Chaozhou Travel Guide

Chaozhou Travel Guide

Chaozhou Facts

Chinese Name: 潮州 (cháo zhōu)
Population: 2,758,000
Area: 1,063.99 square kilometers (410.81 square miles)
Location: in the east of Guangdong Province, southern China
Administrative Division: 2 districts (Xiangqiao, Chao'an,); 1 county (Raoping)
Area Code: 0768
Zip Code: 521000
GDP (2018): CNY 106.73 billion (USD 16.13 billion)
 

The Birthplace of Chinese Tea Ceremony

Situated in the east part of Guangdong Province, Chaozhou neighbors Fujian Province to the east, Shantou to the south and is adjacent to the South China Sea. It has a coastline of 136 kilometers (85 miles) in total. Han River, the second largest river in Guangdong Province, runs 96 kilometers (60 miles) from north to south. Known as the birthplace of the Chinese tea ceremony, Chaozhou is famous for Chaozhou Kungfu Tea which is not only a unique traditional tea drinking custom, but also an important part of Chaozhou food culture. The Gongfu Tea is very particular about tea set, tea, water quality, making, pouring and drinking. The tea sets must be fine, small and of high quality. The cinnabar pot produced by Yixing, Jiangsu Province is a top choice. Also, the Chaozhou Dialect, Opera, Music, Cuisine and Chao Embroidery has far-reaching influence at home and abroad. It is also a commodity distribution center in Hanjiang River Basin covering Jiangxi, Fujian and Guangdong. In addition, Chaozhou is the hometown of 1,080,000 overseas Chinese and compatriots in Hong Kong and Macau.

Chaozhou Attractions - Things to Do

Egrets' Paradise
Located in Tuolin Town of Raoping County, the Xi'ao Island becomes increasingly noticeable for the grand spectacle of egrets back to their habitat before dusk. It is praised as the "Egrets' Paradise".

Guangji Gate Tower
Among the multitude of seven ancient city gates, the Guangji Gate Wall is the most spectacular one. Constructed in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the gate tower is the main symbol of Chaozhou.

Other Chaozhou points of interest: Guangji Bridge, Kaiyuan Temple, Longqiu Pagoda, North Pavilions, Han Wengong Temple

How to get to Chaozhou

The city is only about 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport. Visitors intending to travel by air can transfer to the airport getting in and out of Chaozhou. One can also take a train to/from Chaoshan Railway Station, about 11 miles (17 kilometers) from the city; there are express buses between the railway station and the downtown. In addition, the city local bus terminal in Chaofeng Road provides buses to Guangzhou, Shantou and Shenzhen respectively costing about 6, 1 and 5 hours.
 
 Major Rail Lines from Chaoshan to

Weather

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 Chaozhou belongs to a subtropical oceanic monsoon climate. Summer is longer, while winter is shorter. Its annual temperature of a year is about 21.4C (71F). Generally speaking, the rainy season may come in April, and rainstorms appear frequently in June.

 When to Go: Visitors can get there at any season, especially better in spring and autumn.

Chaozhou Travel Tips

Chaoshan Cuisine, together with Guangzhou Cuisine and Dongjiang Cuisine, constitutes the three principal cuisine styles of Guangdong Cuisine. It is adept at cooking seafood and soup, pays attention to refine knife works and maintain original favor and fragrance of materials. Therefore, Visitors can list some featured Chaozhou food in their menus, such as big fish bolus, Teochew Porridge, Chaozhou aspic, winter melon bowl with assorted meat soup and mushroom goose palm.

There are also some pedestrian malls recommended, such as the commerce pedestrian street in Xinqiao Road (East), Sanli Street (Sanli Jie) and Kaiyuan Road. They are perfect shopping destination. Notable is that bargaining is necessary in the Sanli Street.

 History: Over 1600 years ago, the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420) established Haiyang County to administrate this area. The name of this city was first used in the Sui Dynasty (581-618). Before the establishment of the PRC, it had been the political, economical and cultural center of eastern Guangdong for quite a long time.

 Physical Features: Among the main types of landform of Chaozhou, including mountainous region, hills, terraces and plains, mountainous and hilly areas constitute the major part of the city, which are mainly distributed in Raoping County and northern Chao'an County.

 Special Local Products: tea, pickles, Chao embroidery

See More: In-depth Guide to Top 10 Guangdong Destinations

- Last updated on Jul. 22, 2024 by Serena Zhou -