When Marco Polo returned to Venice in 1295, he brought with him countless rare treasures from China, among which, Longquan celadon was one of most valuable treasures and more precious than gold. As one of the earliest porcelain breed in Chinese history, Longquan celadon has witnessed the wax and wane of Longquan for thousands years.

Longquan is located in Southwest Zhejiang near the border between Zhejiang and Fujian. Its territory is 70.25 kilometers wide from the east to the west and 70.8 kilometers long from the south to north, covering an area of 3,059 square kilometers. The city is densely covered by mountains and rivers. There are over 730 peaks above the altitude of one kilometer, among which Huangmaojian peak, located in the southern part of Longquan, ranks top in Changjiang River Delta with an altitude of 1,929 meters. The length of the Longquan stream, the upper part of Oujiang River, is 125 kilometers within its territory. It has Zhu stream in its northwestern part, which is the origin of Wuxi River Qiantang River system, and Bao stream in the west, which is the branch of Min River system. It belongs to the sub-tropical monsoon climate region with the average annual temperature of 17.6℃, 1,664.5 millimeters rainfall and 262-day frost-free period. Most of the natural disasters are flood and drought.

        According to the cultural relics excavated, there were human activities on the land of Longquan in New Stone Age. Longyuan town was established under the jurisdiction of Songyang Yongjia county in the beginning Taishou year (323) of Dongjin dynasty. It was renamed Longquan town in the third Wude year (620) of Tang dynasty to avoid the taboo of using one word in the name of High Emperor Li Yuan. Yellow crane town Jingyizhidi Longquan (now Longyuan town) was established in the second Qianyuan year (759) of Tang dynasty. In the third Xuanhe year (1121) of Huizong Emperor Song dynasty, the name was changed to be Jianchuan county according to the decree demanding the avoidance of using the word Long (dragon) in names of counties and towns all over the country. It was revoked to be called Longquan county again in the beginning Shaoxing year (1131) of Song dynasty. In the third Qingyuan year (1197) of Song dynasty, parts of land in Songyuan countryside area and Yanqing countryside area of Longquan were transferred to be under the jurisdiction of Qingyuan county. In the third Hongwu year (1370) of Ming dynasty, Qingyuan county was merged into Longquan and was reestablished in November the thirteenth Hongwu year.

        Longquan was liberated on 13 May 1949 and merged Qingyuan county in November 1958. Qingyuan county was reestablished in July 1973. In August 1975, Longquan county and Qingyuan county began to work separately under different administrative office. On 26 December 1990, State Council approved to revoke Longquan county and establish Longquan city at county level, which was still under the jurisdiction of Lishui district administrative office. The administrative division in the area under its jurisdiction kept changing afterwards. In 1990, it includes Longyuan town, other ten districts (towns) of Badu, Jingqi, Chengnan, Chengjiao, Chengbei, Daotai, Anren, Longnan and Pingnan and 43 countryside areas (towns). According to the fourth census, the total population is 266,099 with 87 people per square kilometers, and the non-agricultural population is 30,916. Han nationality population of the total population is 258,323 and She minority nationality population is 7,607. There are also other minority nationalities, such as Hui, Miao, Yi, Chuang, Manchu, Dong, Yao, Bai, Li and Tujia etc.. In April 1992, according to the plan and arrangement of Zhejiang provincial People’s Government, Longquan has under its jurisdiction 9 towns and 8 countryside areas after revocation, expansion and merger.