Located in the northwest of Fuzhou is the West Lake Park (Xihu gongyuan), mostly comprising of lake, which was ordered to be excavated some seventeen centuries ago by the local official at that time. Inside the park, bridge links join scattered isles together, which, when the night falls, resemble rainbows spanning the lake. Most travellers go boating or stroll in the park nowadays.

The park does have a variety of interesting sights that are possibly worth a visit. There is the Zoo and the nearby Panda World. Far more interesting are the Fuzhou Provincial Museum (Fujiansheng bowuguan) and the Anti-Opium Pavilion.

Situated at the northern end of West Lake Park, the Provincial Museum is one of Fujian’s largest and best museums, holding an interesting collection of exhibits and artifacts. The most famous of these, a 3,500 year old coffin boat discovered in Wuyishan Cave, is of particular interest.

For those interested in contemporary Chinese history, the Anti-Opium Pavilion is one to visit. Commemorating the famous Lin Zexu, a patriotic imperial envoy who initiated a nation-wide anti-opium conquest during the First Opium War about 150 years ago (most notably destroying 20,000 chests of the drug in Canton in 1839), the sight is an interesting, if small, introduction to Chinese anti-imperialist history.

The adjoining Zuohai Park (Zuohai gongyuan) is basically a funfair, good for the kids.

Address: Hubin Rd.
How to get there: Buses No. 1, 810 and 811 are available.
Cost: RMB 20.