衢州市

Why this place

Quzhou is where the descendants of Confucius settled when the family split during the Song dynasty — the southern branch of the Kong lineage has lived here since 1128, and their family temple is second only to Qufu's. It is a quiet, well-preserved city in the hills.

What to see

• The Southern Confucian Temple (Nanzong Kong Miao) and the Kong family mansions
• Jianglang Mountain, a dramatic granite ridge on the Fujian border
• The old city wall and the canal lanes of the historic quarter

What to eat

• Quzhou is known for its spicy cooking — one of the few genuinely hot cuisines in Zhejiang
• Rabbit head and duck head, the local snack
• Sweet potato and mountain vegetables from the surrounding hills

Best time

April–May and September–November