Southeast　China　is　a　sub-tropical　area　where　it　is　rainy　or　cloudy　for　most　time　of　the　year.　Optical　remote　sensing　data　are　often　unavailable　because　of　the　meteorological　conditions.　SAR　becomes　the　most　effective　and　sometimes　the　only　remote　sensing　instrument　for　earth　observation　in　these　areas　due　to　its　penetration　to　rain　and　cloud.　This　research　study　presented　here　focuses　on　the　use　of　ERS　and　Envisat-1　SAR　data　for　land　cover/land　use　classification　in　Fujian　province　in　southeast　China.　Both　SAR　backscatter　intensity　and　interferometric　coherence　were　investigated.　To　overcome　the　well-known　speckle　phenomenon,　a　parcel　based　approach　to　information　extraction　is　used　for　classification　by　synergistic　use　of　SAR　and　high　spatial　resolution　optical　data.　The　classification　result　was　validated　by　field　campaign　and　showed　promising　application　of　ESA　SAR　data　in　southeast　China.