A Day in Zhangzhou: Discovering the Best Pickled Peaches Ever

In June, I spent a day in Zhangzhou with my mother, who is nearly 80 years old. We explored the ancient city by strolling leisurely through its streets, taking in the old relics and listening to her recount the hardships of her early life. Walking along Taiwan Road, we turned into an alley and came across a fruit shop that was about to close for the day. There, I spotted some bright red pickled peaches that immediately made my mouth water. The elderly shopkeeper proudly explained that she had carefully selected the peaches and spent two hours preparing them, ensuring they were absolutely delicious. Initially, we bought just two peaches, eating them as we walked away from the shop. But the taste was so incredible that I couldn’t resist going back to buy the last two peaches left in the bucket! I wanted to buy more, but unfortunately, there were none left. Zhangzhou’s ancient city offers several attractions, including Wenchang Gate, a department store with a hotel reception on its rooftop where you can capture a panoramic view of the city (a must-see!), Zhongshan Park, the Catholic Church next to the park, bookstores, the Zhangzhou Ancient City Memory Museum, the Puppet Art Exhibition Hall, the Confucian Temple, stone archways, and more. The streets exude a mix of Minnan (southern Fujian) charm and a touch of Republican-era style. This day in Zhangzhou was not only a culinary delight with the pickled peaches but also a heartwarming experience of strolling with my mother and revisiting childhood memories.