Chaoshan

Chaoshan (潮汕 Cháoshàn) is a region in Guangdong Province in China. The region takes its name from the its two main cities of Chaozhou (潮州) and Shantou (汕头).

Cities

The region consists of four prefecture-level cities, with two of those prefecture-level cities having county-level cities under their jurisdiction.

Map of Chaoshan

1 Chaozhou — the main cultural centre of the region
2 Jieyang
3 Puning
4 Shantou — the largest city in the region and its main port
5 Shanwei — at the edge of the Pearl River Delta to the west, with beautiful beaches especially around the Zhelang Peninsula
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Other destinations

1 Nan’ao Island

Nearby cities

Jieyang (揭阳) – Famous for historic temples, traditional architecture, and the ancestral homes of local families.
Chenghai District (澄海区, Shantou) – Known for toy industry, local markets, and coastal scenery.

Understand

Talk

This region has its own language, called Teochew or Chiuchow. Teochew is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin or Cantonese, but is partially mutually intelligible with Minnan, spoken across the border in South Fujian. The accent and pronunciation varies slightly between the three main Teochew-speaking cities of Chaozhou, Shantou and Jieyang, but if you are fluent in Teochew, this should not pose too much of a challenge. The prestige dialect of Teochew is the dialect spoken in Chaozhou, though the Shantou dialect has the most speakers.

The dialect spoken in Shanwei is called the Haifeng dialect which, while closely related to Teochew, is distinct from it, and often described as an intermediate between Minnan and Teochew. There is also a Hakka-speaking minority.

The region is part of Guangdong province and many people speak Cantonese, albeit as a second or third language rather than natively. As with anywhere else in China, standard Mandarin has been the language of education, government and most media for decades, so nearly all educated people are fluent in Mandarin, though often with a thick accent. The most characteristic mispronunciations of Mandarin among native Teochew speakers are the merging of the initial “f” sound into “h”, and of the final “n” sound into “ng”.

English is not widely spoken, though staff at the higher end hotels will be able to speak English.

Get in

By air – Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport (揭阳潮汕机场)
By train – High-speed trains connect to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and beyond (Chaoshan Station).
Local transport – Buses, taxis, and shared bicycles.

Get around

Taxis & ride-hailing

Taxis are widely available in cities; ride-hailing apps (Didi, Meituan) are commonly used.

Bicycles & walking

Shared bikes are available in urban areas.
Many historic sites, old streets, and scenic spots are best explored on foot.

Car rentals

Optional for exploring rural villages or coastal areas outside the city center. Driving is on the right side of the road.

See

The region is known for its unique architectural style, which can be distinguished from that of the rest of China by its “curly grass roofs” (卷草脊). Traditional Chaoshan architecture is also known for its intricate wood carvings, and for the use of porcelain shards to make colourful, intricate mosaics.

1 Guangji Bridge (广济桥; Guǎngjìqiáo), ☏ +86-768-2222683. Generally open daily from 09:00-17:30; weekday schedules may differ, e.g. 10:00-17:30. 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.

Do

Craft experience – Try wood carving, ceramics, and Teochew embroidery.
Cultural activities – Watch dragon and lion dances, or traditional Teochew opera.
Food tours – Explore local markets and seafood restaurants for authentic Teochew cuisine.

Eat

Teochew cuisine is distinct from the Cantonese cuisine that is prevalent in much of the rest of Guangdong, and is more similar to South Fujian cuisine than to Cantonese cuisine. It is known in particular for its seafood and vegetarian dishes. Braised meats are commonly eaten in Teochew cuisines; a feature which it shares with South Fujian cuisine, but stands in contrast with the popularity of roasted meats in Cantonese cuisine. Other signature Teochew dishes include cold crab (冻蟹), pork jelly (猪脚冻) and fish balls (鱼丸).

If you’re a vegetarian, beware of bakery items and vegetable dishes in ordinary restaurants, as lard and fish sauce are commonly used in Teochew cuisine.

Drink

Chaoshan is famous throughout China for its Gongfu tea (工夫茶), which incorporates a unique brewing method and ceremonial drinking practices; a tradition shared with the neighboring South Fujian region, as well as with Taiwan. Typically, high-quality tea leaves from single ancient tea trees, such as Phoenix Dancong（凤凰单枞）, Shuixian（水仙）, Yashi Xiang（鸭屎香）, are used. These tea leaves are known for their fresh and fragrant characteristics. The process of brewing Gongfu tea is highly intricate. Firstly, an appropriate amount of tea leaves is placed in the teaware, and then near-boiling water is used for short, repeated infusions. The choice of teaware, whether porcelain or purple clay teapots, significantly influences the brewing process. Gongfu tea is often consumed using small teacups, and the entire ritual emphasizes attention to detail and appreciation of the tea’s aroma and flavor.

Stay safe

Go next

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