Fuzhou

Fuzhou is the capital of Fujian, China, situated between the Min River estuary to the south and the city of Ningde to the north. Together, Fuzhou and Ningde form the Mindong linguistic and cultural region.

According to the 2020 Chinese census, Fuzhou recorded a total population of 8,291,268 inhabitants. Within this administrative area, urban residents accounted for 72.49 percent, or 6,010,242 people, while rural residents represented 27.51 percent, totaling 2,281,026 people. An earlier demographic estimate from December 31, 2018, recorded a total population of 7,740,000, with 4,665,000 residents living within the built-up metropolitan area comprising five urban districts and Minhou County.

The Brookings Institution ranked Fuzhou as the 10th fastest growing metropolitan area in the world in 2015. Additionally, a study conducted by the National Development and Reform Commission placed Fuzhou at No. 20 in the total ranking of the China Integrated City Index 2016.

Fuzhou functions as a prominent center for scientific research, earning a place in the global top 50 cities tracked by the Nature Index. The municipality hosts several major higher education institutions, most notably Fuzhou University, which is recognized as one of China's key universities. Other prominent public universities operating within the city include Fujian Normal University and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University.

The origins of the city's name trace back to Mount Futo, a mountain located northwest of the settlement, combined with the suffix -zhou, meaning settlement or prefecture. Throughout history, the location was known as Ye during the Warring States period and later acquired the poetic Chinese nickname Rongcheng, which translates to The Banyan City. In older English publications, the name has appeared under various romanized spellings including Foochow, Foo-Chow, Fuchow, Fūtsu, Fuh-Chow, Hock Chew, and Hokchew.