Luojiang District 洛江区

Setting and landscape

Hui'an (惠安) and Xianyou (仙游) counties border the district to the northeast, Nan'an (南安) to the west and Fengze District (丰泽区) to the south. The north is mountainous, rising to Shuangji Mountain (双髻山) at 758 metres, while the south reaches Quanzhou Bay (泉州湾). The Luoyang is named by Chinese Wikipedia as Quanzhou's second-largest river.

What to see

Luoyang Bridge was begun in 1053 and completed in 1059, after Cai Xiang (蔡襄), prefect of Quanzhou, took charge of the work; the builders laid a raft foundation and raised oysters in the river to strengthen the base. The bridge rests on 46 piers and crosses a midstream island, Zhongzhou (中洲); its north end lies in Hui'an and its south end in Luojiang. Seven stone towers stand outside the railings and stone guardian figures watch each end. It became a national key protected site in 1988 and is one of the 22 component sites of the World Heritage property "Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China".

Xiangong Mountain (仙公山) is the district's noted mountain, linked with the cult of the Nine Immortals (九仙). Guifeng Yan (龟峰岩), a provincial protected site, is likened in shape to a tortoise drinking and has three temples side by side. The district also has the Hongshan waterfall (虹山瀑布) and a memorial hall to Yu Dayou (俞大猷纪念馆), the Ming general and martial artist whom the district names as its famous figure; Yu family staff fighting (俞家棍) is among its listed intangible heritage. Yang-En University (仰恩大学) is also in the district.

History and heritage

The area once belonged to Jinjiang County (晋江县) under Quanzhou prefecture. When the State Council divided the old Licheng District (鲤城区) into three on 3 June 1997, Luojiang was one of the new districts, and its government opened on 29 September that year.

The legend of Chen San and Wuniang (陈三五娘传说) is on the national intangible heritage list. Other listed traditions include the Xiangong Mountain legend, shiyin tongluo (十音铜锣) gong music and zhuanggaoren (妆糕人) craft.

Highlights

• Luoyang Bridge 洛阳桥: Stone estuary bridge built 1053–1059; part of the Quanzhou World Heritage property.
• Xiangong Mountain 仙公山: The district's noted mountain, linked with Nine Immortals worship.
• Guifeng Yan 龟峰岩: Provincial protected site with three temples side by side.
• Yu Dayou Memorial Hall 俞大猷纪念馆: Honours the Ming general and martial artist Yu Dayou.