Meizhou (梅州)

1. Introduction

Meizhou City (Hanyu Pinyin: Meizhou, Postal Romanization: Meichow, Kaying), abbreviated as Mei, historically known as Jiaying and Chengxiang, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the northeastern part of Guangdong Province, at the junction of Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces. The city borders Heyuan City to the west, Shanwei City, Jieyang City, and Chaozhou City to the south, Zhangzhou City of Fujian Province to the east, and Longyan City of Fujian Province and Ganzhou City of Jiangxi Province to the north. Situated in the northern section of the Lianhua Mountain Range, within the hilly and valley basin areas of the middle and upper reaches of the Han River, its eastern part is dominated by Fenghuang Mountain. The highest peak within its territory, Tonggu Zhang, serves as the boundary between the Meijiang Valley and the Hanjiang Valley. The Mei River (its upper reaches called the Qin River) flows from southwest to northeast through the city. At Sanheba in Dabu County, it converges with the Ting River to form the Han River, which then exits the territory to the southeast. Meizhou is a relatively concentrated settlement area for Hakka people and is hailed as the "World Capital of the Hakka." It is also a National Historical and Cultural City. The municipal government is located at No. 38, Xinzhong Road, Jiangnan Subdistrict.

2. Origin of the Name

The origin of the name Meizhou is subject to debate. Some say the area was rich in plum blossoms, earning it the nickname "Ten Miles of Plum Blossoms." According to the Chengxiang County Annals from the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, the area was the fiefdom of Mei Juan, a general from the early Han Dynasty. However, these claims lack definitive evidence. According to the Jiaying Prefecture Annals from the Guangxu period, Meizhou was named after the local "Meifeng" mountain and "Meixi" river. In 1993, the plum blossom was designated as the city flower of Meizhou.

3. History

3.1 Ancient Times

Meizhou has a long history, with human habitation in the Meixian area dating back to the Neolithic Age. Since the 1950s, dozens of Neolithic sites have been discovered in the Meixian area, yielding a number of stone tools and pottery. Ancient kiln sites from the Western Zhou period and chime bells from the Warring States period have also been found in the Meixian area. Before the Qin Dynasty, the region south of the Five Ridges was called Nanyue and was considered a land of barbarians. After unifying China, Qin Shi Huang sent Zhao Tuo to develop the Nanyue region, establishing the Guilin, Xiang, and Nanhai Commanderies. Meizhou belonged to Nanhai Commandery. At the end of the Qin Dynasty, Zhao Tuo, who was guarding the southern frontier, took advantage of the Qin's corruption, broke away from the Qin, and established the Nanyue Kingdom. Thus, Meizhou came under the jurisdiction of the King of Nanyue. By the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Nanyue submitted to the Western Han. At this time, Nanhai Commandery was divided into six counties: Panyu, Boluo, Zhongsu, Longchuan, Sihui, and Jieyang. Meizhou belonged to Longchuan and Jieyang.

The other counties of present-day Meizhou were under the jurisdiction of Haiyang County in Yi'an Commandery. Subsequently, the establishment of the various counties in Meizhou mostly began with their separation from Haiyang County. The first to be separated was Dabu County, established in the ninth year of the Yixi era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (413 AD). Next, Chengxiang County was established during the Southern Qi Dynasty, encompassing the present-day Meijiang District, Meixian District, Pingyuan, Jiaoling in their entirety, and parts of Fengshun, still belonging to Yi'an Commandery. It was not until the second year of the Kaiyun era of the Later Jin during the Five Dynasties period (945 AD) that Jingzhou was established, marking the beginning of separate administration for Chaozhou and Meizhou. However, it only governed Chengxiang County (present-day Meixian District), while Xingning and Dabu were not under Jingzhou's jurisdiction.

In the third year of the Kaiyun era of the Later Jin during the Five Dynasties (946 AD), Jingzhou was established, governing Chengxiang County. In the fourth year of the Kaibao era of the Northern Song Dynasty (971 AD), because the character "Jing" violated the naming taboo of Zhao Jing, the grandfather of Emperor Taizu of Song, Jingzhou was renamed Gongzhou. Later, due to the abundance of plum blossoms in the area and the presence of Meikou Town and Meixi, it was changed to Meizhou. Thereafter, the name Meizhou underwent several changes: sometimes Meizhou was abolished and Chengxiang County was reinstated; other times Meizhou was reinstated, governing Chengxiang County.

