Not Wuyuan, not Jingdezhen! This underrated city in Jiangxi is a true treasure｜Fall in love at first sight

✅ Fuzhou｜A cultural capital full of talents Northern Song Dynasty thinker Wang Anshi, great prose writer Zeng Gong, lyric giants Yan Shu and Yan Jidao, Southern Song philosopher Lu Jiuyuan, Ming Dynasty playwright Tang Xianzu, and many others are all from Fuzhou. We have never met them, but their words and names are so familiar—from textbooks to popular tales. Walking the streets of Fuzhou today, perhaps the stone paths beneath your feet were once walked by these literary masters! ✅ Fuzhou｜Old City Museum Strolling through Wenchangli, you will find the streets and alleys filled with the dreamlike longing of "The Peony Pavilion." Even more enchanting are the various intangible cultural heritage shops: Jinxi bamboo weaving, Lichuan ceramics, wood carving skills, colorful knotting, and the stories of the Chinese Opera Museum’s Liyuan. Wander casually and you might unexpectedly encounter Yulong Wanshou Palace, Wenchang Bridge, Zhengjue Temple, the Catholic Church, Xiaoyi Bridge, and more. Their stories grow richer and more vivid with the flourishing culture. It’s worth noting that Fuzhou is neither rushed nor lax; it develops steadily at its own pace. Many traditional crafts may not be as flashy as modern art, but they carry a gentle warmth and depth shaped by the passage of time. ✅ Fuzhou｜Dreaming of The Peony Pavilion As the hometown of Tang Xianzu, Fuzhou never lacks romance and deep affection. At night, as the lights come on in Wenchangli, an immersive performance of "Dreaming of The Peony Pavilion" begins. Being there, feelings arise unknowingly and run deep. While many cities offer immersive performances, the unique experience of "The Peony Pavilion" can only be truly understood in Fuzhou, where the tragic love story between the official’s daughter Du Liniang and scholar Liu Mengmei unfolds. ✅ Fuzhou｜Zhuqiao Ancient Village This is an ancient village founded at the end of the Yuan and beginning of the Ming Dynasty, mainly featuring Gan-style architecture. The village is not very large but has several winding alleys. There are also a few crescent-shaped ponds that at first glance resemble the Moon Pond in Hongcun, Huangshan. The nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage of woodblock printing is hidden here, with two ancient woodblock printing workshop sites preserved within the village. If you come here, try experiencing the joy of woodblock printing yourself. When sunlight filters through the pomelo trees in the courtyard and the breeze stirs, the faint fragrance blends with the scent of ink on the desk, instantly immersing you in the moment, unable to pull away. —————————————— The first time I came to Fuzhou, I visited the places mentioned above. My initial visit left a deep impression, and this Jiangxi intangible cultural heritage trip (which also included Wuyuan, Yanshan, Yingtan, and other places) gave me a new understanding of Jiangxi (to be shared in another post). As for Fuzhou, I had long heard of the romance of "The Peony Pavilion," and the classic line "feelings arise unknowingly and run deep" had deeply imprinted itself in my heart at some unknown time. But I had no sensory impression of Fuzhou, the place where it all happened. Until this time, from Zhuqiao Ancient Village to Wenchangli, Fuzhou allowed me to find a sense of peace and cultural belonging amid the hustle and bustle of modern life. Often, in an unexpected moment, I would seek the sound of pine winds and crane shadows in my inner world, listening to the birdsong and fragrance of the green mountains and clear waters. This is probably the charm of a cultural capital (a hometown of talented scholars). It may be low-key, but once you get close, you will "feelings arise unknowingly and run deep."