Kaiyuan Si (Kaiyuan Temple) is Quanzhou's largest Buddhist temple; and one of China's most beautiful. The temple dates back to the late 7th century (Tang Dynasty); but its two pagodas were later additions; constructed in the 13th century. They have managed to survive largely as they are built of stone; not wood.

A thousand years ago Quanzhou was arguably the world's most significant port; with a lucrative position at the centre of the maritime silk trade.

It prospered enormously during the Song and Yuan dynasties; when it was visited by Marco Polo (the port was known as Zaytoun then) and played host to thousands of Arab merchants; many of whom made fortunes introducing Chinese inventions such as gunpowder and printing to the West.

The port fell into irreversible decline following the restrictions on maritime trade imposed by the Ming emperors in the 15th century.