Xi Jinping and Aladdin
In November 2001, when then Fujian Governor Xi Jinping made me an Honorary
Citizen of Fujian, he said at dinner that evening, "China knows the world but the
world still does not know China." He added, "You have written about Xiamen, your
2nd home. You should also write about Quanzhou, your 3rd home."
Xi Jinping was keen on Quanzhou's history and culture because, as he said during
the National People's Congress (NPC) almost 20 years later, in 2019: "Fujian was the
start of the ancient maritime silk road, and is the core of the 21st Century Maritime
Silk Road."
Fujian was the maritime silk road's starting point, but the greatest port in Fujian,
indeed in all the world, was Quanzhou. It was Quanzhou's ancient trade network that
inspired Xi Jinping's vision of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)-and Quanzhou is
playing a leading role in the twenty-first century's BRI as well.
In 2021, Quanzhou's GDP reached 1,130.417 billion yuan.1 In 2019, the gross
value of foreign trade between Quanzhou and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road partners
reached 105.355 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 24.6%. And, Quanzhou's
21st Century Maritime Silk Road Pilot Zone is helping to lead China's expansion of
international economic and cultural exchanges.
But I knew little of this back in 2001, and I had little interest in writing more books
(except for management textbooks). But that changed in 2003 when I agreed to help
Quanzhou enter the International Awards for Livable Communities and discovered
that this legendary city had almost no materials in English to share with the judges
and audience in Europe.
So, heeding Xi Jinping's encouragement over a year earlier to write a book on
Quanzhou, I spent over 6 weeks driving to every corner of the city and exploring
its history, culture, geography, and cuisine. And as I spent eight months researching
the presentation that I would give in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, I became entranced
by Quanzhou's astonishing rich history and heritage. I learned that Marco Polo had
