Wenzhou is the third city of Zhejiang Province and one of the economic powerhouses of the region. Famed for its businessmen and women (and the Wenzhou model of private enterprise), Wenzhou is frequently used by Western media as a barometer of the Chinese export economy — among other things, the city manufactures around 90% of the world's spectacles and massive quantities of shoes.
Wenzhou is not on many China tour itineraries and, despite being a cultural hotspot, it is not the most foreigner-friendly of cities. However, there are plenty of things to do and see should you find yourself with time on your hands. The city sits on the Ou River with mountains behind it, and the nearby Yandang Mountains are one of the more dramatic geological landscapes in eastern China. Jiangxin Island in the middle of the river offers ancient pagodas and city views, and Wenzhou's remarkable community of Christians — it is known as "China's Jerusalem" — has left a striking architectural legacy in the form of St. Paul's Cathedral and numerous other churches.