In the 16th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1279 AD), Meizhou was elevated to Meizhou Lu Zongguan Fu (Meizhou Route Chief Administration). In the 23rd year of Zhiyuan, it was reduced back to Meizhou, governing Chengxiang County, and was under the Guangdong Circuit Pacification Commission of the Jiangxi Branch Secretariat. In the first year of the Yuanzhen era (1295 AD), Meizhou was placed under Chaozhou Lu. In the fifth year of the Yanyou era (1318 AD), it was changed to directly subordinate to the Guangdong Circuit Pacification Commission. In the second year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1369 AD), Meizhou was abolished and Chengxiang County was reinstated, belonging to the Chaozhou Prefecture under the Guangdong Provincial Administration Commission.

In the 11th year of the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty (1733 AD), Meizhou was designated as Jiaying Zhili Zhou (Jiaying Directly Administered Department), governing Xingning, Changle (present-day Wuhua), Pingyuan, and Zhenping (present-day Jiaoling) counties, plus the originally attached Chengxiang County, collectively known as the "Five Jurisdictions of Jiaying." In Taiwan, the Hakka dialect originating from the Meizhou area is commonly called the "Four-County Hakka" dialect, precisely because the Qing Dynasty Jiaying Zhili Zhou governed four counties (excluding Changle County).

3.2 Cultural Ancestor

Historical records state that Cheng Min was the earliest cultural ancestor to arrive in Meizhou, the capital of the Hakka people.

3.3 Modern Era

After the establishment of the Republic of China, the prefectural system was abolished in Meizhou. Chengxiang was renamed Meixian (present-day Meixian District), and together with the four originally subordinate counties, they all came under Guangdong Province. In the 3rd year of the Republic of China (1914), Guangdong established the Chaoxun Circuit, and Meizhou came under its jurisdiction. In the 22nd year of the Republic of China (1933), it belonged to the Guangdong Provincial Eastern District Pacification Commissioner's Office. In the 25th year of the Republic of China (1936), Guangdong Province was divided into nine administrative supervision districts. Except for Fengshun County, which was assigned to the Fifth Administrative Supervision District, the present-day Meixian District, Xingning, Wuhua, Dabu, Pingyuan, and Jiaoling counties all belonged to the Sixth District. In 1949, Fengshun County was transferred to the Eighth District, while the other six counties were changed to the Ninth District.

Additionally, during the War of Resistance against Japan, due to the treacherous terrain, Japanese warplanes found it difficult to fly over the Lotus Mountain Range within the territory and abandoned their attack on Meizhou. This led to a large number of refugees from the Chaoshan area crossing the Lotus Mountains to seek refuge in Meizhou. To this day, a certain number of Chaoshan people remain dispersed across various cities and counties.

3.4 Contemporary Era

In October 1949, the Xingmei Special District was established, and Fengshun was then incorporated into it. Together with the six counties from the Ninth District of the Republican era, this formed the present scope of Meizhou City. On January 26, 1950, the State Council issued a document establishing the Xingmei Administrative Supervision Commissioner's Office, governing the present-day Meixian District, Xingning, Wuhua, Dabu, Fengshun, Jiaoling, and Pingyuan—seven districts and counties. At the end of 1952, the Xingmei Special District was abolished, and the seven Xingmei counties were transferred to the Eastern Guangdong Administrative Region. In February 1956, the Eastern Guangdong Administrative Region was divided into the Huizhou and Shantou Special Districts. The seven Xingmei counties were transferred to the Shantou Special District. In July 1965, the Xingmei Special District was separated from the Shantou Special District to form the Meixian Special District, later renamed the Meixian Prefecture. In 1979, after the original Meizhou Town under Meixian's jurisdiction was upgraded from district-level to county-level and renamed Meizhou City, the Meixian Prefecture governed 7 counties and 1 city. In June 1983, after Meizhou City merged with Meixian to become Meixian City, the Meixian Prefecture's jurisdiction changed from 7 counties and 1 city to 6 counties and 1 city.

