The province of Fujian is located on the southeastern coast of China. It has a 3324 kilometer (2065 miles) long coastline and covers an area of 124,000 square kilometers (47 877 sq miles). Fuzhou is the capital city of this province.
It shares its northern and southern borders with the provinces of Zhejiang and Guangdong, respectively. Jiangxi is its western neighbour with the Taiwan Straits to the east.
This province experiences a subtropical climate, where winters are also warm. The summers are hot and sticky and typhoons from the Pacific, often hit the province during the summer months.
Annual average temperature: 17º C - 21º C (62ºF - 69º F)
Average frost-free period: - days
Average rainfall: 1400 - 2000mm per year (55" - 79")
In 2005, the province of Fujian had a total population of 35.35 million residents. Fujian has 48 ethnic groups, the Han being the largest. The She people are the biggest minority ethnic group in the province. Other minority groups include the Hoklo, Foochow, Teochew, Hui'an, Putian and Hui people.
Fujian delicacies are light, soft and tenderly cooked with many different flavours. The chefs usually emphasize the umami - in China known as xianwèi or "fresh flavour" - cooking taste thus preserving the original taste and flavour of the ingredients. Chefs in this region are known for their excellent knife skills and unique cooking techniques.
Seafood, shrimp and river fish symbolize the food of this province. Apart from using fermented fish sauce for cooking crabs, prawns and oysters, chefs frequently use peanuts as well. Mee Sua, a form of noodles, and oolong tea are Fujian specialties.
Being a hilly region, Fujian has very little land for farming. The main crops include rice, wheat, barley and sweet potatoes. Among the cash crops, rapeseed and sugarcane are cultivated. This province is one of the major producers of longan along with lychees, tea and seafood.
The nominal GDP of this province in 2008 was 1.0823 trillion Yuan and the per capita GDP reached 30,123 Yuan.
