Half City of Smoke, Half City of Immortals: Quanzhou Hung Tens of Thousands of Lanterns and Spent 100 Taels on a Wedding
When Quanzhou people describe their city, they use a phrase: “Half city of smoke, half city of immortals.” The first time I heard it, I thought it was just poetic exaggeration. Then I read the Wanli Quanzhou Prefecture Chronicle and the Quanzhou Religious Chronicle. Turns out it’s not poetry at all. It’s journalism. Starting in 1087, when Quanzhou established the Maritime Trade Office, ships from everywhere poured into this port city with goods and wealth. When the money rolled in, people started to have fun — lantern festivals, dragon boat races, weddings, worship ceremonies. Everything done on a grand scale. ...