Why did Arab and Persian traders settle in Quanzhou?

During the later Tang dynasty (618–907), Quanzhou began to develop into a major seaport and a significant center of foreign trade. This growth in commercial activity attracted many Arab and Persian traders to the city, where they eventually established their own merchant quarter on the waterfront.1

The city’s status as a hub for international commerce continued to flourish through the Song dynasty and reached its peak under the Yuan dynasty, when it was recognized globally as one of China’s greatest ports. The presence of these communities is still evidenced today by the preservation of an ancient mosque and the tombs of early Muslim missionaries in the city.1