Chaozhou

Chaozhou (潮州; Diê5ziu1 in Teochew, Cháo​zhōu in Mandarin) is a city in Guangdong Province in China, and the main cultural center of the Chaoshan region.

Understand
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.

Talk
Teochew is the main local language, which is closely related to Minnan, and mutually intelligible to some extent. Locals are very proud of their language despite government attempts to standardise Mandarin as a common language, so any attempts to speak Teochew will be met with encouragement, and may even get you preferential treatment in shops and restaurants. As the main cultural center of the region, the Chaozhou dialect is regarded as the prestige dialect of Teochew, thus making it a good place for those interested in learning the language.

As Chaozhou is part of Guangdong province, many people speak Cantonese as a second language. As with elsewhere in mainland China, standard Mandarin is the only language taught in schools so expect all educated people to be fluent in Mandarin. English is not widely spoken, though staff at the higher end hotels will be able to speak English.

Despite many residents having relatives in the much more international city of Hong Kong and in overseas Chinese communities, non-Chinese visitors are not common here so expect some friendly curiosity and attempts at conversation from people if you visit, especially from kids and teenagers who know a little bit of English. The city is developing with China's economic expansion, so visitors and facets of Western culture, while still infrequent, are becoming more common.

By plane
Chaozhou does not have its own airport. The nearest airport is Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport in Jieyang. It also serves international flights to Hong Kong and Bangkok on China Southern Airlines as well as to Singapore on Jetstar Asia and Taiwan.

Via Guangzhou

Guangzhou Baiyun Airport offers Intercity Bus service. You can stay at Shantou Tourist General Corporation. The price of the ticket is ¥20 each.

By train
The Shenzhen to Shanghai high speed rail has a stop at Chaoshan, which serves both Chaozhou and Shantou. From Chaoshan rail station, north exit, take a frequently running city bus to Chaozhou city center (about 45 minutes, ¥5).



By bus
From Shantou, there are regularly scheduled buses to Chaozhou from the China Travel Services bus station, for about ¥18-19.

By taxi
From Shantou, you can take taxis (45 min - 1 hour, ¥15) at the intersection of the Shantou Radio & Television station (汕头市广播电视台) along Chaoshan road (潮汕路). The taxi drivers will stop along the way to pull additional passengers in.

Get around

 * Try to walk as the main old parts of Chaozhou are easily walkable.
 * Take a taxi is the fastest simplest way to travel longer distances and is relatively inexpensive from ¥20-30. If you are staying at a hotel, they can page a taxi for you and help you with heading to your intended location.
 * Try a bicycle if you have one or can find a rental business. Just make sure to pack a face mask on heavy pollution days.
 * Try a bus, if you are up for excitement. Bus stops are found all throughout the city.

Do
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.

Buy
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.

Eat
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 o5 luah4 in Teochew), which differs greatly from the more famous Taiwanese version.

Drink
A local speciality is kung fu tea (工夫茶), a type of black tea that is also popular in Xiamen and in Taiwan.

Go next

 * Shantou
 * Xiamen, by high speed train about every 15 minutes during the day. Takes 1.5 hours. Get to the Chaoshan high speed train station via city bus in 45 minutes (¥5).
 * Guangzhou, by high speed train.Takes 3 hours.
 * Shenzhen, by high speed train. Takes 2 hours.
 * Hong Kong, via Shenzhen