Quanzhou has many local specialties. Longan, a kind of very precious fruit, is famous for its tenderness and sweetness. Dried Longan-Guiyuan is one of the most nourishing foods. Chinese Tea is also widely grown around the city, especially in Anxi County. There, Tieguanyin (a kind of Wulong Tea) is sold both at home and overseas. Quanzhou also boasts of its long history of traditional handicrafts. The most representative are puppet-heads, porcelain carving, stone carving, and bamboo knitting.

If you want to buy souvenirs, go to the Licheng District. There are two streets specifically laid out with the traveler in mind. Back City Street (Houcheng Street), the tourism cultural street of Quanzhou, is located between Tumen Street and Jiuyi Street. Stores along the street are of the traditional Minnan (South Fujian) style and they specialize in various folk handicrafts. The other street is called 'Zhuangyuan Street' which is a pedestrian shopping street between Zhongshan Road and Nanjun Road. Within the elegant and tasteful environment, it features flowers, gifts, handicrafts and other local souvenirs.

Other busy streets in which to shop include Zhongshan Road, which is in the center of the city and the main symbol of the city; Tumen Street, which is in the middle section of Zhongshan Road and famous for shopping, dining, and religious culture as well as Daxi Street, which is an extremely busy street between Jiuyi Road and Zhongshan Road. Without doubt you will be greatly satisfied with the variety of goods sold in these streets.

Recommended Shopping Centers

Xinhuadu Shopping Plaza
Address: Tianan Road, Fengze District

Baihui Shopping Center
Address: No.82, Tumen Street, Licheng District

Grand Ocean (Dayang) Shopping Center
Address: Fuhua Commercial Center, Wenling Road, Fengze District}

Langchao Department Store
Address: Daxi Street, Lijie District

Hualian Shopping Plaza
Address: Yiquan Street, Lijian District