Fuzhou (fū'jō') or Foochow (fū'chou') , city (1994 est. pop. 952,300), capital of Fujian province, China, a port on the Min River delta c.25 mi (40 km) from the coast. A regional commercial and fishing center that used to trade chiefly with Taiwan, Fuzhou was linked with the central Chinese railway system in 1956, and its economic ties are now mostly with the mainland. It has an airport, chemical plants, a small, integrated iron and steel complex, textile and paper mills, machine shops, food-processing establishments (tea and sugar), and paper mills. Fuzhou consists of an old walled city, which lies c.2 mi (3 km) from the river, and a modern riverside town. A bridge crosses to Nantai Island, the former foreign settlement and business center. Large vessels dock 15 mi (24 km) downstream to transship their goods. In 1984, it was designated as one of 14 open port cities. The old city of Fuzhou dates from the T'ang dynasty (A.D. 618–906). Marco Polo, who called it Fugiu, visited the city on his return journey. After the Opium War (1839–42), Fuzhou was established as a treaty port. By 1850, it was the principal Chinese port and the world's largest tea-exporting center. Its importance declined when the demand for tea decreased and when harbor silting barred large vessels. Fuzhou has several institutions of higher learning, including Fuzhou University and Fujian Medical College. In the surrounding hills are beautiful pagodas and monasteries, and a summer resort. The name sometimes appears as Fu-chou.
The country code is: 86
The city code is: 591

Tourism

Fuzhou, also known as the City of Banyan after the many Banyan trees that dot the city landscape, may not be as rich in history as some other ancient Chinese cities but still boasts a fair number of historical sights.
West Lake (an artificial lake built in 282 AD)
Hualin Temple (founding date uncertain)
Dizang Temple (founded in 527 AD)
Xichan Temple (founded in 867 AD)
Wu Ta (Black Pagoda) (originally built in 799 AD, rebuilt in 936 AD)
Bai Ta (White Pagoda) (originally built in 905 AD, 67 m in height, collapsed in 1534 AD, rebuilt in 1548 AD, 41 m in height)
Yongquan Temple (founded in 915 AD)
Gu Shan (Mountain)

Accommodation

The newly completed 5-star Shangri-la Hotel is an excellent place to stay while in Fuzhou, being in the middle of town, tastefully designed, and with international standards of service. The hotel also boasts a Filipino band that performs English songs admirably, and seems to know almost any song requested of them.