Kuliang
Kuliang, located in Jin’an District of Fuzhou, lies about 13 kilometers from downtown. Sitting at an average elevation of 750 to 800 meters, it enjoys a refreshingly cool climate—summer temperatures rarely exceed 30°C, typically 5 to 7 degrees lower than in the urban area. Nicknamed the “Little Lushan by Zuohai,” Kuliang was once ranked alongside Guling in Lushan, Jiangxi, Mogan Mountain in Zhejiang, and Jigong Mountain in Henan, and was known in the West as one of China’s “Four Great Summer Retreats.”
Kuliang was first established in 1886 by Western missionaries and quickly became a summer retreat for foreigners looking to escape Fuzhou’s intense heat. At its height, it boasted more than 300 villas in a variety of styles, most influenced by Western architecture of the time. These homes were mostly modest in size, built as seasonal residences for summer living. There were also public facilities such as churches, hospitals, sports fields, swimming pools, and the Kuliang Club. In the 1930s, the well-known writer Yu Dafu also chose Kuliang as a place to spend the summer.
Today, Kuliang features several scenic attractions, including Cryptomeria King Park, Shizhu Mountain, Niutou Village, and Yuanyang Valley, all of which enhance its appeal as a tourist destination.
There are approximately 30 Cryptomeria fortunei trees that are over 100 years old.
Cryptomeria fortunei trees, cool breezes, and mist are known locally as Kuliang’s three signature features. Most visitors to Kuliang leave with a lasting impression of its Cryptomeria fortunei trees. These majestic evergreens are everywhere throughout the area. As the saying goes, “Called both willow and cedar, they blend strength with grace; like pine and cypress, they embody a robust and intertwined character”—a tribute to the Cryptomeria fortunei trees of Kuliang. Kuliang is home to more than 80 large Cryptomeria fortunei trees, with about 30 of them over a century old. The most renowned among these is the “Cryptomeria King” located in Cryptomeria King Park. Towering 30 meters high, with a circumference of roughly 10 meters and a diameter of 3.2 meters, this ancient giant is believed to be over 1,300 years old. Its twisted, gnarled trunk supports a canopy of lush, vibrant branches. The central trunk splits into two main limbs that rise majestically toward the sky, while several outer branches twist and extend outward. Because of its unique form, the tree is lovingly called the “Tree of Couples,” “Tree of Lovers,” or the “Emperor and Empress Tree,” symbolizing longevity, harmony, happiness, and nobility.
Kuliang. (Photo by Chen Qi)
A Mist-Shrouded Fairyland
The mist in Kuliang typically rises around midnight and gradually fades by eight or nine in the morning. On cloudy days, the dense fog lingers, cloaking the entire area in a sea of white. From afar, mountain peaks, ancient trees, village houses, and wandering figures emerge and vanish within the thick haze, turning Kuliang into a fairyland. When the sun shines, its rays illuminate the mist, outlining it in gold as beams of light pierce through, creating a stunning and awe-inspiring spectacle. Thanks to these ever-shifting, magical scenes, Kuliang’s mist has long been a favorite subject for photographers in Fuzhou.
