Chaozhou (Chinese: 潮州), alternatively Chiuchow, Chaochow or Teochew, is a city in the eastern Guangdong province of China. It borders Shantou to the south, Jieyang to the southwest, Meizhou to the northwest, the province of Fujian to the east, and the South China Sea to the southeast. It is administered as a prefecture-level city with a jurisdiction area of 3,110 km2 (1,200 sq mi) and a total population of 2,568,387. Its built-up (or metro) area encompassing most of Shantou and Jieyang cities was home to 12,543,024 inhabitants on 13 local administrative areas.
Along with Shantou and Jieyang, Chaozhou is a cultural center of the Chaoshan region.
Taste Local Cuisine: Chaozhou is renowned for its unique Chaoshan cuisine, including Chaozhou beef hotpot (潮州牛肉火锅), Chaozhou porridge (潮汕粥), and Chaozhou stewed dishes (潮汕炖菜). Don't miss the opportunity to savor the local delicacies.
Visit Historical Sites: Chaozhou boasts numerous historical landmarks such as Chen Family Ancestral Temple (陈氏宗祠), Fucheng Confucian Temple (富城孔庙), and Kaiyuan Temple (开元寺). These places reflect the rich history and culture of Chaozhou.
Explore Natural Scenery: Chaozhou and its surroundings offer beautiful natural attractions like Fenghuang Mountain (凤凰山), Dan'an Mountain (丹南山), and Tangdi River (南唐河). You can engage in outdoor activities like hiking, mountain climbing, or picnicking.
Shopping: Chaozhou is also a great place for shopping, where you can purchase local specialties, crafts, and souvenirs from local markets and shops.
Participate in Traditional Cultural Activities: If time allows, you can take part in traditional cultural activities such as watching Chaozhou opera performances or learning Chaoshan martial arts.
Visit Chaozhou Museum: Chaozhou Museum displays many valuable historical artifacts and artworks, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of the region's history and culture.
Teochew (Chiuchow) cuisine, the cooking style originating from Chaozhou. Famous examples of local dishes include fish balls (鱼丸), braised goose (卤鹅), cold crab (冻蟹), pork trotter jelly (猪脚冻) and taro paste (芋泥). A popular street dish is oyster omelette (蠔煎 háojiān in Mandarin, 蠔烙 osup5/sup luahsup4/sup in Teochew), which differs greatly from the more famous Taiwanese version.
A local speciality is kung fu tea (工夫茶), a type of black tea that is also popular in Xiamen and in Taiwan.
Chaozhou considers itself the "Ceramic Capital of China" and you will notice that there are a lot of ceramics for sale, often at very inexpensive prices.
Chaozhou is in the easternmost part of Guangdong Province in the north of the delta of the Han River, which flows through the city. It borders Shantou to the south, Jieyang to the southwest, Meizhou to the northwest, the province of Fujian to the east, and the South China Sea to the southeast.
Administratively, Chaozhou is divided into two districts and one county. Xiangqiao (湘桥) district forms the downtown core of the city, with Chao'an (潮安) district to the west, and Raoping (饶平) county to the east.
Many overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia can trace their ancestry to the area, with Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Pontianak and Johor Bahru being prominent examples of cities where Teochews form the majority among the ethnic Chinese community. In addition, Teochews also form one of the largest non-Cantonese communities in Hong Kong, and play a prominent role in the city's economy.
