Meizhou

Meizhou 梅州市
Prefecture-level city
Nickname(s): Kezhou (客州)
Location of Meizhou in Guangdong
Country	People's Republic of China
Province	Guangdong
Municipal seat	Meijiang District
Area
• Prefecture-level city	15,864.51 km2 (6,125.32 sq mi)
• Urban	3,047.5 km2 (1,176.6 sq mi)
• Metro	3,047.5 km2 (1,176.6 sq mi)
Elevation	96 m (315 ft)
Population
• Prefecture-level city	4,328,461 (2,010 census)
• Urban	935,516 (2,010 census)
• Metro	935,516
• Major Nationalities	Han
Time zone	China Standard (UTC+8)
Postal Code	514000
Area code(s)	753
License Plate Prefix	粤M
Website	http://www.meizhou.gov.cn/

Meizhou is a prefecture-level city in eastern Guangdong province, People's Republic of China. It has an area of 15,864.51 km² (6,125.32 sq mi), and a population of 4.33 million at the 2010 census. It comprises Meijiang District, Xingning City and six counties. Its built-up or metro area made up of 2 urban districts was home to 935,516 inhabitants at the 2010 census.^[1] Meizhou is honored with the titles of Hometown of Culture, Hometown of the Overseas Hakka Chinese and Hometown of Football.^[2]

History

The name Meizhou comes from the Mei River and the Chinese name for the plum blossom (梅; méi).^[3] Meizhou was established as the prefecture of Jingzhou during the Southern Han (917-971). It became Meizhou at the time of Northern Song dynasty (960-1127) and Jiaying Prefecture during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). After several subsequent shifts of jurisdiction, it became Meizhou City in 1988. Meizhou is now a noted historical and cultural city.^[4]

Geography

Meizhou is located in the northeast of Guangdong Province, bordering Fujian Province in the northeast and Jiangxi Province in the northwest. The complex geological structure was formed mainly from granite, spouting rocks, metamorphic rock, shale, sandstone, red rock and limestone.^[5] Its administrative area ranges in latitude from 23° 23' to 24° 56' N and in longitude from 115° 18' to 116° 56' E, covering an area of 15,836 km² (6,114 sq mi).

Meizhou has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with short, mild, overcast winters and long, very hot, humid summers. The monthly daily average temperature in January is 12.4 °C (54.3 °F), and in July is 28.6 °C (83.5 °F). From April to June, rainfall is the heaviest and most frequent. Though striking typhoons do not affect the area as much as the coast, the mountainous topography means that flooding is a serious concern.

Administration

The municipal government, Intermediate Court, CPC office and Public Security Bureau are located in the Jiangnan Subdistrict of the Meijiang District, on the right bank of Mei River.

Map						Name	Simplified Chinese	Hanyu Pinyin	Population (2010 census)	Area (km2)	Density (/km2)
Meijiang Meixian Xingning (city) Fengshun County Wuhua County Pingyuan County Jiaoling County Dabu County						Meijiang District	梅江区	Méijiāng Qū	380,771	570.62	667
						Meixian District	梅县区	Méixiàn Qū	554,745	2,476.87	224
						Dabu County	大埔县	Dàbù Xiàn	374,666	2,461.82	152
						Fengshun County	丰顺县	Fēngshùn Xiàn	478,974	2,706.34	177
						Wuhua County	五华县	Wǔhuá Xiàn	1,050,528	3,237.83	324
						Pingyuan County	平远县	Píngyuǎn Xiàn	230,045	1,373.98	167
						Jiaoling County	蕉岭县	Jiāolǐng Xiàn	205,849	961.64	214
						Xingning	兴宁市	Xīngníng Shì	962,883	2,075.39	464

Economy

Meizhou is rich in mineral and tourism resources. It has 48 kinds of minerals including coal, iron, limestone, rare clay and porcelain clay amongst others. Of these reserves manganese is ranked first in Guangdong Province. Meizhou has plenty of water resources, hot springs and certified mineral waters. There are tourism resources such as cultural historic sites constructed during the Tang Dynasty, former residences of notable figures, natural scenery of all kinds, and unique Hakka cultural sights.^[2]

Transport

Meizhou is a communication hub for the three provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi and the bridge connecting the coastal and the inland areas. State Highways 205 and 206 run across the city. Guangzhou-Meizhou-Shantou Railway and Meizhou-Kanshi Railway pass through the city while expressways, state, provincial county and village highways extend to all parts. The city is served by the regional Meixian Airport, with regular air routes to Guangzhou and Hong Kong. By water, the Mei River and Han River reach Chaozhou and Shantou.^[6]

A view of the Mei River in Meizhou at night

Culture

Meizhou is considered the center for standard Hakka dialect, along with the neighboring Mei County and Dabu County.

Hakkas are a unique ethnic group of Han Chinese originally from around the Yellow River area, who later migrated south to avoid the chaos of war centuries ago. Due to hostility towards the new immigrants, many were forced into the mountainous regions of Guangdong Province. This migratory tradition has continued with the redistribution of Hakka people to the most remote parts of the world. Many people in Meizhou emigrated during the last century to earn money for their families, with some returning to build in their hometowns.

Many buildings are named after famous people in Meizhou, built by returning Hakkas.

Because of its mountainous location, Meizhou has numerous natural scenic areas and good air quality. Many visitors come to the Yannanfei Tea Garden to climb the mountain.

Education

Education in Meizhou has been highly valued since ancient times. The city is home to Jiaying University, a local university which also attracts students from other provinces. The university is also known for its research into Hakka culture.

Food

During the period after August or September, a sea of pomelos can be seen, especially in village orchards.

Pomelos

Salt baked chicken

Salt baked chicken is one of the most well-known Hakka dishes, which can also be bought in many other cities in China. Another local dish is Yong tau foo (tofu) stuffed with meat), of which it is said that when Hakka people first came to the south, there was no wheat flour to make dumplings so they used tofu instead. They put meat and some other ingredients into the tofu to create a special taste. This recipe was handed down and became a feature of Hakka cuisine. Other foods including preserved beef and ginger candies are also popular locally.

Notable people

• Ye Jianying (1897–1986), Chinese communist general
• Huang Zunxian (1848–1905), diplomat and reformer
• Lin Fengmian (1900–1991), painter

Gallery

• 

  Jiaying University, Meizhou - New Century Square (located in the center of the main campus)

• 

  An old Meizhou street (2000)

• 

  Meizhou rice paddy

• 

  Meizhou street corner.

• 

  Meizhou Jiang Nan Rd.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Meizhou.

External links

• Official Meizhou Government website.

See also

• Hakka people
• Hakka cuisine
• Horn House

Coordinates: 24°16′37″N 116°06′58″E / 24.277°N 116.116°E / 24.277; 116.116