Meizhou Explained

Meizhou
Native Name:梅州市
Native Name Lang:zh
Other Name:Mòichû
Motto:Capital of Hakkas in the World
Nickname:Kezhou (Chinese: 客州)
Settlement Type:Prefecture-level city
Image Map1:Guangdong subdivisions - Meizhou.svg
Map Caption1:Location of Meizhou in Guangdong
Coor Pinpoint:Meizhou municipal government
Coordinates:24.289°N 116.122°W
Pushpin Map:China
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in China
Pushpin Mapsize:-->
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:People's Republic of China
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Guangdong
Seat Type:Municipal seat
Seat:Meijiang District
Leader Title:CPC Committee Secretary
Leader Title1:Mayor
Area Total Km2:15864.51
Area Urban Km2:3047.5
Area Metro Km2:3047.5
Elevation M:96
Population As Of:2020 census[1]
Population Total:3873239
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Metro:992351
Population Density Metro Km2:auto
Population Urban:992351
Population Density Urban Km2:auto
Population Blank1 Title:Major Nationalities
Population Blank1:Han
Demographics Type2:GDP[2]
Demographics2 Info1:CN¥ 130.8 billion
US$ 20.3 billion
Demographics2 Title2:Per capita
Demographics2 Info2:CN¥ 33,764
US$ 5,234
Blank7 Name:Languages
Blank7 Info:Standard Chinese (official); Hakka (regional)
Timezone:China Standard
Utc Offset:+8
Postal Code Type:Postal Code
Postal Code:514000
Area Code:753
Iso Code:CN-GD-14
Blank Name:License Plate Prefix
Blank Info:Chinese: 粤M
Pic:MZ name.svg
Piccap:"Meizhou", as written in Chinese
Picsize:125px
P:Méizhōu
Psp:Meichow (present)
Meihsien (former)
Kaying (former; pre-1912)
J:Mui4 zau1
Y:Mùihjāu
H:Mòi-chû
L:Plum/prune Prefecture
Showflag:h
Order:st

Meizhou (Hakka Chinese: Mòichû) is a prefecture-level city in eastern Guangdong province, China. It has an area of 15864.51km², and a population of 3,873,239 as of the 2020 census. It comprises Meijiang District, Meixian District, Xingning City and five counties. Its built-up or metro area made up of two urban districts was home to 992,351 inhabitants.[3]

History

Neolithic age stone tools and pottery have been discovered in dozens of places in the Meixian district of Meizhou. Ancient kiln sites from the Western Zhou dynasty and bells from the Warring States period were also found. Before the Qin dynasty, Meizhou was under Nanyue rule. After Qin unified the Nanyue, Meizhou was belonged to Nanhai Commandery.

The original name of Meizhou was Chengxiang (程乡), established under the prefecture of Jingzhou during the Southern Han (917–971). The name was changed to Meizhou at the 10th century and Jiaying Prefecture at the 15th century. After 1912, it was changed back to Meizhou, the name comes from the Mei River and the Chinese name for the plum blossom .[4] After several subsequent shifts of jurisdiction, it became Meizhou City in 1988. Meizhou is now a noted historical and cultural city.[5]

Geography and climate

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.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 15836km2.[6]

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 12.6°C, and in July is 28.9°C. 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
NameSimplified ChineseHanyu PinyinPopulation
Area
(km2)
Density
(/km2)
Meijiang DistrictChinese: 梅江区Méijiāng Qū380,771570.62667
Meixian DistrictChinese: 梅县区Méixiàn Qū554,7452,476.87224
Dabu CountyChinese: 大埔县Dàbù Xiàn374,6662,461.82152
Fengshun CountyChinese: 丰顺县Fēngshùn Xiàn478,9742,706.34177
Wuhua CountyChinese: 五华县Wǔhuá Xiàn1,050,5283,237.83324
Pingyuan CountyChinese: 平远县Píngyuǎn Xiàn230,0451,373.98167
Jiaoling CountyChinese: 蕉岭县Jiāolǐng Xiàn205,849961.64214
XingningChinese: 兴宁市Xīngníng Shì962,8832,075.39464

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.[7]

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. Expressways, state, provincial county and village highways extend to all parts.

In 2019 the city became the terminus for the Meizhou–Chaoshan high-speed railway which opened a new station at providing high-speed rail links to Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Shantou, Chaoshan, Yichang and Xiamen.[8] The Guangzhou–Meizhou–Shantou railway and Meizhou-Kanshi Railway use Meizhou railway station in the city providing regular rail connections to Guangzhou, Xiamen, Shantou, Shenzhen, Dapu, Wuchang and Kunming.[9]

The city is served by the regional Meizhou Meixian Airport, with regular air routes to Guangzhou and Hong Kong.By water, the Mei River and Han River reach Chaozhou and Shantou.[10]

Culture

The Meixian dialect is considered the standard Hakka dialect, along with the neighboring Mei County and Dabu County.[11]

Hakka people 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 Hakka 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.Salt baked chicken is among the most well-known Hakka dishes, found also in many other cities. Another local dish is Yong tau foo (stuffed tofu). It is said that when Hakka people first came south, there was no wheat flour for dumplings. So they substituted tofu. Meat based fillings give a special taste that became a feature of Hakka cuisine. Preserved beef and ginger candies are also locally popular.

Notable people

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: China: Guăngdōng (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) – Population Statistics, Charts and Map.
  2. Book: 广东省统计局、国家统计局广东调查总队. 《广东统计年鉴-2016》. August 2016. 中国统计出版社. 978-7-5037-7837-7. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171222072646/http://www.gdstats.gov.cn/tjnj/2016/directory.html. 2017-12-22.
  3. Web site: China: Guăngdōng (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) – Population Statistics, Charts and Map.
  4. http://www.gznet.edu.cn/WWW/scn/guangdong/e_mz.html Origin of the name Meizhou
  5. Web site: Ministry of Culture, P.R.China . chinaculture.org . Meizhou Travel and culture . 2006-12-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061212110609/http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_travel/2003-09/24/content_35994.htm . 2006-12-12.
  6. Web site: meizhou.gov.cn . Meizhou Geography .
  7. Web site: Investment Environment . 2006-12-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061014114829/http://www.gddoftec.gov.cn/sq/en/tz_mz.html . 2006-10-14 . dead .
  8. Web site: Meizhou West Station Departure Info . China Rail Map . 25 October 2019.
  9. Web site: Meizhou Station Departure Info . China Rail Map . 25 October 2019.
  10. Web site: Meizhou City – Transport. https://web.archive.org/web/20060822120202/http://www.getgd.net/gd_city/meizou/mzintr.e.html. 2006-08-22.
  11. Far East Society