Quanzhou now is one of the 24 renowned historic cities of cultural significance in China made public in the first batch by the State Council. it was the departure port of the ancient 'Maritime Silk Route' and is the first one designated by the UNESCO as 'The Exhibition Center for Multi-culture of the World.' The culture of Quanzhou is derived from the Central Plains of China, the ancient Yue clan of Fujian and the marine cultures of the world. Quanzhou has given birth to a multitude of outstanding and talented people. Culture is the marrow of this city. Nowadays, it has been a model city of Chinese culture, a protection zone of ecological culture in the South Fujian and a pilot city in protection of national and folk cultures. Traditional Chinese culture such as Quanzhou Nanyin which is regarded as the living fossil of the Chinese music, the age-old local drama arts (Liyuan opera, Gaojia opera, marionette and dacheng drama), the exquisite traditional folk crafts and the unique folk customs has been well preserved.

Quanzhou is a major exporter of agricultural products such as tea, banana, lychee and rice. It is also a major producer of quarry granite and ceramics. Other industries include textiles, footwear, fashion and apparel, packaging, machinery, paper and petrochemicals.

Quanzhou is the biggest automotive market in Fujian. It has the highest rate of private automobile possession. Its GDP ranked first in Fujian Province for 20 years, from 1991 to 2010. It is also an important city in the Western Taiwan Straits Economic Zone.