Meizhou Travel Guide

Population: 5,000,000

Area: 15,925 square kilometers (6,149 square miles)

Nationalities: Han

Administrative Division: 1 district (Meijiang); 6 counties (Meixian, Dapu, Fengshun, Wuhua, Pingyuan, Jiaoling); 1 county-level city (Xingning)

Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0753-2243654
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184
Bank of China: 0753-2189389

Location: Meizhou City is situated in the northeast of Guangdong Province, at the juncture of Guangdong, Fujian and Jiangxi provinces. It is about 380 kilometers (236 miles) from Guangzhou, 345 kilometers (214 miles) from Shenzhen and 190 kilometers (118 miles) from Shantou.

History: Meizhou was the residence of Hakka people after they moved from Central China to this region in Qin (221BC-206 BC) and Han dynasties (206BC-220AD). It was in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) that prefecture named Meizhou was established for great many plum trees planted here.

Physical Features: The terrain of the city slopes downward from the north to the south. Within its territory, hilly area and terraces occupy the majority of the land, and then mountainous area ranks the second place. Plain region in Meizhou is small in area.

Climatic Features: Enjoying a subtropical monsoon climate, its hottest and coldest days usually appear in July and January. Weather in summer is hot and the temperature in summer and winter varies greatly. The rainfall mainly concentrates on the period from April to September.

When to Go: Meizhou is favorable for visiting at any seasons, especially in spring and autumn.

Special Local product: golden pomelo, Dancong tea, Mei Gan Cai (preserved mustard cabbage)

Scenic Spots:
Lingguang Temple: The temple stands at the foot of Yinna Mountain in Meizhou City, 46 kilometers (29 miles) from downtown Meizhou. Reputed as one of the four famous temples in Guangdong Province, Lingguang Temple has been stood there for more than 1,200 years since it first built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Lianfang Tower (Huaqiao Weiwu): Weiwu is a kind of vernacular dwelling of the Hakkas inhabited by the whole clan. This building was built by oversea Chinese in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The inner part was constructed according to the structure of traditional besieged tower, Weiwu, but the outer wall was designed to be the western style. It is a combination of traditional Hakka and western buildings.
Other Scenic Spots: Thousand-Buddha Pagoda, Huangfengwo Chashan (Tea Mountain) Tourist Zone

Tourist Tips: 1. Meizhou Meixian Airport is situated in the Sanjiao Town, Meijiang District, only 4 kilometers (205 miles) from Meizhou city proper operating flights mainly to Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Usually, visitors should get to the airport one hour ahead of time. Check-in will cease 30 minutes before take-off.
2. Within the city, several bus stations are served to facilitate visitors' way in and out of Meizhou. Generally speaking, it is about four hours' drive to Guangzhou, three hours to Shenzhen and two hours to Shantou.