Quanzhou
Medieval Chinese port known as Zaiton, a global trade hub.
Quanzhou is a prefecture-level port city on the north bank of the Jin River, beside the Taiwan Strait in southern Fujian, People's Republic of China. Quanzhou was China's major port for foreign traders, known as Zaiton, during the 11th through 14th centuries, and was visited by both Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta, who praised it as one of the most prosperous and glorious cities in the world.
- location
- Southern Fujian, People's Republic of China
- historical_period_of_importance
- 11th through 14th centuries
- known_as
- Zaiton (Arabic name)
Lore & Background
Muslim traders reached the city early in its existence, alongside existing trade at Guangzhou and Yangzhou.
Reader's Guide
Quanzhou's significance lies in its role as a major port for foreign traders from the 11th through 14th centuries, when it was known as Zaiton. It was a cosmopolitan center with Buddhist and Hindu temples, Islamic mosques, and Christian churches, including a Catholic cathedral and Franciscan friaries. The city served as the naval base for Mongol attacks on Japan and Java. Japanese trade shifted to Ningbo and Zhapu, and other foreign trade was restricted to Guangzhou. In the 19th century, Quanzhou became an opium-smuggling center, but siltation of its harbor hindered trade by larger ships.
Did You Know?
- Quanzhou was known as Zaiton in British and American historical sources, derived from the Arabic name meaning 'olive'.
- It was visited by both Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta, who praised it as one of the most prosperous cities in the world.
- The city was the naval base from which Mongol attacks on Japan and Java were primarily launched.
More in Cities On Rivers 1-24
Elsewhere in the Cities On Rivers universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record