Wenzhou

Wenzhou is a city in China.

It sits near the sea. A big river flows through it too.

The land stays warm here. This helps things grow. People have lived here for a long time. They lived here 5,000 years ago!

This city is a busy place for trade. People sell many things. They make pretty green pots.

Many people from here live far away. They live in many lands. They still stay in touch.

Wenzhou is a very special place.

Wenzhou is a city in Zhejiang, China.

It sits on the southeast coast. The Ou River flows into the East China Sea here.

Hills sit to the west of the city.

People have lived here for 5,000 years. Long ago, the Ou people lived in this area. They were part of the Yue people. In the past, the city was called Yongjia. The name meant "long and beautiful waters."

Some say the city was built like a star pattern. This pattern is called the Northern Dipper.

Wenzhou is a famous place for making things. It is known for green pottery called celadon.

The city is also a major hub for trade. Many people from Wenzhou live all over the world. More than two million people of Wenzhou origin live globally. This includes 800,000 people living in over 100 different countries.

They stay connected through many business groups.

Wenzhou is a large city in the Zhejiang province of China.

It sits on the southeastern coast of the country. The city is located where the Ou River meets the East China Sea.

To the west, the Zhejiang–Fujian Hills rise up near the land. Wenzhou is a very important place for the economy. It is a central link between two major economic zones.

The history of this area began a very long time ago. Archaeologists found evidence of people living here 5,000 years ago.

These early people were part of the Yue group. They were known as the Ou people. They once had their own kingdom called Dong’ou. This kingdom lasted until the Han dynasty took control in 138 BC. The area changed names many times over the centuries. It was once called Yongjia, which means "long and beautiful waters."

Many different groups of people moved to Wenzhou over time. In the 4th century, people from northern China moved south.

This brought new ways to farm the coastal plains. People stopped hunting and fishing as much. Instead, they focused on settled farming. The city was also built using special design rules. A scholar named Guo Pu designed the old walled city. He made the city layout look like the Northern Dipper stars.

Wenzhou has always been a famous place for making things. It is well known for making green pottery called celadon.

You can even see an ancient ox-shaped lamp made of this clay.

The city was also a major port for trading with other lands. It was a foreign trade port during the Song and Yuan periods. In 1984, it became one of China's first open coastal cities. This helped the city grow into a big center for business.

Today, Wenzhou is famous for its many people living far away. Since the 1990s, many people have moved to other countries.

By 2025, over two million people of Wenzhou origin live around the world. This includes 800,000 people living in more than 100 different countries. They stay connected through hundreds of business and social groups. The city also has a very strong religious tradition. It has more Christians than any other city in China.

Wenzhou is a major prefecture-level city located in Zhejiang, China.

It sits on the southeastern coast of the country. The city is positioned at the lower reaches and estuary of the Ou River. To the east, it meets the East China Sea.

The Zhejiang–Fujian Hills form a border to the west. Wenzhou is a vital economic junction. It connects the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone with the Western Taiwan Straits Economic Zone. This unique position makes it a central hub for regional trade and development.

The history of Wenzhou began at least 5,000 years ago during the Neolithic period.

Early human activity was shaped by the changing sea and nearby mountains. These prehistoric communities engaged in fishing, hunting, and gathering. They also practiced early forms of agriculture. Over time, different ancient cultures interacted in the region. This created the Haochuan culture, which eventually led to the rise of the Ou people. The Ou were part of the wider Yue people. They established a polity known as Dong’ou by the fourth century BC. This kingdom existed until the Han dynasty took control in 138 BC.

Administrative changes have shaped the identity of the region for centuries. The area was once known as Yongjia, meaning "long and beautiful waters."

In 323, the Jin dynasty created Yongjia Commandery. A scholar named Guo Pu designed the old walled city. He used feng shui principles to plan its layout. He modeled the city after the Northern Dipper constellation. Because of this, the city was also called Doucheng, or "Dipper City." In 675, the Tang dynasty established Wenzhou Prefecture. The name Wenzhou means "the warm prefecture." This name comes from the area's location west of Wenqiao Ridge. The climate there stays relatively warm even in the winter.

Migration and conflict have often changed the local population. During the 4th century, many people moved from northern China to the south.

This influx helped develop the coastal plains. It also shifted the economy from hunting to settled agriculture. However, the region also faced periods of severe upheaval. Various rebellions and wars caused significant population declines in later centuries. Despite these challenges, Wenzhou maintained a strong commercial identity. It grew into a significant maritime trading center during the Song and Yuan periods. It was even designated as a treaty port after the 1876 Chefoo Convention.

Wenzhou is famous for its specialized industries and craft traditions. It is a recognized origin of Chinese celadon, a type of green pottery.

You can see examples of this in ancient items, such as an ox-shaped lamp.

The city also became a leader in China's modern economy. After 1978, Wenzhou was among the first places to try market-oriented reforms. This led to the development of the "Wenzhou model" of economic growth. This model is closely tied to the city's long history of trade and business culture. In 1984, Wenzhou was named one of China's first 14 open coastal cities.

The city is also known for its massive global presence. Many Wenzhou people have migrated to other parts of China and overseas. Since the 1990s, this migration has created a vast international business network. By 2025, more than two million people of Wenzhou origin lived worldwide. This includes over 800,000 overseas Chinese living in more than 100 countries. These communities have formed over 200 chambers of commerce and 300 overseas associations.

This network helps maintain strong economic ties between Wenzhou and the rest of the world.

Religious traditions are a significant part of Wenzhou's social fabric. The city has the highest proportion of religious believers among Chinese cities. Buddhism is the predominant religion in the region. However, Wenzhou is also famous for its Christian population. In fact, it has more Christians than any other city in China. Because of this, some people refer to Wenzhou as "China's Jerusalem."

This religious diversity and the city's commercial spirit make Wenzhou a unique place in China.