Meizhou 梅州市 Mòichû | |
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   From top, left to right:Meizhou Confucian Temple [zh],Meizhou Buddhist Pagoda [zh],Meizhou Dongshan Shuyuan [zh],Paifang inDabu County, Xing Ning Street. | |
| Nickname: Kezhou (客州) | |
| Motto: Capital of Hakkas in the World | |
 | |
 Location of Meizhou in Guangdong | |
| Coordinates (Meizhou municipal government):24°17′20″N116°07′19″E / 24.289°N 116.122°E /24.289; 116.122 | |
| Country | People's Republic of China |
| Province | Guangdong |
| Municipal seat | Meijiang District |
| Area | |
| 15,864.51 km2 (6,125.32 sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 3,047.5 km2 (1,176.6 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 3,047.5 km2 (1,176.6 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 96 m (315 ft) |
| Population (2020 census[1]) | |
| 3,873,239 | |
| • Density | 244.1449/km2 (632.3324/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 992,351 |
| • Urban density | 325.63/km2 (843.37/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 992,351 |
| • Metro density | 325.63/km2 (843.37/sq mi) |
| • MajorNationalities | Han |
| GDP[2] | |
| • Prefecture-level city | CN¥ 130.8 billion US$ 20.3 billion |
| • Per capita | CN¥ 33,764 US$ 5,234 |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard) |
| Postal Code | 514000 |
| Area code | 753 |
| ISO 3166 code | CN-GD-14 |
| License Plate Prefix | 粤M |
| Languages | Standard Chinese (official);Hakka (regional) |
| Website | www |
| Meizhou | |||||||||||||||||
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 "Meizhou", as written in Chinese | |||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 梅州 | ||||||||||||||||
| Hakka | Mòi-chû | ||||||||||||||||
| Postal | Meichow(present) Meihsien(former) Kaying(former; pre-1912) | ||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Plum/prune Prefecture | ||||||||||||||||
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Meizhou (Chinese:梅州,Hakka Chinese: Mòichû) is aprefecture-level city in easternGuangdong province, China. It has an area of 15,864.51 km2 (6,125.32 sq mi), and a population of 3,873,239 as of the 2020 census. It comprisesMeijiang 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]
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 theWarring States period were also found. Before theQin dynasty, Meizhou was underNanyue rule. After Qin unified the Nanyue, Meizhou was belonged toNanhai Commandery.
The original name of Meizhou wasChengxiang (程乡), established under theprefecture ofJingzhou during theSouthern Han (917–971). The name was changed toMeizhou at the 10th century andJiaying Prefecture at the 15th century. After 1912, it was changed back to Meizhou, the name comes from theMei River and the Chinese name for theplum blossom (梅;méi).[4]After several subsequent shifts of jurisdiction, it became Meizhou City in 1988. Meizhou is now a noted historical and cultural city.[5]
Meizhou is located in the northeast of Guangdong Province, borderingFujian Province in the northeast andJiangxi 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 15,836 km2 (6,114 sq mi).[6]
Meizhou has ahumid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa), with short, mild, overcast winters and long, very hot, humid summers. The monthly daily average temperature in January is 12.6 °C (54.7 °F), and in July is 28.9 °C (84.0 °F). From April to June, rainfall is the heaviest and most frequent. Though strikingtyphoons do not affect the area as much as the coast, the mountainous topography means that flooding is a serious concern.
