More than 150 years ago, French naval officer Prosper Giquel came to Fuzhou to help establish the Fujian Shipbuilding School. This marked the beginning of a longstanding friendship between Fuzhou and France. Today, this historic bond continues to inspire new chapters of cultural exchange.
On November 10, a cultural and tourism promotion event showcasing Fuzhou made its way to Paris, bringing together representatives of Atout France (the French Tourism Development Agency), professionals from the international cultural, tourism, and aviation industries, media representatives, and other distinguished guests. With Fuzhou’s rich cultural heritage at its heart, the event gave guests a chance to experience the city’s distinctive charm amid the romantic atmosphere of Paris.
The event opened with a spirited performance of “Three Knives” Hairpins, a dance inspired by Fuzhou’s centuries-old hairstyling tradition. Adorned with the traditional “Three Knives” hairpins, a unique element of Fuzhou’s intangible cultural heritage, the dancers brought traditional feminine adornment and the cultural charm of Fuzhou to life through graceful movements, instantly energizing the atmosphere.
In his address, Duluc, President of the Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (AIT), highlighted Fuzhou’s rich cultural and tourism resources and its distinctive appeal as a city steeped in intangible cultural heritage. He noted that Fuzhou’s popularity as an international travel destination continues to grow and that the city has been included in the Global Top 100 Tourism Destinations list. The event provided international tourism professionals with an opportunity to further explore Fuzhou’s tourism potential, share the history of cultural exchange and longstanding ties between Fuzhou and France, and showcase the city’s enduring beauty and timeless appeal, inspiring more international visitors to discover and experience Fuzhou.
Marie-Pierre Boucher Hollier, Special Adviser and Honorary Secretary-General of UN Tourism, noted in her address that Fuzhou already enjoys a degree of recognition in international tourism markets and has considerable potential as a tourist destination. She expressed hope that market research would pave the way for more French tourism professionals and media representatives to visit Fuzhou on familiarization trips. She also emphasized the importance of raising Fuzhou’s profile in international markets through overseas promotional campaigns, participation in international tourism trade shows, and stronger cooperation between China and France in tourism, gastronomy, tea, and wine. By pursuing these initiatives and tapping into the Chinese community in France to share stories about Fuzhou, she said, the city could showcase its unique appeal to a wider French audience.
At the promotion event, the Fuzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism presented the city’s key cultural and tourism offerings through three signature routes: the Cultural Heritage Axis, the Picturesque Minjiang River, and the Coastal Charm Route. By linking these attractions into a cohesive tourism network and highlighting the city’s scenic beauty, the presentation offered Parisian audiences a vivid glimpse of Fuzhou, a city where magnificent mountains meet beautiful coastlines.
Cultural and tourism services were another highlight of the event. Building on the 240-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign nationals arriving through Fuzhou Changle International Airport, the city is also working to better coordinate immigration clearance procedures with cultural and tourism services. To cater to the diverse interests of European travelers, a range of tailored travel itineraries was unveiled, featuring themes such as Fuzhou’s local culture, hot spring wellness experiences, and spectacular mountain and coastal scenery. These offerings aim to encourage European visitors to turn transit stops into longer stays and enjoy smoother, more immersive travel experiences through a variety of themed itineraries.
A signing ceremony for a cultural promotion partnership focused on Fuzhou jasmine tea, one of the city’s intangible cultural heritage treasures, was also held during the event. Using jasmine tea as a cultural bridge, the two parties will work together to promote Fuzhou’s intangible cultural heritage in France through presentations, exchanges, and collaborative initiatives.
At the event in France, Fuzhou stepped up its efforts to showcase its cultural heritage to an international audience, presenting a rich collection of traditional handicrafts and creative cultural products. Fuzhou’s distinctive intangible cultural heritage crafts, including traditional oil-paper umbrellas, cork carvings, and lacquerware, proved particularly popular with French guests, attracting considerable attention at the event. These exquisite works offered visitors an up-close look at the city’s cultural heritage and artistic traditions. Hands-on cultural experiences also drew enthusiastic participation. Guests tried their hand at traditional rubbing techniques to create prints of the Chinese character “Fu”, make colorful lacquer-painted fans, and sample Fuzhou jasmine tea. Through these interactive experiences and the opportunity to savor local tea, visitors gained a deeper appreciation of Fuzhou’s cultural warmth and heritage as the “Land of Blessings”. Meanwhile, a captivating photo exhibition at the entrance to the event offered guests another window into Fuzhou. Visitors paused to admire the photographs and exchange impressions, discovering the city’s natural beauty and dynamic growth. Through these images, they gained a glimpse of a city where tradition and modernity thrive side by side, and where mountains, sea, and cultural heritage come together in harmony.
The story of friendship between Fuzhou and France continues to unfold, bridging the past and the present. Building on more than a century of friendship, Fuzhou will continue to improve services for inbound travelers, making it easier for international visitors to explore the city, while developing more cultural and tourism offerings tailored to their interests. Fuzhou looks forward to welcoming more visitors from France to experience the city’s unique cultural charm firsthand and to write new chapters in China-France cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
