Nan'an (Chinese: 南安; pinyin: Nán'ān; literal meaning “southern peace”) is a county‑level city in the southern part of Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China. It is administered by the prefecture‑level city of Quanzhou and, as of 2023, has a total population of approximately 1,663,542 residents occupying an area of 2,036 km² (786 sq mi).
Geography
Nan'an lies on the southeast coast of Fujian, bordering Jinjiang City to the east, Tong’an District of Xiamen to the west, and Anxi County to the north. The municipal government is situated at 24°57′40″N 118°23′06″E. The city is located about 30 km from downtown Quanzhou, 97 km from Xiamen, and 220 km from the provincial capital, Fuzhou. Its terrain includes a mixture of low‑lying coastal areas and inland hills, with several islands and islets under its jurisdiction.
Climate
The city experiences a humid subtropical monsoonal climate, characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters. The average annual temperature is about 20.9 °C (69.6 °F). Precipitation is concentrated in the summer months due to the East Asian monsoon.
History
Human settlement in the area dates back to the Neolithic era. The first formal administrative unit was established as a commandery in the early 500 CE during the Liang dynasty. Throughout subsequent dynasties, Nan'an was part of various regional circuits, including the Qingyuan Circuit during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period and Quanzhou Prefecture under the Qing dynasty. After the establishment of the Republic of China, it belonged to Jinjiang Prefecture until its incorporation into Quanzhou City in 1986. Nan'an attained the status of an independent county‑level city in 1993.
Administrative divisions
Nan'an is subdivided into 3 subdistricts, 21 towns, and 2 townships, together with an economic development zone. These divisions manage local governance, economic planning, and public services across the city’s jurisdiction.
Economy and demographics
Nan'an is notable for its stone‑manufacturing industry, being one of the largest stone production and export bases in China and Southeast Asia. The city also has a significant diaspora; more than four million overseas Chinese trace their ancestry to Nan'an.
Transportation and infrastructure
The city is served by provincial highways connecting it to Xiamen, Quanzhou, and the broader Fujian region. Its postal code is 362300 and the telephone area code is 0595. Nan'an operates on China Standard Time (UTC+8).
Governance
As of the latest available data, the Communist Party Secretary is Zhang Guisen and the mayor is Wang Lianzan.
Nan'an, Fujian, thus represents a historically rooted, economically active municipality within the coastal region of southeastern China.