Fujian
Fujian is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capital is Fuzhou and its largest city by population is Quanzhou, other notable cities include the port city of Xiamen and Zhangzhou. Fujian is located on the west coast of the Taiwan Strait as the closest geographically and culturally to Taiwan. Certain islands such as Kinmen are only approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Xiamen in Fujian.
Some of the key events about Fujian
- 118 BCEThe region was incorporated into the Han Dynasty, marking the beginning of its recorded history
- 736The city of Quanzhou was established as a major port, becoming one of the largest and busiest seaports in the world
- 1132The Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou was completed, becoming one of the oldest and largest Buddhist temples in Fujian
- 1387The Wuyi Mountains were recognized as a center for tea production, particularly for the famous Oolong tea
- 1646A devastating earthquake struck Fujian, causing widespread destruction and loss of life
- 1839The First Opium War began, leading to foreign encroachment and economic exploitation in Fujian
- 1843The Treaty of Nanjing opened Fuzhou as a treaty port, boosting international trade
- 1866The Foochow Arsenal was established, becoming China's first modern shipyard and naval academy
- 1884French forces attacked and bombarded Fuzhou during the Sino-French War
- 1937Xiamen University was founded, growing into one of China's most prestigious institutions of higher education
- 1938Japanese forces invaded and occupied parts of Fujian during the Second Sino-Japanese War
- 1949The Chinese Civil War resulted in Fujian coming under Communist control, leading to political and social upheaval
- 1958The Great Leap Forward campaign caused widespread famine and economic hardship in Fujian
- 1966The Cultural Revolution brought political persecution and disruption to education and culture in Fujian
- 1979Fujian was designated as one of the first provinces to implement China's reform and opening-up policies
- 1999The Fujian Tulou, unique earthen buildings, were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- 1999A severe drought affected Fujian, causing significant agricultural losses and water shortages
- 2006Typhoon Saomai, one of the strongest typhoons to hit China, caused extensive damage in Fujian
- 2010The province hosted the first Cross-Strait Forum, promoting economic and cultural exchanges between mainland China and Taiwan
- 2016Typhoon Meranti, the strongest storm worldwide in 2016, devastated parts of Fujian with extreme winds and flooding
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