In January 1988, Guangdong implemented the system of cities administering counties. The Meixian Prefecture was changed to Meizhou City, governing the original seven Xingmei counties and the newly established county-level Meijiang District, totaling 7 counties and 1 district. In June 1994, Xingning County was abolished and established as a county-level city (Xingning City). Meizhou City then governed 6 counties and 1 district, and administered Xingning City on behalf of the province.

On December 8, 2013, Meixian was abolished as a county and established as a district, thus ending its status as a county and becoming a municipal district of Meizhou City, establishing the Meixian District of Meizhou City. Meizhou City now governs the present-day Meijiang District, Meixian District, Xingning City, Wuhua County, Fengshun County, Dabu County, Pingyuan County, and Jiaoling County, totaling 2 districts, 1 city, and 5 counties.

3.5 History of County Establishment

Among the cities and counties under Meizhou's jurisdiction, in the early Northern Song Dynasty, only Chengxiang (present-day Meixian District), Xingning, and Dabu had established county administrations. The other four counties were established successively after the Song Dynasty.

Xingning County was established in the 6th year of the Xianhe era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (331 AD). Its scope included the present-day Xingning and Wuhua in their entirety, and parts of Longchuan and Zijin. It belonged to Dongguan Commandery. In the first year of the Yongming era of Emperor Wu of the Southern Qi Dynasty (483 AD), Xingning was divided into Xingning and Qichang counties. During the Tianjian era of Emperor Wu of Liang (502-519 AD), Qichang was abolished and merged back into Xingning. After the Tang Dynasty, there were several more divisions and mergers.

Wuhua was separated from Xingning and established as a county in the 4th year of the Xining era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1071 AD), named Changle. It initially belonged to Xunzhou and later to Huizhou in the Ming Dynasty. Pingyuan County was established due to its location at the junction of Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces, far from the prefectural seat, where bandits often roamed. Therefore, in the 42nd year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1562 AD), parcels of land were taken from the contiguous areas of Xingning, Wuping, Shanghang, and Anyuan counties to establish a county administration. As this place was between Wuping and Anyuan, it was named Pingyuan. It initially belonged to Ganzhou Prefecture in Jiangxi. In the 43rd year of Jiajing, the territories belonging to Fujian and Jiangxi provinces were returned. Together with Yihua, Changtian, Shiku from Chengxiang, and Daxin from Xingning, they were combined into one county administration. The county name remained Pingyuan, but it was transferred to Chaozhou. In the 7th year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (1634 AD), Shiku from Pingyuan, Songyuan and Guijiang from Chengxiang were separated to establish Zhenping County. In the 3rd year of the Republic of China (1914), because there was already a Zhenping County in Henan established earlier, it was renamed Jiaoling. The last county established in Meizhou was Fengshun, founded in the 3rd year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1783 AD). It was formed by carving out Fengzheng Du from Haiyang County in Chaozhou, Lantian Du from Jieyang County, Baimang She from Dabu County, and a few areas from Chengxiang County to establish Fengshun County, which belonged to Chaozhou.

4. Geography

4.1 Topography

Meizhou City is a typical mountainous region, located south of the Nanling Mountains. It is often described as "eight parts mountains, one part water, and one part farmland," indicating a predominance of mountains and a scarcity of arable land. The main landform types include hills, mountains, terraces, and plains. Mountainous areas account for 24.3% of the city's total area; hills, platforms, and terraces make up 56.6%; while plains constitute only about 13.7%. The Xingning Basin within the city is the largest basin in eastern Guangdong, covering an area of 302 square kilometers. The urban area of Meizhou is surrounded by mountains, forming a small basin topography, which typically results in hot summers.

4.2 Rivers

Most rivers in Meizhou are tributaries of the Han River system, with the Han River itself stretching 343 kilometers within Meizhou.

