Wenzhou Travel Guide - Brief Information on Wenzhou

Wenzhou is situated in Zhejiang Province that covers 11,784 square km of the land area and 11,000 square km of the sea. With the population of about 8 million people, it has 3 districts, 2 county-level cities and 6 counties. It is one of the first 14 cities in China that was opened to the outside world and also the economic and cultural center of Zhejiang Province.

Wenzhou is a subtropical monsoon climate region with four distinctive seasons and plenty of rainfall. The annual average temperature is 17.3-19.4 degrees centigrade. January has the lowest temperature of 4.9-9.9 degrees centigrade and July has the highest temperature of 26.7-29.6 degrees centigrade. It is not too cold or not too hot in Wenzhou.

Wenzhou is a coastal city with a long history. It was called “Ou City” or “East Ou” in the ancient times. Ou, is the name of a kind of pottery vessel. In 192 B.C., it was the territory of Zou Yao, who was the king of East Ou. The old town of Wenzhou was built in 323 A.D during East Jin Dynasty. In 675 A.D. it was named Wenzhou due to its mild and humid climate throughout four seasons.

Wenzhou is famous for its superior handicraft industry. It is one of the cradle lands of celadon.  Paper-making, ship-building, silk, embroidery, lacquer, shoes etc...have an important place in Wenzhou’s history. Wenzhou is the birthplace of the landscape poetry, the cradle of Chinese arithmetic and also the hometown of the south opera, which is the earliest opera of South China.

Wenzhou, also known for its beautiful landscape has two major national scenic spots, two national natural reserves, seven major provincial scenic spots and two major national protected cultural reserves.