A New Year cultural tourism consumption spree in Fuzhou

Amid the hustle and bustle across streets and alleys in Fuzhou, festive vibes in this year’s Spring Festival were stronger than in former years. Throngs of tourists from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai came to Fuzhou, business districts and scenic spots were flooded with tourists, intangible cultural heritage and folk-custom activities were held in a dynamic way, and benefit-oriented policies were rolled out one after another. Data from Tongcheng, an online travel agency, shows that Fuzhou ranked second among the top ten destinations for experiencing featured New Year vibes in China. Tourists have genuinely understood what the slogan of “spending a blissful New Year in Fuzhou” meant. This “blessed city”, which prides itself on its unique human touch and profound cultural heritage, is witnessing a booming New Year tourist market.

Huge crowds of people could be found under overhanging eaves of old-age houses in Fujian’s Three Lanes and Seven Alleys. Quite a lot tourists wearing Han costumes, Tang suits or adorned with patterned clasps or tri-hairpins participated in the parade on the stone pavement and took selfies.

It is reported that bus and subway transportation services in Fuzhou are provided gratis from February 15 till March 3. Furthermore, RMB 10 million worth of consumption vouchers were issued, and tens of hundreds of cultural and tourism activities were held. Tourists exclaim that these measures have brought about true happiness and gratification.

The reputation as “a blessed city” alongside grand new year celebrations have helped Fuzhou become a well sought-after tourist destination in the Spring Festival holiday. Data from Tongcheng, an online travel agency, shows that by the end of February 19, Fuzhou ranked second among the top ten destinations for experiencing featured New Year vibes in China, and the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys in Fuzhou elbowed its way into top 10 popular scenic spots in China.

With a focus on “spending a blissful New Year in Fuzhou”, Fuzhou has launched the New Year cultural tourism month, during which more than 1,800 activities in a wide range of categories from New Year vibes, lantern fairs, intangible cultural heritage, fireworks to ancient houses have been held to get citizens and tourists immersed into New year vibes with Fuzhou’s characteristics.

Fuzhou Shangxia Hang Historical Street was a popular cultural tourist site in the Spring Festival holiday, where century-old commercial traditions, intangible cultural heritage displayed in novel manners and tasty food enabled tourists from all parts of the world to see first-hand the unique charm of Fuzhou’s culture, and to “spend a blissful New Year in Fuzhou” in an immersive manner. The Shangxia Hang block is dotted with installations themed on the Year of the Horse, where the ticket wall, the arch that implies good fortune, and the horse head-shaped installation are so appealing that a continuous stream of tourists come to take photos.

Furthermore, new year purchases, Fujian delicacies and trendy Chinese intangible cultural heritage among other business categories could be found in the New Year fair, which is composed of nearly 100 booths. The harmonious co-existence of traditional charm and modern trendiness is epitomized by glutinous special snacks such as Ma Ti Gao and Ma Er Duo, horse-themed cultural and creative products, and a wide range of lanterns.

Strong New Year atmosphere could be felt amid the hustle and bustle. The Daming Delicacy Street was crowded with eaters, where Fujian, Taiwanese and Southeast Asian food co-exist. In Yuanmai Hot Spring Resort, the traditional ceremony for “Xi Tou Tang” (bathing in the earliest hot spring in a year) was held, in which the ritual performer used a wooden spoon to ladle out hot spring, and pour hot spring, which implies wealth, good fortune and happiness, onto the body of tourists. Being home to many emperors’ teachers, the Luozhou ancient town is all decorated with lanterns and festoons, and has taken advantage of its profound cultural heritage to combine traditional folk custom with revolution-related sites in an ingenious way.

A pure sense of happiness is spread across the city with the utmost sincerity. The blessed city cordially invites all visitors.

(Text by Yan Xiao and Wu Huazhen, Photo by Lin Shuangwei)