Putian, Minnan's northernmost city, was settled in 568 A.D., and lies only 72 miles from Taizhong, Taiwan. Putian is not only rich in history and traditions, but also a very modern city. Putian's long coastline has the potential for 150 10,000—ton deep water berths, roughly half of the deep water berths planned for the entire country. It also has a rich natural and cultural heritage, including the beauty of nine carp falls, and the traditions of Southern Shaolin Kung Fu.
Putian is known as "Lichee City" because of the delectable fruit that has given Chinese Emperors more headaches than the apple gave Adam (who was certainly not Chinese; had Adam been Chinese, he'd have sold the apple and eaten the snake).
Putian is adjacent to the sea, and consequently the weather is moderate and humid all the year round. Enjoying a typical subtropical oceanic monsoon climate, the city has plentiful rainfall and adequate sunshine. The weather in spring and autumn is favorable and cool.
Meizhou Island is close to the shore of Putian, Fujian, China. It is most famous for being the birthplace of the goddess Matsu. Meizhou has 38,000 inhabitants, most of which have traditionally been in fishery.
The Heavenly Empress Palace-Meizhou Ancestral Temple started as a small shrine soon after Matsu's death in the 10th century. It is now renovated and greatly enlarged to accommodate the pilgrims.
