Chaozhou City

Chaozhou City ( 潮州市 Tio`₁₀ Ziu₃ Chi₂ )

Chaozhou City was formerly known as Fucheng (府城 Hu₄₂Sia`₁) because it was Teochew Prefecture’s seat of government. The settlement is about 1600 years old. The area around this settlement was named Chaozhou (i.e. Chao Prefecture) in 591 AD in the Sui Dynasty. It is the seat of Teochew civilisation and culture. It is a tourist-friendly city, with tourist attractions well maintained.

Ancient City Wall (古城墙 Kou₄₂ Sia`₁₀Zio`₁) and Gate Towers: The city wall was completed during Song Dynasty and was destroyed during Yuan Dynasty. Rebuilt during Ming Dynasty in 1379. It is 2.3 km long and has 7 gates. The present city walls and 4 gates were reinforced and restored in 2001. The city walls and gates we saw (along Hanjiang) were nicely restored and well maintained.

Jia Di Lane (甲第巷 Kad₀₁Ten₄₂Han₀): Restored old houses of noblemen and rich people of bygone eras, now occupied by ordinary folks. It is the first of 10 lanes of such houses. They were built during Ming and Qing Dynasties. Beautiful wall paintings and ceramics can be seen. Our tour group visited the area by trishaws.

Kaiyuan Temple (开元寺 Khai₃G`uan₁₀Zi`₀): Originally called Lifeng Temple, rebuilt and named Kaiyuan Temple in the year of Kaiyuan 26 (738 A.D.) in Tang Dynasty. It was a Buddhist centre in Teochew Prefecture. It is a large and venerable old temple which had gone through more than 10 renovations and reconstructions, thus influenced by the architectural art of Tang, Song, Yuan and Qing dynasties. Well maintained.

West Lake Park (西湖公园 Sai₃Ou₁ Kon₃Hng₁): It was a small river flowing into Hanjiang (River). It became a lake after the small river was dammed in Tang Dynasty. West Lake became famous in Song Dynasty. It was destroyed in Yuan Dynasty, revived in Ming Dynasty and neglected in Qing Dynasty. It is a very elongated lake, hemmed in by the city buildings. Has a zigzag bridge leading to a pavilion in the lake.

Phoenix Island Park (凤凰洲公园 Hon₁₀Huan₁ Kon₃Hng₁): Situated in an islet in the Hanjiang (river). Looked new and well maintained.

Xiangzi Bridge (湘子橋 Sian₃Zer₄₂Kio₁): Originally built in 1171 during Song Dynasty. It was beautifully designed and built, consisting of 18 boats and 24 pavilions in 24 styles (built on 24 columns) spanning Hanjiang River. The boats could be moved aside to let ships through. The bridge was guarded by 2 cast iron buffaloes but one of them was lost in a storm. Hence the popular verse “潮州湘桥好风流, 十八梭船廿四洲, 廿四楼台廿四样, 两只生牛一只溜”, i.e. “Tio`₁₀Ziu₃ Sian₃Kio₁ ho₄₂ huan₃liu₁, zab₁₀poid₀₁ sou₃zun₁ jid₁₀si₅₄ziu₃, jid₁₀si₅₄ lao₁₀thai₁ jid₁₀si₅₄ io`₀, no₂₀ziad₀₁ se`₃gu₁ zeg₁₀ziad₀₁ liu₃” which means “Chaozhou Xiangzi Bridge was distinguished and admirable, 18 shuttle boats and 24 divisions, 24 pavilions in 24 styles, 2 cast iron buffaloes but one slipped away”. “潮州湘桥好风流” can also mean “Chaozhou Xiangzi Bridge was romantic or good for philandering”. I do not know whether the double meaning of the popular verse was intended. Unfortunately, in the name of progress, the bridge was replaced by an ordinary bridge. At the time of our visit in 2005, this ordinary bridge was dismantled. A replica of the old Xiangzi Bridge was being re-built, targeted to be ready in 2007.

Phoenix Pagoda (凤凰塔 Hon₁₀Huan₁₀Thad₀) It was built in 1585 and renovated in 1765. It is old, well maintained but not spectacular.

(Ancient) Dragon Pool Pagoda (龙湫宝塔 Len₁₀Chiu₃ Po₄₂Thad₀): No longer exists. It was built in Ming Dynasty and collapsed during Qing Dynasty. Even the foundation was destroyed when de-silting Hanjiang (River).

Northern Buddhist Lamp Park (北阁佛灯公园 Pag₀₁kod₀ Hug₁₀Ten₃ Kon₃Hng₁): The “Buddhist Lamp” was built in 1522-1566 during Ming Dynasty. Rebuilt in 1644-1661 and 1736-1795 during Qing Dynasty. The current structure was built in 1980s. The “Buddhist Lamp” was actually a lighthouse for navigation along that stretch of the Hanjiang (River). The park was quite scenic. The building (on higher ground) in the park houses an old painting of Xiangzhi Bridge (湘子橋 Sian₃Zer₄₂Kio₁) and the old walled city, as how they looked in ancient times.

Gold Hill Ancient Pine Tree (金山古松 Kim₃Sua`₃ Kou₄₂Son₁), originally named Horse Hill Evergreen Pine, no longer exists.

Hanwen Gong Temple (韩文公祠 Han₁₀Bun₁₀Kon₃ Ser₁): Originally built in 819 on a hill overlooking the river to respectfully commemorate a Tang dynasty philosopher and able administer Hanyu (韩愈) who was exiled from Xi'an to Chaozhou for eight months. He set up education system for the Teochew people, got rid of crocodiles from Hanjiang (River) and alleviated floods. In that short period he did a lot of good for the Teochew people and hence he was worshipped by Teochew people. Worth a visit.

Chaozhou Porcelain (潮州陶瓷 Tio`₁₀Ziu₃ Thao₁₀Hui₁) at Fengxi (枫溪 Pan₃Khoi₃) in Chaozhou City (潮州市 Tio`₁₀Ziu₃Chi₂): Chaozhou can trace its pottery and porcelain production back more than 1,000 years. Fengxi is famous for Chaozhou ceramics. The guide could not arrange for us to see how the porcelain artefacts were made. He brought us to a large showroom, full of porcelain artefacts: kungfu tea sets, wide range of vases including giant ones, figurines of animals & birds, large statues of deities, etc.

White Magnolia Hotel (白玉兰大酒店 Ped₁₀Geg₁₀Lan₁ Tua₀Ziu₄₂Tiam₅) 4★: Located in the new part of Chaozhou City. Hotel facilities were good but there were no shops in the vicinity.

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Chaozhou City ( 潮 州 市 Tio`10 Ziu3 Chi2 )

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Chaozhou City ( 潮州市 Tio`₁₀ Ziu₃ Chi₂ )