Location: Nanping, the largest city of Fujian,
lies in the north of the province. It is bordered by Zhejiang
and Jiangsu in its northeast and northwest. Being a frontier of
economic development, Nanping is a vital pass of Fujian open to
vast land of the country.
History: Nanping is one of the important birthplaces
of Fuijan's culture, and it is also one of the places in Fujian
that gained the earliest exploration thousands of years ago. As
early as 1,800 years ago during the Eastern Han Dynasty, administrative
system was established here. Even its younger counties, such as
Jianyang, Shaowu and Wuyishan, have been existed for about a thousand
years.
Physical Features: Lower mountains and hills
construct the main landform of the city. Nanping is surrounded
by mountains in the east, the west and the north. The whole terrain
declines towards its central and southern part. Within the city,
mountains and hills meander and rivers crisscross. Along the rivers,
there are valleys dotted.
Climatic Features: Nanping bears a subtropical
oceanic monsoon climate, and the weather is humid and moderate
all the year round. Autumn is warmer than spring. The average
temperature of the hottest July lies between 28 and 29 degree
centigrade (82.4 and 84.2 degree Fahrenheit), while that of January
is 6-9 degree centigrade (42.8-48.2 degree Fahrenheit). April
to June is Nanping's plum rain period.
When to Go: Without extreme heat and cold, the
city is favorable for visiting during the whole year.
Local Highlights: China Wuyi Mountain Tourist
Festival (Mid-May)
Special Local Products: Job's tears rice, edible
fungus, tea, lotus seed
Scenic Spots:
Mount Wuyi
lies 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) south of Wuyishan City (formerly
Chong'an County), ranking among the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage List in 1999. It contains a perfect biodiversity conservation
characterized by a complete species of plants, wild animals in
an intact natural environment. It also has the historical ruins
of the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD). Charms of the Mount Wuyi
are much more beyond that mentioned above.
As a historical site, it has the boat-shaped hanging coffins which
said to be the earliest cliff hanging coffins among extant ones.
The ancient Han relics display the ups and downs of more than
2,300 years. 426 pieces of cliffside inscriptions ranging from
the Song (960-1279) to the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties are precious
cultural treasures. Wuyi Rock Tea and techniques of making bohea
constitute its unique tea culture.
Mount Wuyi also inherits the gifts by nature. The Nine Bend Brook
and the spectacular peeks and rock set each other off excellently.
It is a natural arboretum boasting the most typical, largest and
intact subtropical protophyte ecosystem in the same latitudes
around the world. Apart from a large and complete conversation
of plant and animal species, the mountain has the spectacular
Danxia landscape, either, which could be well admired by drifting
along the meandering Nine Bend Brook.
Tourist Tips:
1. Wuyishan Airport is situated east to the Wuyi Dadao in the
southern outskirt of Wuyishan City, both 7 kilometers (4.3 miles)
from the downtown Wuyishan and Mount Wuyi Scenic Area. Direct
flight routes to Fuzhou, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Xiamen
are offered every day. In addition, there are three flights to
Hong Kong and Xian, three to Shenzhen every week.
2. Nanping's bus station stands in the Binhai Road, Yanping District.
By the express way, Nanping can be reached from Fuzhou within
3 hours.
3. Shangrao in Jiangxi Province, Nanping and Shaowu are the main
passes to Mount Wuyi. It is about 3 hours from downtown Nanping
and Shaowu to the Mount Wuyi, and 4 hours are needed from Shangrao.
Within the scenic area, charted vehicle may be wanted for individual
tourists.