[Video] Eye on Fujian series
Our fifth regional series, Eye on Fujian, explores Fujian merchants’ adventurous mercantile spirit, UNESCO-listed Gulangyu, Fujian cuisine’s influence in Southeast Asia, and much more!
(Teaser produced by Lingming Lu.)
Fujian merchants have long been known for their adventurous mercantile spirit, leading to many success stories in business over the course of history and today. Academic Lin Feng takes a look at how this all began and how their distinct characteristics have shaped what we see of Fujian communities today.
Gulangyu, a UNESCO-listed island off Xiamen, was once a haven for Hokkien tycoons from Southeast Asia. Housing gems from Lim Bo Seng’s abode in student days to grand mansions, it reflects a rich, transregional past. NUS architecture professor Chen Yu takes us through the mesmerising vistas of Gulangyu.
The familiar Minnan saying that harmony brings prosperity, is given a distinctly modern take in Xiamen’s Bailu Score (白鹭分), or “White Egret Score”. This is a personal credit score developed under the Xiamen municipal government which turns trust into usable currency in daily urban life. Economics professor Cai Xiqian explains.
For many years, Fujian’s development narrative included an ambitious goal: to surpass Taiwan in GDP first and per capita income later. Slower growth and Taiwan’s tech edge make that increasingly challenging. EAI senior research fellow Bo Chen explains Fujian’s rise and its challenges.
Fujian, a historic maritime gateway and strategic frontier in China, has played a defining role in China’s past. Taiwanese historic photo collector Hsu Chung-mao takes us on a pictorial journey that explores the rich history and culture of his ancestral homeland, while reflecting on his personal ties to the region.
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