Zhangzhou city in East China's Fujian province boasts an inclusive maritime culture and a deeply rooted Hakka culture. The beauty of its mountains and seas intertwines with its millennia-old civilization.

Members of the 2024 A Date with China international media tour visited Zhangzhou from May 19 to 21, exploring its ecological and cultural beauty.

The timeless charm of a 1,300-year-old ancient town

The Zhangzhou Ancient City, with a history spanning more than 1,300 years, is an important birthplace of the Hakka culture - rooted in migrants in southern China who originated from lands adjacent to the Yellow River. It's also a vital stop on the Maritime Silk Road.

The commercial prosperity of the Tang (618-907), Song (960-1279), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties merged here, leaving a legacy of historical affluence.

A visit to the historic city would not be complete without experiencing its renowned glove puppet shows, which have a history of more than 1,000 years. Members of the 2024 A Date with China tour watched the puppetry performance, Daming Prefecture, on May 19, which featured traditional stunts such as acrobatics, lion dancing and martial arts.

After the show, French freelance photographer Jeremy Walter Grinan said: "The story is easy to understand. After a minute or two, you'll find yourself laughing unconsciously. There are no (digital) special effects and no modern technology, yet it's still very entertaining. Perhaps it's been so enjoyable for over a thousand years."

Moreover, Zhangzhou Ancient City hosts a wide array of intangible cultural heritage, including puppet head carving, woodblock New Year prints and paper-cutting. The old town also contains a wealth of historical and cultural landmarks. Among them are three nationally protected sites: the Grand Hall of Confucius Temple, the Stone Archway of the Ming Dynasty and the Zhangzhou Lin Family Ancestral Hall.

Tulou, ancient wisdom preserved in earthen architecture

The Fujian tulou, or earthen buildings, are variously-sized circular and rectangular buildings mostly set among rice, tea and tobacco fields, and some can house up to 800 people.

Several stories high, the multifamily communal living structures were first designed for defense purposes. In 2008, the buildings became well-known after 46 of them, constructed between the 15th and 20th centuries, were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List as a unique residential architecture of Fujian province.

As the saying goes: "People who haven't seen the Tianluokeng tulou cluster haven't seen the real tulou." Lying halfway up the mountains of Nanjing county, the Tianluokeng cluster is the most iconic of the Fujian tulou. It's among the UNESCO-listed ones, alongside the Hekeng tulou cluster, Huaiyuanlou and Heguilou - the largest rectangular one, with five stories built on the soft swamp.

Nanjing county is home to more than 15,000 tulou, making it a must-visit for travelers in Fujian. Statistics show that Nanjing's tulou scenic area received more than 3.7 million visitors in 2023, generating tourism revenue of 2.6 billion yuan ($358 million).

In addition to sightseeing, visitors can also experience intangible cultural heritage performances in Nanjing such as puppet shows inside tulou, offering deeper insights into the local culture.

Reflecting on his visit to Nanjing, Jeremy Grinan said: "Tulou was super nice. The people I met there were super welcoming."

"During our visit, it was raining, adding to the sense of calm and serenity. You could see the clouds hanging between the mountains and enjoy local tea while listening to the rain falling on the wooden walls," Grinan added. "It felt like stepping into an old kung fu movie."

The Nanjing county government has considered heritage preservation and tourism development equally important. Many structures of the earthen buildings, due to their age, face issues such as wall erosion and surface damage. Official data shows that Nanjing has invested 8 million yuan in recent years in the restoration of tulou buildings, including repairing roof leaks and cleaning drainage systems.

Dongshan, a treasure trove of sea culture

Located in Zhangzhou city, Dongshan is the sixth largest island county in China. Its azure skies, blue water, majestic bays, white sands, lush forests and scattered islands form a picturesque landscape.

Famous tourist destinations in Dongshan include the iconic Wind-moving Stone, the Nanmen Bay and the Guandi Temple which worships Guan Yu, an ancient general from the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) known for his courage and faith. The worship of Guan Yu is still prevalent throughout China today.

Recalling her visit to Dongshan, Tunisian journalist Derouiche Asma said: "I like it so much. It reminds me of my hometown, with blue beaches, bird songs and vast blue skies. It took me back to the times with my family on vacation."

"The island is shaped like a butterfly," she added.