Meihua Town, Changle District, Fuzhou

Meihua Town, Changle District, Fuzhou, sits on the southern bank of the Min River Estuary. Nestled between hills and the sea, it guards the southern gateway to the Min River and serves as a vital water and land transportation hub. It was first named Meihua Ward during the Wude reign of the Tang Dynasty. A patrol department was established here in the Song and Yuan dynasties. In 1377, the 10th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, a fortress was built and a garrison set up, marking the official formation of the town.

An ancient port along the Maritime Silk Road, Meihua Port was the main departure point for imperial missions to Ryukyu and a key hub for tributary trade between China and Ryukyu, bearing witness to over 500 years of exchanges between the two sides. Blending coastal defense, Maritime Silk Road heritage, fishery culture and overseas Chinese traditions, the town embodies the spirit of connecting rivers, seas and the wider world. It is a shining pearl along the cultural corridor of the Min River Estuary.