Major city · China
Quanzhou泉州
Give Quanzhou 2 nights: the old town's temples, mosque and bridges are walkable, and it beats Xiamen on historic buildings. Skip if you only have 3 days in Fujian.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- Oct–Dec, Mar–Apr
- avoid Jul–Sep (typhoon season, 30°C+ humidity)avoid Jul–Sep (typhoon season, 86°F+ humidity)
- Airports
- JJN · XMN
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
Quanzhou was the eastern terminus of the Maritime Silk Road and, in the 13th century, one of the world's busiest ports — Marco Polo's Zaiton. UNESCO listed 16 Song-Yuan sites here in 2021. The old town is compact and walkable, the traffic is genuinely bad, and most travellers reach it by high-speed rail from Xiamen or Fuzhou.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Quanzhou, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyQuanzhou is generally safe for tourists; the real risks are traffic, summer heat and typhoons.
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportJJN Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport (In Jinjiang, across the river; domestic flights plus some to Hong Kong and other Asian cities.
- Getting aroundTaxis start around ¥8 (≈ US$2) and most old-town hops cost under ¥20 (≈ US$3).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee¥20–40 (≈ US$3–6)
- Street or quick mealNoodle soup or rice dish¥15–35 (≈ US$3–5)
- BeerBeer: draught in a bar / can at a convenience store¥15–30 (≈ US$3–5) / ¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi3.1 mi taxiMeter starts around ¥8.¥15–25 (≈ US$3–4)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week¥50–100 (≈ US$7–14)
- Museum or sight ticketTemple entry (Kaiyuan, Qingjing Mosque)¥3–10 (≈ US$1–2)
- Budget bedHostel or budget guesthouse bed, a night, per personCN¥80 (≈ US$12)
- Mid-range bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomCN¥400 (≈ US$60)
- High-end bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomCN¥800 (≈ US$120)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥300 (≈ US$45) · Mid CN¥600 (≈ US$85) · High CN¥1,200 (≈ US$170)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- JJN Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport (In Jinjiang, across the river; domestic flights plus some to Hong Kong and other Asian cities. Check current routes.) · XMN Xiamen Gaoqi International (More international connections; about 1 h by high-speed rail from Xiamen to Quanzhou.)
Weather and climate
Quanzhou: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
17°C63°F
10°C50°F
8 rd
Feb
17°C63°F
11°C52°F
10 rd
Mar
20°C68°F
13°C55°F
13 rd
Apr
24°C75°F
17°C63°F
13 rd
May
27°C81°F
21°C70°F
15 rd
Jun
30°C86°F
24°C75°F
15 rd
Jul
33°C91°F
26°C79°F
10 rd
Aug
33°C91°F
26°C79°F
12 rd
Sep
31°C88°F
25°C77°F
10 rd
Oct
27°C81°F
21°C70°F
6 rd
Nov
24°C75°F
17°C63°F
6 rd
Dec
19°C66°F
13°C55°F
6 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Taxis start around ¥8 and most old-town hops cost under ¥20. Local buses connect the station, museums and Luoyang Bridge. The old town is walkable; traffic is worse than most Chinese cities, so cross with care.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Luoyang Bridge
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Bus 19 or Tourist Bus 4 to the south side
One of China's four ancient bridges; free. Go early to avoid midday heat.
Jinjiang
goDoor to door: About 30–45 min
Bus or taxi south across the river
World's only surviving Manichean temple; also the airport.
Chongwu
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus from the railway station square
Walled old town and beach; a half-day.
Xiamen
overnightDoor to door: About 1 h
High-speed rail from Quanzhou Station
Better as a separate base than a day trip.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Licheng old town (near Kaiyuan Temple / West Street)
Walk to the temples, mosque and West Street shops; the best base for a short trip.
Fengze District (near the railway station / East Lake)
Closer to the high-speed rail station and the museums; less atmospheric, more practical with bags.
Jinjiang (south of the river)
Near the airport; a separate city administratively, useful for early flights.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥250–450 (≈ US$35–65) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥450–900 (≈ US$65–130) excl. bed
- High
- ¥900 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel double room1 × 2 nights × CN¥400 | CN¥800 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × CN¥600 | CN¥2,400 |
| High-speed rail Xiamen → Quanzhou, one way2 × CN¥35 · check | CN¥70 |
| Taxi across the old town1 × CN¥20 · check | CN¥20 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × CN¥70 | CN¥140 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CN¥343 |
| Trip total≈ CN¥943 per person per day, bed included | CN¥3,773≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in yuan; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | ¥20–40 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Noodle soup or rice dish | ¥15–35 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a convenience store | ¥15–30 (≈ US$3–5) / ¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2) |
| 5 km taxiMeter starts around ¥8. | ¥15–25 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Temple entry (Kaiyuan, Qingjing Mosque) | ¥3–10 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Qingyuan Mountain adult ticketDiscounts for children, students and seniors. | ¥70 (≈ US$10) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ¥50–100 (≈ US$7–14) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Traffic is aggressive even by Chinese standards — look both ways twice.
- Quanzhou Museum was closed for renovation as of April 2026: check before going.
- Summer brings typhoons and heavy rain; check forecasts if travelling Jul–Sep.
- Some temples charge small entry fees (¥3–10 (≈ US$1–2)); carry cash for those that don't take cards.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 120
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Quanzhou泉州
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire119
- Ambulance120
Embassy
Most countries have embassies in Beijing and consulates-general in Guangzhou or Shanghai; check your own country's nearest office. The US has a consulate-general in Xiamen (check the address).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- High-speed rail Xiamen → Quanzhou: about ¥35 (≈ US$5), 1 h (check)
- Taxi Quanzhou Station → old town: ¥30–50 (≈ US$5–7), about 25 min (check)
- Bus across town: ¥1–2 (≈ under US$1)
Say or show
- 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xièxiè)
- 多少钱？ — How much is it? (duōshǎo qián)
- 可以刷卡吗？ — Can I pay by card? (kěyǐ shuākǎ ma)
- 厕所在哪里？ — Where is the toilet? (cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ)
- 我不懂 — I don't understand (wǒ bù dǒng)
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Quanzhou. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Dec, Mar–Apr · avoid Jul–Sep (typhoon season, 30°C+ humidity) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for JJN and XMN: last high-speed departures, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters for the old town: Kaiyuan Temple and West Street, Tumen Street temples and mosque, Tianhou Gong and the south gate.
- Place pages with verified hours and fees (Kaiyuan Temple, Qingjing Mosque, Guan-Yue Temple, Maritime Museum, Qingyuan Mountain) and eat pages with last orders.
- Typhoon and summer-heat fixtures so gates A–D can go green.