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Chaozhou (潮州; Cháo​zhōu) is a city in Guangdong Province in China.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Get in

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

• 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.  edit

• Guangzi Bridge (广济桥; Guǎng​jì​qiáo​). built in the Southern Song Dynasty (1170 A.D.).  edit

• 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.  edit

• The old site of Song Kiln, (Bijia Mountain Xiangqiao). Shows the scale of production and the exquisite craftsmanship of ceramic in ancient Chaozhou.  edit

• Jiadixiang (甲第巷; Jiǎ​dì​xiàng​). Ancient family houses.  edit

• 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 (rhd@rhd.net.cn, fax: +86 768 2236542), [1]. 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.  edit

• People's Square (明城墻; Míng​chéng​qiáng​). Night scene of the Square.  edit

• The Ming City Wall. 2.6 kilometers long.  edit

• 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.  edit

• Xihuyuan. Museum in the main city park, has a unique collection unique of stones with natural geological markings representing (or resembling) Chinese characters.  edit

[edit] Talk

The Teochew variant of Minnan is the main language here, and it is only marginally mutually intelligible with the Amoy/Taiwanese variant. 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 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, non-Chinese vistors are not currently common here so expect some friendly curiosity and attempts at conversation from people if you visit, especially from kids/teenagers who know a little bit of English. However, when shopping or dining you'll be treated the same as if you are a local resident. The city is developing with China's economic expansion, so visitors and facets of western culture, while still infrequent, are becoming more common.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] 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.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Chiuchow (Teochew) cuisine, the cooking style originating from Chaozhou.

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Contact

[edit] Get out

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