Sanfang Qixiang (三坊七巷, "Three Lanes and Seven Alleys") is the reason most first-time visitors come to Fuzhou. Forty hectares of flagstone lanes, white-walled courtyards and over 200 Ming and Qing residences sit directly in the modern city centre, crossed by the commercial spine of Nanhou Street.
The three lanes run north–south on the western side — Yijin, Wenru and Guanglu — and the seven alleys extend east: Yangqiao, Langguan, Anmin, Huang, Ta, Gong and Jipi. The Lin Zexu Memorial Hall, the Maritime Silk Road Exhibition Hall, the Water Pavilion Theatre and the Fujian Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum all sit inside the district; several offer English audio guides.
Getting there: Metro Line 1 to Dongjiekou, Exit C. Many bus lines also stop at Sanfang Qixiang. Arrive before 10:30 for quieter lanes, or stay past sunset for the lantern-lit courtyards — especially around Lantern Festival (3 March 2026) and Mid-Autumn (25 September 2026).