• The Meitan River originates in Pinghe County, Fujian Province, and flows into the Ting River in Dabu County.
• The Mei River, known as the mother river of Meizhou, originates in southern Jiangxi. It eventually converges with the Ting River and Meitan River at Sanheba in Dabu County to form the Han River.
• Rivers such as the Ning River and Wuhua River are tributaries of the Mei River in various counties and cities. Among them, the Ning River has the largest drainage area among the Mei River's tributaries.

4.3 Climate

Meizhou is located at a low latitude and has a subtropical monsoon climate. | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-------------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------| | Record high °C | 29.5 | 33.0 | 33.4 | 36.0 | 37.2 | 38.4 | 39.5 | 38.6 | 38.0 | 35.8 | 34.8 | 30.2 | 39.5 | | Record high °F | 85.1 | 91.4 | 92.1 | 96.8 | 99.0 | 101.1 | 103.1 | 101.5 | 100.4 | 96.4 | 94.6 | 86.4 | 103.1 | | Average high °C | 18.4 | 19.5 | 22.4 | 26.4 | 29.9 | 32.1 | 34.3 | 33.7 | 32.0 | 29.4 | 25.0 | 20.3 | 27.0 | | Average high °F | 65.1 | 67.1 | 72.3 | 79.5 | 85.8 | 89.8 | 93.7 | 92.7 | 89.6 | 84.9 | 77.0 | 68.5 | 80.5 | | Daily mean °C | 12.6 | 14.4 | 17.4 | 21.7 | 25.1 | 27.3 | 28.9 | 28.4 | 26.8 | 23.7 | 18.7 | 13.9 | 21.6 | | Daily mean °F | 54.7 | 57.9 | 63.3 | 71.1 | 77.2 | 81.1 | 84.0 | 83.1 | 80.2 | 74.7 | 65.7 | 57.0 | 70.8 | | Average low °C | 8.7 | 10.9 | 14.0 | 18.4 | 21.7 | 24.0 | 25.0 | 24.8 | 23.2 | 19.6 | 14.3 | 9.6 | 17.8 | | Average low °F | 47.7 | 51.6 | 57.2 | 65.1 | 71.1 | 75.2 | 77.0 | 76.6 | 73.8 | 67.3 | 57.7 | 49.3 | 64.1 | | Record low °C | -2.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 8.3 | 13.8 | 17.6 | 20.5 | 21.8 | 15.1 | 8.5 | 2.6 | -2.9 | -2.9 | | Record low °F | 28.4 | 32.2 | 32.5 | 46.9 | 56.8 | 63.7 | 68.9 | 71.2 | 59.2 | 47.3 | 36.7 | 26.8 | 26.8 | | Avg. precipitation mm | 45.2 | 102.7 | 149.5 | 202.8 | 183.5 | 225.3 | 160.3 | 203.7 | 122.0 | 31.1 | 38.8 | 35.9 | 1,500.8 | | Avg. precipitation inches | 1.78 | 4.04 | 5.89 | 7.98 | 7.22 | 8.87 | 6.31 | 8.02 | 4.80 | 1.22 | 1.53 | 1.41 | 59.07 | | Avg. rainy days | 8.2 | 12.1 | 16.0 | 16.5 | 18.7 | 18.| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-------| | Average high temperature (°C) | 29.6 | 29.9 | 28.9 | 27.6 | 26.0 | 24.8 | 24.0 | 24.5 | 25.4 | 26.1 | 27.1 | 28.6 | 26.9 | | Average low temperature (°C) | 22.2 | 22.4 | 21.7 | 20.4 | 18.0 | 16.2 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 16.6 | 18.4 | 20.3 | 21.5 | 19.0 | | Average rainfall (mm) | 169.0 | 170.0 | 206.0 | 185.0 | 117.0 | 111.0 | 94.0 | 81.0 | 88.0 | 103.0 | 114.0 | 141.0 | 1579.0 | | Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 11.0 | 10.0 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 97.0 | | Average daily sunshine hours | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 75 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 79 | 81 | 76 | 78 | 77 | 72 | 71 | 73 | 77 |

5. Administrative Divisions

Meizhou City currently administers 2 municipal districts, 5 counties, and manages 1 county-level city on behalf of the province.

