Traditional architecture highlights Fuzhou's newest tourist site

The Minnan people who came from East China's Fujian province used to live in the cuo, a word to represent their houses, which are mostly large traditional dwellings with a courtyard shared by different families.

As the capital of the province, Fuzhou has a history of more than 2,200 years, and traces of the long-standing culture can be found in the cuo.

Once upon a time in Fuzhou's cuo, neighborhood children would share their dinner with each other, and their parents would enjoy leisure time after work in the courtyard.

With urbanization and city modernization, the time-honored cuo and its deep rusticity gradually withdrew from the city.

People in the city are filled with nostalgia for where they lived and the time they spent in the cuo. A scenic area, named Fuzhou's cuo, which displays Fuzhou's profound and longstanding culture, is now in the city.

Fuzhou's cuo is in the city's Minhou county. Covering an area of about 74 hectares, the Cuo was planned and designed according to the standard of a 5A-rated tourist site, the highest-ranked destination rating by the National Tourism Authority. More than 9.3 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) was invested to develop it.

From colorful reliefs on the roof to perfectly symmetrical interior designs and intricate wood window grills, Fuzhou's cuo embodies the beauty of traditional architecture in Fuzhou by restoring the ancient building structure and traditional Chinese courtyard.

It is not only a place for people to recollect the good old days, but also a resort for those who want to avoid summer heat in Fujian, where temperatures are high in summer.

By waking up under the shade of green trees and having a cup of tea in the courtyard, the site has become one of the best destinations for locals and those visiting the city.