Cháozhōu

Introducing Cháozhōu

A much prettier city than Shàntóu, Cháozhōu is an ancient commercial and trading city dating back some 1700 years. It is situated on the Han River (Hán Jiāng) and surrounded on three sides by the Jīn Shān (Golden Hills) and Húlu Shān (Calabash Hills). While travelling between the two cities you’ll pass a number of fortified Hakka villages chock-a-block with traditional houses and ancient temples.

Sights

The most worthwhile area to explore is in the northern section of town, around Zhongshan Lu and Changli Lu. Here you’ll find among the tightly winding lanes an eclectic mixture of neatly kept colonial and traditional Chinese architecture, with some buildings bearing stonework that dates back to the Ming dynasty. The former Confucian Academy (Hǎiyángxiàn Rúxuégōng; Changli Lu; admission Y4; 8am-5pm), now a museum with an interesting collection of old photos, is a good place to orientate yourself before you set out on your walk.

Cháozhōu’s most famous attraction is Kaiyuan Temple (Kāiyuán Sì; admission Y5; 6am-5pm), built in AD 738 during the Tang dynasty to house Buddhist scriptures sent by Emperor Qianlong. Recently renovated, the halls and pavilions contain some lovely figurative carvings and gardens. The first hall houses three Buddhas flanked by 18 gilded arhats. Kaiyuan is an active temple and most of it is off-limits to outsiders.

Cháozhōu’s old city wall(gǔ chéng), the ramparts of which offer great views of the city, runs along the river for almost 2.5km and is interrupted by four ornate fortifications, including Guangji Gate Tower(Gǔangjǐmén Lóu), which at the time of research was under renovation. From the wall look southeast to beyond the island and its modern Phoenix Pavilion(Fènghuáng Tái), to the much older Phoenix Pagoda(Fènghuáng Tǎ), a seven-story tower built in 1585. On the east bank of the Han and beyond Guangji Bridge(Gǔangjǐ Qiáo), first erected in the Song dynasty, is Hanwen Temple (Hánwén Gōngsì; admission Y5), which commemorates the Tang dynasty poet and philosopher Han Yu, who was banished to ‘far-flung’ Guǎngdōng for his outspoken views against Buddhism.

West Lake Park (Xīhú Gōngyuán; admission Y5; 5.30am-11.30pm), which extends up the hill beyond the eponymous lake, is a pleasant place to stroll, particularly in the early morning or evening.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009