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Introduction-The Largest Port in the Orient

This old residential building in western Quanzhou boasts some exquisite carvings around the doorways.

At first Guangzhou was the port of call for most merchant vessels, however, due to outbreaks of war and official corruption, traffic there began to decrease. Quanzhou was the only port that was politically stable and had a healthy trade environment. It also had the advantage of being an excellent natural harbour close to the capital Hangzhou, and for these reasons soon developed into the largest port in China.
By the end of the Song Dynasty the Maritime Administration of Foreign Trade had been set up in Quanzhou, a hotel was specially built to receive foreign envoys, and privileges were granted to encourage them to do business with Chinese people. An Arab who had acquired Chinese citizenship was appointed head of the office, and his wide contacts with the Arab world brought more Arabian ships to Quanzhou. In those days, a full quarter of the country's revenue came from this one office.

During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Quanzhou continued to receive great attention and support from the imperial court. For 300 years it remained China's major port, and was considered as important to world trade as Egypt's famed city of Alexandria.

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