History evolution

Chaozhou has a long history and is one of the famous national historical cultural city. Emperor Ch'in Pacify south Yuem in the year 214 BC, set three county: Xiangjun, Guilin, Nanhai, terrain belongs to Nanhai county, begin record in territory. At 111 BC, belongs to Yian,Jieyang,Nanhai county, set Dongguan county in Nanhai county in the year 331 AD, in 413 AD Donggong place and Yian county. Yian is the former body of Chaozhou.

"Chaozhou" appear in early Sui dynasty, year 590 AD, whole country cancel county set state, Yian county belongs to Yian county, Xunzhou, the same year, rise as state, due to terra face South China sea take "Meaning that tidewater come and go", first named "Chaozhou", Yian as state govern. After the year 607 A.D. cancel state renew county, 621 AD called “Chaozhou” for the second time, renamed Chaoyang County, renew Chaozhou in 758. First set government office in 1369 AD, called Chaozhou government office. Congzhen six year is the year that Chaozhou govern most areas, govern Haiyang, Chaoyang, Jieyang, Raoping, Huilai, Chenghai, Puning, Pingyuan, Chengxiang, Dapu, Zhenping total 11 counties.

Chaozhou is county, state, road and government office on history in successively, is the political, economy and culture center of east Yue, and also is commodity distributing center and oversea trade origin of Shu, Yue and Gan. Chaozhou has a long history, human quality at the height of power and splendor, on history famous for bright hill and beautiful water, wonderful river and high mountains and refine, elegant, simple and unsophisticated culture sight, praised as “Famous mountain state”, “Seashore city”，rank as famous nation grade hitorical and cultureal city in 1986.

Chaozhou ancient city area, Gold hill, Cucurbit Mountain and Penholder hill tripartite as screen, Han River consists of a splendid picture. Here is not only scenery bewitching, but also has lots of famous historical sites. Guangji Bridge, eponymous with Zhaozhou Bridge, Luoyang Bridge, Lugou Bridge called “China great four ancient bridges”; continuous for 4 kilometer, penholder hill Song kiln sites which known as “Hundred kiln village”, unusual Xu emperor’s son-in-law of Song dynasty; Han wengong word which commemorate Tang dynasty great eminent writer Han Yu; domestic first Thailand type Buddha temple, and phoenix hill heaven pool, till seaside “Egret heaven” west island nature protection zone etc. Totally have more than 720 cultural relics and historic sites, among them 5 important culture relics under state protection, more than 11 provincial grade culture relics protection, are assembling of east Yue cultural relics. Here also the “Ten prime minister in feudal China leave sound” place, Chang Gun, Yang Huanfu, Li Deyu, Li Zongmin of Tang dynasty, Chen Raozuo, Zhao Ding, Wen Tianxiang, Lu Xiufu, Zhang Shijie of Song dynasty, these ten prime minister all come to Chaozhou, bring culture of center China into Chaozhou.


District

On September 7, 1991, State department approve Chaozhou become local state city, govern Chaoan, Raoping, and Xiangqiao(Maple brook area set administration committee at the end of 1995.). Now city total area is 3,613.9 sq. km. Therein land area is 3,080.9 sq. km, sea area is 533sq. km.

Now Chaozhou has a population of 2,490,000, Xiangqiao area 343,466, maple brook 106,228.(According to 2003 city statistic bureau issued.) Chaozhou city area expands to northwest, southwest and east from former ancient city area. Chaozhou city area expands to 380,000 from 80,000. Chaozhou city planning area expands to 1,680,000.


Geography condition

Chaozhou locates at southeast of Guangdong province, adjacent to Southe China Sea. East longitude 116 degree 22 cent to 117 degree 11 cent, north latitude 23 degree 26 cent to 24 degree 14 cent, tropic of cancer through south of Chaozhou. Total land area is 3,083.9 square kilometer, still has ocean area 533 square kilometers. Chaozhou first established in 331 AD, already has more than 1,600 years history, ever follow Haiyang, Yian County and Chaoan city, Chaozhou first begin in 591, that is take “Meaning that tidewater come and go”. It is said a lucky phoenix ever perch here; bring luck to Chaozhou, so Chaozhou also named “Phoenix city”. Chaozhou is the seat of county, state, road and government of past dynasty, ever is political, economy and culture center, enjoy the praise of “Famous mountain state”, “Seashore city”.

December 8th of 1986, State Department approves Chaozhou as Famous State historical city. January of 1989, Chaozhou rank as province govern city.

December of 1991, State Department repartition Chaoshan district, Chaozhou promote as local city, govern new resume Chaoan, new established Xiangqiao and Raoping form governed by Shantou.

Physiognomy: north high and south low, mountain area occupies about 65.2% of city land area. Chaoan and Raoping are both mountain area county.

Population and nationality


Among total population, Han population is 2,394,842, occupy 99.70% of total population. Minority is total 27 except Han, increase 11 than forth countrywide census in 1990, total population is 7,220, occupy 0.3 % of total population, increase 4,786 and 0.07 percentage than “Forth census” respectively. More excessive minority is She-----2, 040, occupy 28.25% of whole city minority total population; Miao 1,556, occupy 21.55% of total population, Zhuang 960, occupy 13.30% of total population; Tujia 914, occupy 12.66% of total population; Buyi 557, occupy 7.71% of total population.

Besides, still has Menggu ,Hui, Zhang, Weiwuer, Dai, Chaoxuan, Man, Dong, Yao, Bai, Hani, Li, Wa, Shui, Muolao, Di, Bulang, Maonan, Yilao, Tajige, Tajik, Ewenki, total 3,233, occupy 44.78% of city total nationality

In minority population, except She is live in root place for a long time, the rest are all from fold, marry or doing business people.