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Three Alleys and Seven Lanes, a must go in Fuzhou

2014-10-16 13:15 cits.net Web Editor: Si Huan
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Fuzhou, the capital city of Fujian Province is never known as a metropolis city. In contract, it is known for year-round clean air, long history and profound culture. The best time to visit Fuzhou is spring, autumn and winter, since Fuzhou is one of the hottest cities in the country.

A trip to Fuzhou would be incomplete without visiting the Three Alleys and Seven Lanes, a century-old community. Featuring the architectural complexities of the Ming and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, the area is known as the "living fossil of ancient city street system". With Nanhou Street as the neighborhood's axis, there are three historic lanes to the west and seven alleys to the east.

The area boasts more than 150 ancient buildings and a large number of them were former houses for prominent Chinese historic celebrities. Qing Dynasty imperial envoy Lin Zexu, regarded as a national hero because of his fight against the British opium trade in Guangzhou, and Yan Fu, a Chinese scholar and translator, all resided in the area. Most of the buildings' walls have a curvilinear outline, which looks like saddle. A closer look at the walls reveals tiny seashells embedded in them. According to historians, sand from the area beaches was used to make the structures' bricks.

If you would like to deeply experience the distinct character and culture of the area, patience is needed. When you take a stroll around the alleys and lanes, you can see every house has its own feature. At some spots, visitors need to go through rockeries to reach different halls. The well-preserved ancient furniture on display and the ornamental latticed windows that are shaped like flowers give off a refined touch.

After visiting the Three Alleys and Seven Lanes, you could have a cup of tea in tea shops on Nanhou Street where serve the local jasmine tea to help you beat the heat. Nanhou Street also provides a variety of antique and famous restaurants for dining. You must have some Yuwan, or fishball, is a signature Fuzhou snack that you don't want to miss. Made from the minced meat of eel or freshwater fish and shaped into balls, the soft and spongy Yuwan makes for a savory meal.

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