Quanzhou  is the largest city of Fujian Province, China. It borders all other prefecture-level cities in Fujian but two (Ningde and Nanping) and faces theTaiwan Strait.

The prefecture-level city of Quanzhou has an area of 11,245 square kilometres (4,342 sq mi) and, as of the 2010 Census, a population of 8,128,530 inhabitants.

Quanzhou has been called the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. From the Arabic name of the city, Zayton  the word satin would be coined. Zayton is also the word for olive and the symbol of peace in the Arabic and Persian languages.

 

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Xuzhou  is a major city in and the fourth largest prefecture-level city of Jiangsu Province, China. Its population is about 8,577,225.

The Xuzhou Railway Station is one of the largest Chinese railway stations. Xuzhou is one of the most important railway hubs in China.

Xiang Yu Horse Training Grounds, where the air is scented with gingko biloba and papaya, is filled with winding stone passageways and picturesque courtyards. Visitors won’t need to jostle others while taking pictures because the views are obstructed only by butterflies. There are also Terra Cotta soldiers in the area.

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Cangzhou is a prefecture-level city in eastern Hebei province, People’s Republic of China. At the 2010 census, Cangzhou’s built-up (or metro) area has a population of 1,205,814 inhabitants,

It lies approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) from the major port city of Tianjin, and 180 km (110 mi) from Beijing.

There is an old Iron Lion that was given the grand-sounding name “Zhen Hai Hou”, meaning “the Roar to Calm the Sea”. It was regarded as the symbol of this ancient city. The people did this to keep the tidal waters and Tsunami away.

The Hui ethnic minority make up nearly thirty-five percent of Cangzhou’s population, Botou Mosque will provide a good insight into the lifestyle of many of the local people.

 

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