| Climate data for Meizhou, elevation 116 m (381 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 29.5 (85.1) | 33.0 (91.4) | 33.4 (92.1) | 36.0 (96.8) | 37.4 (99.3) | 38.4 (101.1) | 39.5 (103.1) | 38.6 (101.5) | 38.0 (100.4) | 36.3 (97.3) | 34.8 (94.6) | 30.2 (86.4) | 39.5 (103.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 18.5 (65.3) | 20.2 (68.4) | 22.9 (73.2) | 27.0 (80.6) | 30.3 (86.5) | 32.4 (90.3) | 34.3 (93.7) | 33.8 (92.8) | 32.4 (90.3) | 29.3 (84.7) | 25.2 (77.4) | 20.2 (68.4) | 27.2 (81.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 12.7 (54.9) | 14.8 (58.6) | 17.8 (64.0) | 22.0 (71.6) | 25.4 (77.7) | 27.5 (81.5) | 28.9 (84.0) | 28.4 (83.1) | 27.1 (80.8) | 23.7 (74.7) | 19.1 (66.4) | 14.1 (57.4) | 21.8 (71.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 8.9 (48.0) | 11.1 (52.0) | 14.3 (57.7) | 18.4 (65.1) | 21.9 (71.4) | 24.3 (75.7) | 25.1 (77.2) | 24.9 (76.8) | 23.4 (74.1) | 19.5 (67.1) | 15.0 (59.0) | 10.1 (50.2) | 18.1 (64.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −2.0 (28.4) | −1.4 (29.5) | 0.3 (32.5) | 7.6 (45.7) | 13.4 (56.1) | 17.6 (63.7) | 20.5 (68.9) | 19.9 (67.8) | 15.1 (59.2) | 5.0 (41.0) | 0.4 (32.7) | −3.3 (26.1) | −3.3 (26.1) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 55.8 (2.20) | 75.4 (2.97) | 142.2 (5.60) | 180.8 (7.12) | 199.6 (7.86) | 238.3 (9.38) | 151.2 (5.95) | 207.8 (8.18) | 112.7 (4.44) | 36.1 (1.42) | 42.6 (1.68) | 43.0 (1.69) | 1,485.5 (58.49) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 7.5 | 10.4 | 14.6 | 14.7 | 16.5 | 18.0 | 14.8 | 17.4 | 12.0 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 6.3 | 142.2 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 74 | 76 | 78 | 78 | 78 | 80 | 75 | 78 | 76 | 71 | 72 | 72 | 76 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 123.8 | 102.6 | 96.6 | 109.2 | 134.5 | 152.1 | 217.3 | 197.4 | 185.9 | 186.1 | 161.3 | 144.2 | 1,811 |
| Percentagepossible sunshine | 37 | 32 | 26 | 29 | 33 | 37 | 52 | 49 | 51 | 52 | 49 | 44 | 41 |
| Source 1:China Meteorological Administration[7][8] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather China[9] | |||||||||||||
The municipal government,Intermediate Court,CPC office andPublic Security Bureau are located in theJiangnan Subdistrict of theMeijiang District, on the right bank ofMei River.
| Map | |||||
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| Name | Simplified Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin | Population (2010 census) | Area (km2) | Density (/km2) |
| Meijiang District | 梅江区 | Méijiāng Qū | 380,771 | 570.62 | 667 |
| Meixian District | 梅县区 | Méixiàn Qū | 554,745 | 2,476.87 | 224 |
| Dabu County | 大埔县 | Dàbù Xiàn | 374,666 | 2,461.82 | 152 |
| Fengshun County | 丰顺县 | Fēngshùn Xiàn | 478,974 | 2,706.34 | 177 |
| Wuhua County | 五华县 | Wǔhuá Xiàn | 1,050,528 | 3,237.83 | 324 |
| Pingyuan County | 平远县 | Píngyuǎn Xiàn | 230,045 | 1,373.98 | 167 |
| Jiaoling County | 蕉岭县 | Jiāolǐng Xiàn | 205,849 | 961.64 | 214 |
| Xingning | 兴宁市 | Xīngníng Shì | 962,883 | 2,075.39 | 464 |
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 theTang dynasty, former residences of notable figures, natural scenery of all kinds, and unique Hakka cultural sights.[10]
Meizhou is a communication hub for the three provinces of Guangdong,Fujian, andJiangxi 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 theMeizhou–Chaoshan high-speed railway which opened a new station atMeizhou West providing high-speed rail links toGuangzhou,Zhuhai,Shenzhen,Shantou,Chaoshan,Yichang andXiamen.[11] TheGuangzhou–Meizhou–Shantou railway andMeizhou-Kanshi Railway use Meizhou railway station in the city providing regular rail connections toGuangzhou,Xiamen,Shantou,Shenzhen,Dapu,Wuchang andKunming.[12]
The city is served by the regionalMeizhou Meixian Airport, with regular air routes toGuangzhou andHong Kong.By water, theMei River and Han River reachChaozhou andShantou.[13]
TheMeixian dialect is considered the standardHakka dialect, along with the neighboringMei County andDabu County.[14]
Hakka people are a unique ethnic group ofHan Chinese originally from around theYellow 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 and overseas diaspora 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 in Meizhou has been highly valued since ancient times. The city is home toJiaying University, a local university which also attracts Hakka students from other provinces. The university is also known for its research intoHakka culture.
During the period after August or September, a sea ofpomelos can be seen, especially in village orchards.
Salt baked chicken is among the most well-knownHakka dishes, found also in many other cities. Another local dish isYong tau foo (stuffedtofu). 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.
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According to theSeventh National Census in 2020, the city's Permanent Population (hukou) was 3,873,239.[15] Compared with 4240,139 in theSixth National census in 2010, this represents a decrease of 366,900 people or 8.65 percent over the decade.[15]Among the permanent residents of the city, the male population is 1952489, accounting for 50.41%; The female population was 1,920,750, or 49.59%. The sex ratio of the total population (100 females, male to female ratio) increased from 100.44 in the sixth National census in 2010 to 101.65.
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