Quanzhou Xunpu Village

Xunpu Village（蟳埔村）is a small fishing village in Donghai community, Fengze district, Quanzhou city, Fujian province. It is about 10 kilometers away from Quanzhou city center. Xunpu was an important port of the Maritime Silk Road, and the villagers are descendants of ancient Arabs. The most distinctive features of Xunpu village are the oyster shell houses and the women who wear flower hairpins. Here, you can admire the fish-scale-like oyster shell houses, see the smiling faces of Xunpu women, and experience the folk culture of wearing fresh flowers on your hair.

Top things to do in Xunpu

Visit the oyster shell houses

As you enter Xunpu village, you will notice the unique walls resembling fish scales, which are the distinctive oyster shell houses of Xunpu. These buildings are primarily constructed using oyster shells and bricks, utilizing local resources to replace ordinary red bricks with oyster shells. The walls made of oyster shells could reflect sunlight, effectively reducing indoor temperatures and achieving a warm environment in winter and coolness in summer. Additionally, these sharp and clear oyster shell walls do not accumulate rainwater easily nor corrode easily, making them highly suitable for the humid coastal climate. The extensive gray-white oyster shells interwoven with white granite create a primitive yet simplistic artistic ambiance. Particularly under sunlight, these walls glisten like silver scales, showcasing their uniqueness and beauty.

Address: No. 1817, Dongbin Road, Fengze District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province

Wear flowery headwear

In Xunpu village, besides the unique oyster shell buildings, you can also see many women wearing "Zanhuawei" (簪花围) – a type of flowery headwear has been a signature of “Xunpu Women Costoms”. Zanhuawei are a kind of women's hair accessory, which are made of various fresh flowers or silk flowers. They are worn on the hair that is coiled into a snail shape, and then fixed with an ivory hairpin, forming a unique beauty. If it coincides with major events such as weddings, festivals, or Mazu pilgrimages, the hair accessories will be grander, not only full of flowers, but also with gold ornaments. This kind of women's hair accessory is said to be a custom spread by Arabs in the Song and Yuan dynasties, and has now been included in the list of intangible cultural heritage of Fujian province. Along the village entrance, there are lots of shop where you can wear the flowery headwear to take photos. 

In addition to the oyster shell houses and the Xunpu flowery headwear, Xunpu village also has many other attractions and activities that you can check out. 

For example, you can go to the Mazu temple -- Shunji Palace（顺济宫）, visit the sea goddess Mazu, learn about her legends and beliefs, and feel her grace and blessing. You can also go to the Xunpu women painting base（蟳蜅女写生基地）, watch the paintings of Xunpu women, and appreciate their artistic talent and creativity. You can also go to the Guandi Temple（关帝庙）, learn about his story, and participate in the rituals and temple fairs. You can also go to see the century-old banyan tree（百年大榕树）, watch this ancient plant, and feel its vitality and aura. Finally, you can also go to the Xunpu pier（浔埔码头）, watch the fishing boats come and go, and enjoy the beautiful and spectacular sunset to end the day's journey.

How to get there:

Take bus K304, 44, or 39 to Xunpu Food Market station（浔埔菜市）.