city in northwestern Fujian (Fukien) sheng (province), China. It is situated on the upper course of the Futun River, some 30 miles (50 km) from the border of Jiangxi (Kiangsi) province. Shaowu is an important communication centre, located on the railway line from Jiangxi to the coastal ports of Xiamen (Amoy) and Fuzhou and at the hub of a network of locally important highways. Since the coming of the railway in 1957, Shaowu has become the major commercial and distribution point for a large area in the Futun and Jin river valleys in western Fujian, an area rich in forest products and lumber resources. It lies in a beautiful mountain setting, with many scenic spots and historical sites, and is a gateway for tourists to the popular Wuyi Mountains, a portion of which were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. There has been some local industrial development for processing forest products; manufacturing paper, chemicals, and textiles; and generating electric power. Pop. (2002 est.) 135,616.