• Municipal Districts: Meijiang District, Meixian District
• County-level City: Xingning City
• Counties: Dabu County, Fengshun County, Wuhua County, Pingyuan County, Jiaoling County

| Division Code | Division Name | Hanyu Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | |-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------| | 441400 | Meizhou City | Méizhōu Shì | 15,864.51 | 3,873,239 | Meijiang District | 514000 | 6 | 104 | | 441402 | Meijiang District| Méijiāng Qū | 570.62 | 435,616 | Jinshan Subdistrict | 514000 | 3 | 4 | | 441403 | Meixian District| Méixiàn Qū | 2,476.87 | 556,735 | Chengjiang Town | 514700 | | 17 | | 441422 | Dabu County | Dàbù Xiàn | 2,461.82 | 330,948 | Huliao Town | 514200 | | 14 | | 441423 | Fengshun County | Fēngshùn Xiàn | 2,706.34 | 478,731 | Tangkeng Town | 514300 | | 16 | | 441424 | Wuhua County | Wǔhuá Xiàn | 3,237.83 | 916,961 | Shuizhai Town | 514400 | | 16 | | 441426 | Pingyuan County | Píngyuǎn Xiàn | 1,373.98 | 190,482 | Dazhe Town | 514600 | | 12 | | 441427 | Jiaoling County | Jiāolǐng Xiàn | 961.64 | 184,355 | Jiaocheng Town | 514100 | | 8 | | 441481 | Xingning City | Xīngníng Shì | 2,075.39 | 779,411 | Xingtian Subdistrict| 514500 | 3 | 17 |

6. Economy

Although located in Guangdong Province, Meizhou has long been relatively closed off due to its geographical location and underdeveloped transportation, resulting in an underdeveloped economy. It is a typical mountainous city.

In early 2003, the Meizhou government proposed the "Four Meizhou" development strategy, namely "Open Meizhou, Industrial Meizhou, Cultural Meizhou, and Ecological Meizhou." In 2012, Meizhou's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 74.598 billion yuan, with a per capita GDP of 17,425 yuan. In 2017, Meizhou's GDP was 112.582 billion yuan. In 2018, Meizhou's Gross Regional Product (GRP) was 111.021 billion yuan. In 2021, Meizhou's GRP was 130.801 billion yuan.

6.1 Industry

Meizhou has three provincial-level industrial transfer parks: Guangdong Meizhou High-tech Industrial Park, Dongguan Shijie (Xingning) Industrial Transfer Park, and Dongguan Tangxia (Pingyuan) Industrial Transfer Park. According to preliminary calculations, in 2014, the city's GDP was 88.583 billion yuan, an increase of 8.5%. This included: value-added of the primary industry at 17.946 billion yuan, up 4.3%, contributing 0.7 percentage points to GDP growth; value-added of the secondary industry at 32.291 billion yuan, up 10.3%, contributing 4.5 percentage points to GDP growth, within which industrial value-added was 26.156 billion yuan, up 9.6%, contributing 3.5 percentage points to GDP growth; value-added of the tertiary industry at 38.346 billion yuan, up 8.3%, contributing 3.3 percentage points to GDP growth. The structural ratio of the three industries adjusted from 20.6:36.2:43.2 in 2013 to 20.3:36.4:43.3 in 2014. The value-added of the private sector economy was 52.743 billion yuan, an increase of 8.7%. Per capita GDP was 20,528 yuan, an increase of 8.2%. In the past, Meizhou's industry was long dominated by a "heavy-biased" structure reliant on low-processing natural resources. In the early years after the founding of the People's Republic, industrial output value was less than 30 million yuan. During the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, Meizhou's industrial growth rate was the lowest in the province, with an industrialization rate of only 28%, 16 percentage points lower than the provincial average at the time. After the Xingning 87 mining disaster, Meizhou's industry suffered a severe impact.

