in the US. "Some other cities, I always feel like I’m kind of bumping into people or I’m in that kind of attack mode, but here I’m like, alright, I can kind of take it easy."

1565km