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.

Get in

By plane

Chaozhou does not have its own airport. The nearest airport is Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport (SWA ^IATA) 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 (CAN ^IATA) 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).

• 1 Chaoshan railway station, 潮汕站. (updated May 2023)

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.

See

Museums

• 1 Chaozhou Museum (潮州博物馆, 潮州市博物馆), Intersection of Fu'an Road and Chaozhou Avenue, Xiangqiao District (湘桥区福安路与潮州大道交叉口) (On the south side of Chaozhou People's Square. Bus routes 10, 110, and 604), ☏ +86 768-2231362. 09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on Mondays. Chaozhou's main museum. Free. (updated Nov 2019)
• 2 Yi Garden (颐园; Yiyuan), 15 Dong Zhong Cheng Jiao, ☏ +86 768 2228966, fax: +86 768 2255101, jaoxsg@yahoo.com.cn. A museum and art gallery that tells the life story of Rao Zongyi, artist and sinologist. ¥10. 

Historical sites

• 3 Chaozhou Old City Wall (潮州古城墙). 2.6 km long. 
• 4 Guangji Bridge (广济桥; Guǎng​jì​qiáo​). It was built in the Southern Song Dynasty (1170 AD), a bridge partly made of small boats. It was rebuilt a few years ago and now costs ¥60 to cross (one way). You may have seen a model of it in the old Guangdong Provincial Museum.  
• 5 jiadixiang (甲第巷; Jiǎ​dì​xiàng​), East Gate of Gucheng City. 9pm-5pm. Guangji Bridge, known as Kangji Bridge, Dinghou Bridge, Jichuan Bridge, also known as Xiangzi Bridge, is located outside the eastern gate of the ancient city of Chaozhou, Guangdong Province, spanning the Han River and connecting the east and west sides.Guangji Bridge was built in the seventh year of Qiandao (1171) in the Southern Song Dynasty; the Ming Dynasty Jiajing (AD 1530) formed the pattern of "18 shuttle ships 24 continents"; before liberation. 0.  
• 6 The Lighthouse of Buddha (北阁佛灯; Běi​gé​fó​dēng​). The lighthouse was used for boats in the Hanjiang river as this part of the river was dangerous. The lighthouse could remind people that they were in Chaozhou area and ought to be careful. It is said a former emperor once passed in his dragon boat while he was sleeping and was woken by the light from this lighthouse. He thought it must have been a bodhisattva sending him the light and therefore named it the Lighthouse of Buddha. 
• 7 The old site of Song Kiln (Bijia Mountain Xiangqiao). Shows the scale of production and the exquisite craftsmanship of ceramic in ancient Chaozhou. 
• 8 Xu Imperial Son-in-law Mansion (许驸马府; Xǔ​fù​mǎ​fǔ​), North Ma Road, Xiangqiao District (湘桥区北马路 Xiāng​qiáo​qū​ Běi​mǎ​lù​). Retains the basic pattern of the architecture of the Song Dynasty. 

Religious sites

• 9 Jiluehuang Temple (己略黃公祠; Jǐ​lüè​huáng​gōng​cí​), Yian Road, Xiangqiao District (湘桥区义安路 Xiāng​qiáo​qū​ Yì​ān​lù)​, ☏ +86 768 2228244. Displaying the wood carving art of Chaozhou in the Qing Dynasty. 
• 10 Kaiyuan Temple (开元寺; Kāi​yuán​sì​), 32 Kaiyuan Road, Xiangqiao District (湘桥区开元路32号 Xiāng​qiáo​qū​ Kāi​yuán​lù​), ☏ +86 768 2225571, fax: +86 768 2236542, rhd@rhd.net.cn. Buddhist center embodied with the quintessence of the architectural art of various dynasties such as the Tang, the Song, the Yuan and the Qing. This temple is over 200 years old. The temple is also home to the most influential Buddhism Study Institute in Southeast China. Inside, handsome calligraphy and inscribed steles remind visitors that this temple once functioned as the record keeper of the city.  

Other sights

• 11 Chaozhou People's Square (潮州人民广场). The city's main public square. 
• 12 West Lake (潮州西湖). There is a museum in the park, which has a unique collection of stones with natural geological markings representing (or resembling) Chinese characters. There is also a small crumbling historical building (revolutionary site) and a large modern phoenix at the top of a hill, with an interesting old painting of ancient Chaozhou. 

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

Dawu clay sculptures

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.

• Lianhua Vegetarian Restaurant (莲花素食府 Lianhua Sushi Fu), Kaiyuan Square (Kaiyuan Guangchang) (across from Kaiyuan Temple (Kaiyuan Si duimian)), ☏ +86 768 2238033. Vegetarian chain restaurant also found in Shantou and Jieyang. 
• McDonalds, China, 广东省潮州市湘桥区新桥东路南片1、3、5号商铺首、二层, ☏ +867682681091. 24 Hours. A standard high quality McDonald's with free Wi-Fi as long as you have a mobile phone that can receive a text message. You can get stable food here 24 hours a day, and coffee. (updated Feb 2015)
• Pizza Hut. Standard Pizza Hut is across the street from the main McDonalds. (updated Feb 2015)
• KFC. Standard KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is across the street from the main McDonald's. (updated Feb 2015)

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.

Sleep

• Yunhe Hotel (down the street from the inner-city long distance bus station, towards the park). No English sign. Some rooms have a large balcony. Well run, good value. Doubles ¥150. 

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