Fuzhou City Area (Jiangxi)

Linchuan, the "Land of Scholars" and hometown of Tang Xianzu, with night strolls on the old streets of Wenchangli and memorial halls to famous figures in the city, plus day trips to the ancient villages of Jinxi, Magu Mountain and Lichuan Old Town.

Fuzhou lies in eastern Jiangxi on the middle reaches of the Fu River. Known in ancient times as Linchuan, it has long been called the "Land of Scholars," home to Yan Shu, Yan Jidao, Wang Anshi, Zeng Gong, Lu Jiuyuan and Tang Xianzu. The central Linchuan district is the place to base yourself. The Wenchangli Historic and Cultural District on the east bank of the Fu River is the heart of the city's nightlife; in town are the Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall, the Wang Anshi Memorial Hall and the Nixian Terrace; south of the center, the Celebrities Sculpture Park, the Tang Xianzu Grand Theatre and the Sanweng Garden showcase "Linchuan culture"; and Menghu Lake on the west side has evening light shows. Day trips fall into three routes. To the east, Jinxi County has one of the largest numbers of officially designated traditional villages in China, with Zhuqiao Ancient Village and the Huwan Bookshop Street representing Ming and Qing woodblock printing and clan-village culture. To the south, Magu Mountain in Nancheng is a renowned Taoist mountain, and farther southeast is Lichuan Old Town. To the north is Dajinshan Temple on Yunshan in Linchuan, and to the southwest in Yihuang is Caoshan Baoji Temple, the ancestral temple of the Caodong school of Zen. Dajue Mountain in Zixi and Liukeng Ancient Village in Le'an are covered as separate destinations and can be visited en route from Fuzhou. The climate is subtropical monsoon: rapeseed blooms in March–April when the ancient villages are most photogenic, September–November is crisp and clear, and the Tang Xianzu Theatre Festival is often held around September; July–August is hot, humid and rainy. Getting there: Fuzhou has stations on the Xiangtang–Putian and Nanchang–Fuzhou railways, and high-speed trains from Nanchang take about 30–40 minutes; buses and taxis are fine for sights in the city, but driving or hiring a car with driver is recommended for the ancient villages and mountain areas. Allow 2–3 days: one day for a Wenchangli night stroll and the memorial halls, one for the Jinxi villages, and one for Magu Mountain or Lichuan Old Town. Local specialties include Fuzhou rice noodles, Linchuan pickled vegetable stems, Nanfeng tangerines and Chongren Ma chicken.

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