Tobacco, building materials, electric power, and electronic information are the four major industrial sectors. Meizhou Cigarette Factory is one of the most powerful enterprises in Meizhou. Compared to the Pearl River Delta, Meizhou's industrial structure is relatively outdated, making competition difficult. Some factories have even been forced to turn down orders worth tens of millions of yuan due to limited production capacity.

In recent years, the Guangdong Provincial Government proposed industrial transfer, relocating some relatively energy-intensive and labor-intensive enterprises from the Pearl River Delta to the less developed eastern and western wings of the province, and establishing industrial transfer parks. It was then that Meizhou's industry began to develop.

6.2 Agriculture

Meizhou is a major agricultural city. In 2007, the city's total agricultural output value was 13.982 billion yuan. Today, Meizhou's agriculture is in a transition phase, having established eight major advantageous and characteristic agricultural product production bases: fruits, tea, southern medicinal herbs, high-quality rice, oil-tea camellia, vegetables, tobacco, and livestock and aquaculture. High-yield, high-quality, and high-efficiency agriculture, such as Shatian pomelos and tea, are Meizhou's most distinctive agricultural industries. Meizhou has been hailed as the "Hometown of Chinese Golden Pomelo" and the "Hometown of Chinese Dancong Tea." Among these, Dabu's "Xizhu Brand" Xiyan Dancong Tea won the title of "China Famous Brand Product," and Pingyuan received the title of "Hometown of Guangdong Navel Orange."

In December 2008, the Meizhou Municipal Government organized a delegation to participate in the "2008 Guangdong Meizhou (Hong Kong) Economic, Trade, Agriculture, and Tourism Investment Promotion Conference" and the 43rd Hong Kong Industrial Exhibition held in Hong Kong. This was the first large-scale investment promotion event held by Meizhou City in Hong Kong.

7. Transportation

• National Highways 205 and 206 run through the entire city. Completed expressways include the G25 Meihe Expressway, Shanmei Expressway, G35 Pingxing Expressway, G25 Tianshan Expressway, Xingshan Expressway, G1523 Meilong Expressway, G78 Xingshe Expressway, Meizhou Ring Expressway, G1523 Meiping Expressway, S11 Dachaozhou Expressway, S68 Dafeng Hua Expressway, etc.
• The Zhanglong Railway, Sheshan Railway, Meishan High-Speed Railway, and Meilong High-Speed Railway form a well-developed railway network.
• Meizhou also has a civilian airport—Meixian Airport—offering regular domestic flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhanjiang, Zhuhai, Haikou, Dalian, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Chongqing, Xi'an, Guiyang, Changsha, Zhengzhou, Nanning, Wuhan, Yichang, and international flights to Hong Kong, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Pattaya, Jakarta, and Siem Reap.
• Taxis in Meizhou have a starting fare of ¥7 for the first 2 kilometers, with an additional ¥1 for every 550 meters beyond that, plus a ¥1 fuel surcharge outside the meter. From 23:00 to 06:00, a 30% surcharge is added to the normal fare (included in the meter). The waiting fee is ¥30 per hour (already included in the meter). For trips outside Meizhou city limits, the fare is negotiated between the driver and passenger.
• Bus routes in Meijiang District, Meixian District, Jiaoling County (with a few stops in the county town and some townships), and Xingning City (only in Shuikou Town Xiabu—formerly Xiabu Town) are operated by Meizhou City Bus Co., Ltd. and Meizhou Bus Shengxing Passenger Transport Co., Ltd., totaling 94 scheduled bus routes (one of which is suspended) and an unknown number of unnumbered "town-to-village" bus routes within townships.
• Bus routes in Jiaoling County are operated by Yueyun Jiaoling Automobile Transport Co., Ltd., with a total of 23 routes.
• Bus routes in Wuhua County are operated by Yueyun Company, with a total of 6 routes.
• Bus routes in Dabu County are operated by Yueyun Company, including 1 county town bus route and several township bus routes.
• Bus routes in Pingyuan County are operated by Yueyun Company, with a total of 18 routes.
• Bus routes in Xingning City are operated by Xingning Yisheng Bus Co., Ltd. and Xingning First Bus Co., Ltd. (publicly owned), totaling 10 routes (operated by Yisheng Bus) and an unknown number of "rural passenger transport" ordinary bus routes from townships to the city area (operated by First Bus, supporting bus cards and ride codes). Some routes are operated by both bus companies (e.g., First Bus's Yenan Line and Yisheng Bus's Xingning Route 17 both run from Xingning city area to Yenan Market in Yetang Town). For more remote townships (e.g., Luofu Town, located in northern Xingning City, 52 km from Xingning city area), there are genuine "rural passenger transport" services, which are passenger shuttle buses operated by Xingning Passenger Transport Company (publicly owned).
• Bus routes in Fengshun County are operated by Fengshun Yifeng Automobile Transport Co., Ltd., with a total of 10 routes.

