Posts tagged ‘潮州’

Old City Center of Chaozhou… and some history


CHAOZHOU – 214 B.C. during Qin Dynasty.

Dialect of its own! Chaozhou Dialect, by which the Chaozhou culture conveys, is considered as one of the oldest Chinese dialects . It is spoken by about 10 million people in local Chaozhou and approximately 2-5 million overseas.

People: Today it has around 2,5 million people. Not a big city for China, only maybe for Europeans! :)
Chaozhou has a history of many reach people. After 1950, many of them ran to Hong Kong due to comunism and set a very strong community there. They were good at running small businesses. In the 1960s, almost every “rice store” (grocery stores for dried food and uncooked rice) in Hong Kong were owned by “Chiu Chow Loun” (“person from Chaozhou” in local dialect).
And they are very religious. Incense burning is a symbol of consecration to the Gods and seeking their blessing. Every 1st and 15th of the lunar month, temples are filled with people coming to burn incense to their deity.
Old people don’t like foreigners, so it is better to avoid them since they will start to argue with you, maybe a little agressive.

Kung Fu Tea (say “kung fu chia” ) , the “espresso” of Chinese teas with a formidable kick, which was first sipped back in the Song Dynasty, is still flourishing and remains an important part of social etiquette in Chaozhou.  Though it tastes bitter when it first reaches your mouth, it is the lingering aftertaste that makes Kung Fu Tea probably the most charming tea culture in China. Drinking Kung Fu tea is in fact a process of aesthetics rather than a solution to thirst. It is recommended especially to smokers!
I put here something about the way they drink Kung Fu Tea!

The Ming city wall! Well, it is a 2.6 km long wall that protected the Old City. Special post HERE!

Jiadixiang – The ANCIENT FAMILY HOUSES , the old city center of Chaozhou too. This you have to see! Because here you will find old China.
SEE PICTURES HERE AND ENJOY!