Once known as Yongjia and Wenchow, modern Wenzhou has always sat isolated in its mountain home. Wenzhou's local language and cultural manifestations stand out relative even to its neighbouring settlements. The fact that Wenzhou was designed by the father of feng shui, Guo Pu, gives the city and its people (many of whom have emigrated and led successful lives elsewhere) a reputation for good fortune and accomplishment.

Feng shui or no feng shui, Wenzhou has been unusually resilient as Chinese cities go. One of the few cities not to fall under Japanese occupation during the Second World War, Wenzhou fell under Nanjing Government control without suffering nearly as much as other cities directly assailed by the IJA. Whatever damage was suffered was healed as trade returned in the early fifties, bringing back Wenzhou's prior prosperity.