Meizhou
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| Administration Type | Prefecture-level city |
| City Seat | Meijiang District |
| Area | 15,836 km² |
| Population | 4,863,800 (2002)
city: 237,800 (2002) |
| GDP - Total - Per Capita |
¥ ¥ |
| Major Nationalities | Han |
| County-level divisions | 8 |
| Township-level divisions | |
| CPC Committee Secretary | |
| Mayor | |
| Area code | 753 |
| Postal Code | 514000 |
| License Plate Prefix | 粤M |
Meizhou (Chinese: 梅州; pinyin: Méizhōu) is a prefecture-level city of eastern Guangdong Province in the south of the People's Republic of China. It has an area of 15,836 km², and a population of 4.863 million. Meizhou is honored with the Hometown of Culture, Hometown of the Overseas Chinese and Hometown of Football. [1]
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[edit] History
The name Meizhou came from its Mei Brook and plum blossom (Mei Blossom).[2] Meizhou was established as a prefecture named Jingzhou in the Nanhan (911-971). It was changed into Meizhou in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and Jiaying Prefecture in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). After several subsequent shift of jurisdiction, it was turned into Meizhou City in 1988. Now Meizhou is a famous historical and cultural city.[3]
[edit] Geography
Meizhou is located in the northeast of Guangdong Province, with Fujian Province in the northeast and Jiangxi Province in the northwest. Its geographic location is within and . Meizhou City complex geological structure was formed mainly from granite, spouting rocks, metamorphic rock, shale, sandstone, red rock and limestone.[4]
[edit] Administration
Meizhou has jurisdiction over the six counties of Meixian, Dabu, Fengshun, Wuhua, Pingyuan, and Jiaoling; the district of Meijiang, and the mandate for the city of Xingning. Rivers include the Meijiang River.
[edit] Economy
Meizhou has rich resources of mineral and tourism. Meizhou has 48 kinds of rich minerals such as coal, iron mine, limestone, rare clay and porcelain clay etc, among which the reserve of manganese is ranked first in Guangdong province. Meizhou has plenty of water resources, the reserves of hot spring and qualified mineral water is tremendous. There are tourism resources such as cultural historic site constructed from Tang Dynasty, former residence of celebrity, natural spectacles of all kinds, and unique Hakkas cultural sights in Meizhou.[1]
[edit] Transport
Meizhou is at the vital communication hub of the three provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi. It is the bridge connecting the coast and the inner land. State Highways 205 and 206 run across the city. Guangzhou-Meizhou-Shantou Railway and Meizhou-Kanshi Railway cross here. Expressways, state, provincial county and village highways reach all places. In air transport, there are airlines reaching Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Waterways of Meijiang, Hanjiang reach Chaozhou and Shantou. A communication network with highways, railways airlines and waterways interconnected has been formed initially in the City. [5]
[edit] People and Culture
The standard dialect Hakka dialect is spoken here.
Hakkas are a unique ethnic group of Han Chinese originally from around the Yellow River area, who later migrated to the south to avoid the chaos created by wars centuries ago. Due to hostilities faced by these new immigrants, many were forced into the mountainous regions of Guangdong. The migratory tradition continued with the redistribution of Hakka people in the most remote parts of the world. Many people in Meizhou emigrated during the last century to earn money to raise their families, with some returning to build their hometown.
Many buildings can be seen named after famous people in Meizhou. They were built by the returning Hakkas. Tsang Hin Chi, founder of the Gold Lion Tie company, has made a great contribution to the development of Meizhou. Thanks to this company, the city has fine buildings and the economy has improved.[citation needed]
Meizhou is a mountainous area so there are many beautiful natural scenes and the air quality is good. Many visitors came to the Yannanfei Tea Garden to mountaineer. On the mountain, eyes will view the green colours, and one will feel as if walking among the clouds.[citation needed] Here, one cannot avoid the flavour of the tea.
Hakka folk music is also a feature of the area. In the folks songs one will hear more about the Hakka people and their passion for their hometown, and love songs.
[edit] Education
Meizhou has attached much importance to culture and education since ancient times, and enjoys advanced education now. The city is the hometown of Huang Zunxian, a diplomat and reformist, modern poet Li Jinhua, painter Lin Fengmian and marshal Ye Jianying.
[edit] Food
During the period after August or September, a sea of pomelos can be seen, especially in the village's orchards.
The salt baked chicken is one of the most famous Hakka food, which can also be bought in many other cities in China. Another local dish is Yong tau foo (tofu stuffed with meat), which has a very interesting origin. 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 and it made a good, special taste. It was handed down and became a special recipe of Hakka cuisine. Other foods like preserved beef and ginger candies are also very popular.
[edit] Pictures
 Meizhou New Century Square |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
Prefecture-level divisions of Guangdong
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| List of Guangdong County-level divisions |
