Quanzhou's Maritime Heritage Drives High-Quality Economic Development in Eastern China

## Quanzhou's Maritime Legacy Anchors Modern Development Strategy Quanzhou, the eastern Chinese city renowned as a pre-eminent centre of maritime commerce during the Song and Yuan dynasties, is drawing on its deep-rooted seafaring heritage to power a new phase of high-quality economic development, according to a report by Xinhua Silk Road. The city, which served as one of the busiest international trading ports in the medieval world and a key node along the ancient Maritime Silk Road, has positioned cultural preservation and diversity as cornerstones of its contemporary growth model. Authorities have prioritised the safeguarding and transmission of the city's historic maritime identity as a driver of civic vitality and economic renewal. Quanzhou's significance in global maritime history is well established. At its peak, the port facilitated trade across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa, making it a critical hub in the network of sea routes that predated the modern container shipping era by centuries. The city was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021 under the designation 'Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China', recognising its outstanding universal value. The Xinhua Silk Road report highlights how the integration of cultural heritage initiatives with urban planning and economic policy is generating measurable returns, attracting tourism, investment, and renewed international interest in the city's historical connections to global trade. For the maritime industry, Quanzhou's story carries broader relevance. The city exemplifies how port communities with deep historical ties to seafaring can translate that legacy into soft power and economic positioning — a model increasingly relevant as port cities worldwide seek to differentiate themselves in a competitive global trade environment. The development trajectory of Quanzhou also underscores China's continued emphasis on the Maritime Silk Road as both a historical narrative and a contemporary framework for international trade and diplomatic engagement under the Belt and Road Initiative. *Source: Xinhua Silk Road / PR Newswire*