8. Education

Among Meizhou City's key high schools, 10 are provincial-level key high schools, and 4 are national-level exemplary high schools. Among these, Dongshan High School is the most renowned key high school in Meizhou. In terms of regional distribution, except for Meijiang District, which has three key high schools, each district, county, and city has one key high school.

List of Meizhou City's Top Ten Key High Schools:
| School Name | Level | Location (County/District/City) |
|---------------------------|---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| Meixian Dongshan High School | Provincial Key High School, National Exemplary High School | Meijiang District |
| Meizhou Zeng Xianzi High School | Provincial Key High School, National Exemplary High School | Meijiang District |
| Xingning City No. 1 High School | Provincial Key High School, National Exemplary High School | Xingning City |
| Meizhou High School | Provincial Key High School, National Exemplary High School | Meijiang District |
| Meixian District Senior High School | Provincial Key High School, National Exemplary High School | Meixian District |
| Wuhua County Shuizhai High School | Provincial Key High School | Wuhua County |
| Jiaoling High School | Provincial Key High School | Jiaoling County |
| Pingyuan High School | Provincial Key High School | Pingyuan County |
| Dabu County Hushan High School | Provincial Key High School | Dabu County |
| Fengshun High School | Provincial Key High School | Fengshun County |

9. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 3,873,239. Compared with the 4,238,461 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a decrease of 365,222 people over the past ten years, a decline of 8.62%, with an average annual growth rate of -0.9%. Among them, the male population was 1,952,489, accounting for 50.41% of the total population; the female population was 1,920,750, accounting for 49.59% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 101.65. The population aged 0–14 was 909,979, accounting for 23.49% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 2,186,984, accounting for 56.46% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 776,276, accounting for 20.04% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 558,175, accounting for 14.41% of the total population. The urban population was 1,997,795, accounting for 51.58% of the total population; the rural population was 1,875,444, accounting for 48.42% of the total population.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Meizhou is predominantly inhabited by Han Chinese Hakka people, with some Han Chinese Chaoshan people in Fengshun County. Apart from the Han Chinese, there are also a small number of She people, most of whom reside in Fengshun. Historically, the She people were the original inhabitants of Meizhou and lived harmoniously with the Hakka people. However, during the Yuan Dynasty, the imperial court suppressed uprisings in Meizhou, leading to a large number of She people fleeing or assimilating into the Hakka population.

Due to work or marriage, the ethnic minority population in Meizhou City amounts to 1,200 people.

In the city's permanent resident population in 2020, the Han Chinese population was 3,861,110, accounting for 99.69%; the ethnic minority population was 12,129, accounting for 0.31%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han Chinese population decreased by 375,260, a decline of 8.86%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.26 percentage points; the ethnic minority population increased by 10,038, a growth of 480.06%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.26 percentage points.

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10. Culture

Meizhou's culture is typical Hakka culture, with the profound heritage of Central Plains culture. As early as over a thousand years ago, the ancestors of the Hakka people migrated south from the Central Plains region to escape warfare, undergoing five major migrations. They passed through Jiangxi and Fujian before eventually settling in northeastern Guangdong, gradually forming the stronghold of the Hakka ethnic group. Central Plains culture, such as architecture and cuisine, has been continued, inherited, and glorified here, forming a distinctive Hakka culture. Consequently, Meizhou has become the representative of the Hakka ethnic group.

