The final two days of the “European Travel Media and Influencer Tour of Fujian” concluded from 20 to 21 January. With a relaxed yet insightful pace, the itinerary clarified the core essence of Fujian’s identity. In Mount Wuyi, influencers drifted along the Nine-Bend Stream on bamboo rafts, witnessing the landscape unfold like a scroll. They crossed tea mountains to visit estates, where picking, processing, and tasting transformed the phrase “Rock Bone and Flower Fragrance” from a mere description into an understandable narrative of craftsmanship and aesthetics.

The journey continued via high-speed rail to Fuzhou, exploring the cultural pulse of Sanfang Qixiang and Yantai Hill, before concluding with a grand farewell banquet and a night cruise on the Min River. For the European creators, this finale was visually compelling and logically clear, providing a story that international audiences can easily embrace.

Jiuqu Stream Bamboo Rafts: Letting the Water Tell the Story of Wuyishan

On the morning of 20 January, the influencers experienced a bamboo raft tour of the Nine-Bend Stream. The charm of the “Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns” lies in its effortless leisure; rather than a strenuous climb, one simply sits on a raft as the clear current carries them past jagged peaks and shifting reflections. During the 90-minute journey, every turn provided a new perspective for the camera.

The influencers were particularly struck by the accessibility of the landscape. The scenery was punctuated by legends of the “Ancient Yue hanging coffins” and the humorous, rhythmic commentary of the raftsmen. One influencer remarked that this was the “most accessible Chinese landscape for European viewers, even without subtitles.” Others simply recorded the sounds of the water and laughter, noting that the state of “drifting on the water while wandering through a painting” was the most persuasive content in itself.

Shijia Mingyuan: From a Single Leaf to a Cup

In the afternoon, the group travelled through the tea mountains to the Shijia Mingyuan Tea Estate to experience the picking, handmade processing, and tasting of tea. The highlight for the influencers was the complete “value chain”: observing the geography and climate, hand-picking the leaves, witnessing the patience required in the processing fires, and finally tasting the aroma in a cup.

While picking, the participants quickly realised that “picking correctly” was more important than “picking quickly.” During the processing stage, many shifted from observers to learners—repeatedly asking about techniques, timing, and heat.

An Italian influencer noted: “Previously, when I spoke of Chinese tea in Europe, I used nouns; today, I finally know how to tell the story of its birth.” A German creator added that this segment was perfect for a content series, as the story of leaf-to-cup grows naturally from the experience.

The tasting session was notably quiet, as participants focused on the sensory experience. This shift was significant; it meant that Fujian tea was no longer just a “praised local product,” but a lifestyle aesthetic and cultural logic understood by an international audience.

Arrival in Fuzhou: Speed by Rail, Leisure for the Final Stop

In the evening, the team took a high-speed train to Fuzhou, staying at the Fuzhou West Lake Hotel. The transition from the tea mountains to the provincial capital was seamless. Influencers praised Fujian for its “layers,” noting that the scenery and the city do not compete but rather complement one another—one providing the atmosphere, the other the lifestyle.

Sanfang Qixiang: Cultural Heritage Within White Walls and Black Tiles

The itinerary on 21 January was relatively relaxed, focusing on the intangible heritage and ancient courtyards of Sanfang Qixiang (Three Lanes and Seven Alleys). The most moving aspect for the group was not the “age” of the area, but its continued relevance; the scale of the alleys, the order of the courtyards, and the worn door rings all indicated that history here is being used rather than merely displayed.

European influencers described Sanfang Qixiang as a “narrative poem written on white walls and black tiles,” with the “horseshoe walls” acting as rhymes and the courtyards as chapters. One participant remarked: “What I captured here was not just a sight, but the character and temperament of a city.” 

By embedding intangible heritage experiences within the site, tradition became more approachable and tangible.

Yantai Hill: From Scholar Foundations to a Cosmopolitan Skyline

While Sanfang Qixiang represents Fuzhou’s traditional scholar foundations, Yantai Hill serves as the city’s cosmopolitan skyline. Once a hub for foreign consulates and expatriates, the area is a “Museum of International Architecture.” Red brick villas rise along the slopes, with exotic facades and the evening breeze of the Min River weaving together a century of diplomatic history and urban opening into a modern, artistic mountain lifestyle theatre.

Farewell Banquet and Min River Night Cruise: A Final Toast on the Water

In the evening, a grand and warm farewell banquet was held. This was a moment for the influencers and organisers to confirm the sincerity of their shared journey and the commitment to continue distributing this content in Europe. The atmosphere was solemn yet relaxed, resembling a parting between friends.

The night concluded with a cruise on the Min River. The lights stretched across the water, showcasing the European charm of Zhongzhou Island and the century-old villas of Yantai Hill against a modern backdrop. This visualised Fuzhou’s evolution from an ancient wharf to a modern port. Many influencers focused on capturing the “atmosphere”—the silhouettes of their companions against the night sky and the sound of the wind. They noted that using a river to conclude the trip was a masterful touch, leaving a long-lasting and gentle resonance.

The Fujian tour has officially come to a successful close. From the streets of Xiamen and the melodies of Gulangyu to the collective wisdom of the Tulou and the Maritime Silk Road spirit of Quanzhou; from the folk aesthetics of Xunpu to the tea processes of Mount Wuyi and the urban layers of Fuzhou—Fujian has welcomed the world’s gaze with its “Gallery of Mountains and Seas.”

The theme “Visit Fujian for a Wealth of Blessings; A Journey of Mountains, Seas, and Songs” has become a Chinese story that European creators are eager to take home and continue telling the world.