Putian is the birthplace of the sea-goddess
妈祖 (Mazu) cult — Meizhou Island, just off its coast, is the global pilgrimage site for hundreds of millions of Mazu devotees. The city is also known in modern times for two less flattering things: a sprawling network of private hospitals (
莆田系医院) and a worldwide trade in counterfeit sneakers (
莆田鞋).
