Sights to See: Wenzhou, China

          The word “wen” in Chinese means “warm.”  Perhaps Wenzhou got its name because of its year-round mild weather.  It is not cold in winter and not hot in summer, and in fall it can be foggy and humid, seemingly always covered in a mist.  Centered around the Ou River--known as the Mother River of Wenzhou--it is positioned for fresh air and sea breezes.  Situated in Zhejiang Province in a cradle of mountains and water, on the coast between the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta, the city faces the East China Sea.  It is south of Shanghai--1 hour by plane, 3 to 4 hours by high-speed train.

China Eastern airplane lands at Wenzhou airport in China
          With a population of more than 6 million (143 people are over the age of 100, with the oldest being 106), Wenzhou is a modern city with many luxury hotels, good restaurants and bars, and varied shopping.  Construction and redevelopments seems to be going on everywhere.
Wenzhou skyline from Ou River in Wenzhou, China
          Wenzhou has a rich history that dates back more than 2,200 years, yet it feels young with vitality.  Renowned for its handicraft industry, it is one of China’s oldest artisan cities and especially known for its ceramics, but it also produces paper, silk textiles, and embroidery.  The area attracts many famous poets, writers and dignitaries, and mathematicians.
artist in Wenzhou, China
          For centuries, Wenzhou's location on the coast had many inhabitants relying on shipping, trading, and fishing for their livelihoods.  Now, shoes and electrical appliances produced here are sold both at home and abroad, and at one point Wenzhou manufactured 90% of the world’s eye-glass frames.
          The friendly citizens of Wenzhou are progressive and open to western ideas.  Millions of merchants have emigrated and started businesses throughout the world.  Most Chinese expats living in the U.S. come from here.
          So now, for a while, I will be posting about the many things to see and do in the spectacular area. 


More things to do in Wenzhou.

Things to do in China.  

More China items.

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images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers