Shopping in Fuzhou,Fuzhou Travel,Fuzhou Travel Guide, Fuzhou Adventure Guide, China Travel Guide

Local Specialties and Souvenirs

Fuzhou is a famous cultural city with a history of over 2000 years, and an important port in China. It produces many kinds of local and special products. Cork pictures, stone carvings, lacquer, horn combs, jade carvings, porcelains, shell carvings, golden and silver ornaments are popular with local people and tourists alike.

Fuzhou is famed for its lacquer-ware and craft factories. Shoushan stone carving, lacquer-ware and cork sculptures are said to be the three handicraft treasures of the city, all of which make good souvenirs. Other good mementoes include jade combs and paper umbrellas. In addition to jasmine tea, Black Dragon tea, Tieguanyin tea, Wuyiyan tea, its subtropical fruits, such as tangerines, longan, litchis and loquats, are well known throughout the country.

Three Treasures of Fuzhou

Lacquer - These products include decorative screens, vases, tea services, smoking sets and stationery etc.

Stone Sculptures - Rocks from Mt. Shou are fashioned into seals, vases, stationery, characters, landscapes and flowers etc.

Cork Pictures - Cork is used to make hanging screens, folding screens and decorative articles depicting landscapes, characters, animals and birds.

Shoushan Stone Carving & the Factory

Shoushan stone is a kind of alabaster quarried from a mountain called Shoushan in the northern suburbs of Fuzhou. With a soft, smooth surface and variegated colors, this stone makes an ideal material for carving. We know from the sculptured stone pigs found in an ancient tomb from the Southern Dynasties that Shoushan stone carving has been in existence for some 1,500 years.

The stone carvings of the later Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties were generally Buddha statues, incense burners, rosaries and funeral figurines. During the Yuan and Ming (1271-1644), Shoushan stone also came to be used for seal carving. Later, craftsmen excelled in various carving styles and many different schools were formed. Types of Shoushan stone carving now include circular, relief, openwork hollowed out, boyi (shallow relief) and marquetry carving. Top craftsmen are able to create wonderful images by utilizing the natural contours and fine streaks of colour in the stone.

The Stone Carving Factory is located on June 1st Road in Fuzhou. It produces more than 1,000 different items known by the brand name Shoushan Stone Carving. The stone used is only quarried in the nearby village of Shoushan and is noted for its fine texture and transparent color. The most valuable type of stone used is called Tianhuang Stone or King Stone, which is said to be more expensive than gold. Shoushan Stone Carving has been produced for more than 1,500 years.

Bodiless Lacquer-ware & the Factory

Bodiless Lacquer-ware. This unique craft is considered one of China's three folk art treasures, together with Jingdezhen's porcelain and Beijing's Cloisonne. The creation of bodiless lacquer ware began with clay, plastic or wooden mould, with raw lacquer used as glue. Then the "body" is wrapped in layers of ramie or silk. After the mould has dried, the body is removed and finished with polishing, delineating and embellishing.

From 1898 to 1936 Fuzhou's bodiless lacquer-ware won many gold prizes in the World Expos held in Panama, Paris, Tokyo and Berlin. In recent years artists have developed their skills in furbishing, designing and embossing, while at the same time they have created new techniques which combine those used in jade, stone, ivory and wood carving.

Situated on May 4th Street in Fuzhou, the Bodiless Lacquer-ware Factory has an international reputation for making fine lacquer-wares. Graceful shapes, colors, luster and patterns are key features of this award winning lacquer-ware. Bodiless lacquer-ware has been produced for over 200 years and is noted for its lightness and durability. The factory produces over 3,000 different items such as standing screens, hanging panels, human figurines vases, plates, and boxes. Fuzhou bodiless lacquer-ware, Beijing cloisonné and the porcelain made in Jingdezhen are known as the 3 treasures of Chinese arts and crafts.

Dongjiekou Department Store

Tel: 86-591-753 6200

Huadu Shopping Paradise

Tel: 86-591-335 3666

Lakeside Hote Shopping Center

Specialty: Garments, pearls and jewels, watches, arts & crafts

Fuzhou Lianbang Emporium

Add: No. 47, Wuyi Zhong Lu

Bus route: take bus Nos. 908, 962, 959, 8, 801 etc. to Tiedao Dasha stop

Opening hour: 9:00-22:00

Hot Spring Hotel Shopping Center

Add: 218 May 4th Rd.

Specialty: Handicrafts, cosmetics, food, leather products

Tel: 86-591-7851 818

Foreign Trade Center Hotel Shopping Center

Specialty: Pearls, jewels, ornaments, rare and precious herbs materials

Tel: 86-591-7523 388

Haishan Hotel Shopping Center

Specialty: Handicrafts, food, garments

Tel: 86-591-7557 766

Minjiang Hotel Trade Company

Add: 130 May 4th Rd.

Specialty: Food, articles for daily use, and handicrafts

Tel: 86-591-7557 895

Daily Articles Shopping

Fuzhou Hualian

Add: No. 125, Taijiang Lu

Bus route: take bus 51, or 1 to Taijiang stop

Opening hour: 9:00-21:00

Xinhuadu Shopping Square

Add: No. 162, Wusi Lu

Bus route: bus No. 5, 51, 817 to Gushanzuo Stop

Opening hour: 7:00-22:00

Fuzhou Da Li Jia Branch of Wal-mart Shopping Square

Add: Da Li Jia, No. 169, Wuyi Zhong Lu

Fuzhou Great Wall Branch of Wal-mart Shopping Square

Add: No. 615, Liuyi Bei Lu