Introduction of Erythrina flowers

Erythrina is the city flower of Quanzhou, a historic city. As early as the Middle Ages, Quanzhou was famous for its Erythrina City in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Because there were many Erythrina flowers in ancient Quanzhou, it was called "Erythrina City" or "Tongcheng". Quanzhou is surrounded by mountains, facing the sea and picturesque, and is praised by the ancients as "the beauty of mountains and rivers, the crown of southeast China". As early as the Southern Dynasties in the 6th century, Quanzhou was already an important port for China's trade with overseas countries. Since the Tang Dynasty, it has become more developed, and it is also known as the four major commercial ports of China with Yangzhou, Mingzhou (now Shandao and other places) and Guangzhou. In the Yuan Dynasty, Kelpolo believed that Quanzhou Port was more prosperous than Alexandria, also known as "Erythrina Port". Quanzhou regards Erythrina as its city flower, and there are allusions. According to legend, in the Five Dynasties, in order to expand the Quanzhou city wall, Erythrina was planted all over the city. Later, Erythrina flourishes and becomes a major feature of Quanzhou, which is well-known at home and abroad. Therefore, Erythrina flower became the symbol of Quanzhou and was designated as the flower of Quanzhou. Its moral is: prosperity, auspiciousness and abundance, full of people's good hopes for the future. Quanzhou people love Erythrina flowers and regard them as "Ruimu". Scholars and poets of past dynasties also left many beautiful sentences chanting Erythrina flowers. There is a poem that says, "At first glance, the branches are thick and green, and suddenly the fire army wants to burn out." The magnificent scene of Erythrina flowering can be seen. At present, many Erythrina flowers are planted in Kaiyuan Temple and Huaqiao Building in Quanzhou City, and the beautiful Quanzhou City is hidden among Erythrina leaves.