I used to think Quanzhou was beautiful enough, until I discovered Zhangzhou! A 3-day in-depth travel guide to avoid the crowds and still eat well
by ALEXANDRA WOLFE
Oct 7, 2025
I. Overview
This Citywalk starts from Zhangzhou Sanbao Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel, visiting Xiyuan Lake Ecological Park🌳, Zhangzhou Three Museums🏛, Zhangzhou Ancient City🏮, and Longjiang Years🌃. In one day, you'll deeply experience Zhangzhou's natural beauty🌬, cultural heritage📚, and urban vibrancy🎇, easily unlocking the unique charm of Zhangzhou✨
II. Detailed Itinerary
1. Xiyuan Lake Ecological Park🌳
Location: Right outside the hotel🚪, step into this lush natural paradise🌱
Highlights: Perfect for morning walks or jogging🏃. Along the lakeside path, enjoy the gentle breeze on your face😌. If lucky, you might catch egrets gracefully flying over the lake🦢, creating a vibrant ecological scene🖼. Every photo captures the fresh natural beauty📸
Duration: Recommended 1-2 hours⏱ to slowly enjoy this peaceful beauty and relax in nature🧘♀
2. Zhangzhou Three Museums🏛
Transportation: Short taxi ride from Xiyuan Lake Ecological Park🚖
Highlights:
Art Museum (closed on Mondays): Rotating exhibitions featuring paper-cutting, wood carving, woodblock prints, and various artworks🎨. Check official platforms for latest exhibition updates🤓
Museum (closed on Mondays): Step into Zhangzhou's history🕰. Rich collections include ancient ceramics telling stories of the prosperous Maritime Silk Road📜. Exquisite wood and stone carvings showcase Minnan traditional craftsmanship. The puppet exhibits are particularly eye-catching. Zhangzhou puppet carving was listed as National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006🌟, known for distinct character personalities, rich expressions, exaggerated designs🤡, and unique regional characteristics.
Planning Museum (closed on Sundays): Features a huge city sand table with professional guides📣, clearly showing Zhangzhou's layout🗺. Interactive area includes motion-sensing games🎮 and virtual driving🚗, offering immersive urban planning experience and vision of Zhangzhou's future🌟, showcasing the spark between technology and urban development💥
Duration: 3-4 hours⏱ to explore the ocean of knowledge and expand your horizons📚
3. Zhangzhou Ancient City🏮
Transportation: Take taxi or bus from Three Museums🚌
Highlights: Well-preserved Ming and Qing style arcade streets, historic stone paths🏮. Many street foods including noodles in gravy🍜, four-fruit soup🥣, hand-pulled noodles, each bite authentic Zhangzhou flavor😋. Traditional handicrafts and vintage items in specialty shops preserve Zhangzhou's unique memories🎁
Duration: 2-3 hours⏱ to slowly explore and experience the ancient city's relaxed pace🕰
4. Longjiang Years🌃
Transportation: Take taxi from Ancient City🚖
Highlights: At night🌃, Longjiang Years transforms into a brilliantly lit world💫. Colorful lights outline riverside buildings, reflecting on Jiulong River's sparkling surface, creating a dreamlike scene🌈. Shops are brightly lit and bustling🎉, food aromas waft through the air🍖, tourists crowd the streets👨👩👧👦, full of urban vitality🎇. Walking here, feeling the river breeze, you're immersed in a vibrant nightlife scene😌
Duration: 1-2 hours⏱ to immerse in this romantic and lively atmosphere, enjoying the unique beauty of night🌙
III. Tips
.Apply sunscreen😎 and insect repellent🦟 when visiting Xiyuan Lake Ecological Park in summer.
.Some exhibitions at Three Museums may require advance booking📱. Check official WeChat account for Art Museum exhibition updates📢. Advance booking recommended for Museum and Planning Museum to avoid wasted trips❌
.Wear comfortable shoes👟 for the stone paths in Ancient City for easy exploration🧐
.Check activity schedules at Longjiang Years in advance💁♀ for better planning and smoother journey🚀
Post by Abigail White22s | Apr 9, 2025






















