In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, Quanzhou was one of the busiest ports in the world. Arab, Persian, Indian and Italian merchants lived in the city, which Marco Polo knew as Zayton, and ships loaded with silk, porcelain and tea left for the Indian Ocean. The port stood on the Fujian coast of southern China, at the mouth of the Jin river, and the whole system of temples, mosques, bridges, docks and kiln sites was listed by UNESCO in 2021 as Quanzhou, Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China.
Shihu Dock is one of the port facilities. It was a wharf on the bay where ships tied up, built in stone to withstand tides, and it remains a physical piece of that maritime story, a place where the port of the Song and Yuan dynasties can still be pictured.
For a foreign rider, China is a special case, and Quanzhou is no exception. Foreign motorcycles are generally allowed only with temporary permits and a registered guide, and foreigners cannot ride a local bike without a Chinese licence, so independent riding is difficult and often not possible. Many cities restrict motorbikes inside central areas. It is far more practical to arrive by train, rent a bicycle or take a taxi, and make the visit a day of walking.
Baiqi and Dongyuan are small towns near the site, with shops and cafes, and Quanzhou itself, a city of several million in its wider area, has everything you could need, including fuel, hotels and some of the best food in Fujian. Fresh seafood, oyster omelettes, peanut soup and sweet-sour noodles are the local specialities, and tea drinking is a serious pastime.
The climate is subtropical, with hot, humid summers and typhoons from July to September, and mild winters. October to December and March to April are the most pleasant times, with warm days and clear skies. Wander along the old streets, find a quiet courtyard and let the past catch up.