10.1 Language

Almost all residents of Meizhou City speak Hakka. Within the city proper, the Meixian dialect spoken in Meixian District and Meijiang District is linguistically regarded as the standard pronunciation or representative dialect of Hakka. China Radio International, China's only national radio station dedicated to broadcasting to foreign countries, uses the Meixian dialect for its Hakka broadcasts. The Voice of China, China's national radio station, also uses the Meixian dialect for its nationwide domestic Hakka broadcasts; simultaneously, its Hakka broadcasts targeting Taiwan also use the Meixian dialect. In Meizhou, Cantonese is also used as a second language alongside Mandarin.

Additionally, in Fengshun County, there are four towns (Tangkeng, Tangnan, Liuhuang, Dongliu) where approximately 110,000 residents speak Teochew. Although Hakka is spoken throughout the entire region, accents still vary among the different districts, counties, and cities of Meizhou. For example, the Meixian dialect has only one set of affricates ([ʦ], [ʦʰ], [s]), while the Xingning dialect has two sets (adding [tʂ], [tʂʰ], [ʂ], [ʐ]).

10.2 Cuisine

In Meizhou, common Hakka delicacies can be divided into two main categories: Hakka dishes and Hakka snacks. Hakka cuisine, along with Teochew cuisine and Cantonese cuisine, is known as one of the three major culinary traditions of Guangdong. The formation of its flavor profile is inseparable from the formation of the Hakka ethnic group. Just as the Hakka language preserves ancient Central Plains phonology, Meizhou Hakka cuisine also retains the traditional lifestyle characteristics of the Central Plains, namely the features of "salty, fragrant, and rich."

Meizhou cuisine is characterized by fresh and savory flavors with a crisp and tender texture. Traditional Meizhou dishes mainly feature poultry and aquatic products, with a preference for the "three birds": chicken, duck, and goose. The taste tends to be slightly salty and oily. Meizhou's signature dishes or snacks include Meicai Kou Rou (braised pork with preserved mustard greens), Meizhou Salt-Baked Chicken, pork balls, beef jerky, Hakka Niangjiu (glutinous rice wine), Yong Tau Foo (stuffed tofu), and Meixian District malt sugar. Furthermore, each county and district has its own distinctive snacks, such as Fengshun's chrysanthemum cake and Xingning's Huangban. Among these, Dabu County is particularly famous; its snacks like Yasong Geng (duck soup) and thin pancakes have been rated as "Top Ten Hakka Famous Dishes of Guangdong." Certified by national experts organized by the Guangdong Cuisine Association, Dabu County has been honored as the "Famous County for Hakka Cuisine in Guangdong."

10.3 Architecture

There are many ancient and simple Hakka dwellings in the region, including Weilongwu (enclosed dragon houses), Zoumalou (horse-riding buildings), Wufenglou (five-phoenix buildings), Tuweilou (earthen enclosed buildings), and Sijiaolou (four-corner buildings). Among these, the Weilongwu is the most distinctive and famous, and along with cave dwellings, Si Ke Yin, and Siheyuan (courtyard houses), it is known as one of the four major traditional Chinese residential architectures. Xingning City accounts for nearly half of all Weilongwu in Meizhou, while the Hakka Tulou (earthen buildings) of Dabu County are more widely known to outsiders.

10.4 Hakka Mountain Songs

Hakka mountain songs are an important component of Meizhou culture, used to convey love between Hakka men and women and the joy of labor. The lyrical form is mostly seven-character lines, emphasizing tonal patterns and rhyme, though not all characters strictly adhere to tonal rules. Their characteristics include improvisation, integration of Hakka life themes, and adept use of metaphor and pun. Among Chinese Hakka mountain songs, the Meizhou mountain songs (Jiaying mountain songs) from Meizhou City, Guangdong Province, are the most famous. Within Meizhou City, the mountain songs of Meixian District are the most renowned, and within Meixian District, the Songkou mountain songs from Songkou Town are the most famous. Songkou mountain songs can be said to be the most popular Hakka mountain songs.

10.5 Han Opera

Hakka Han Opera is a product of Hakka culture, also known as "Waijiang Opera" or "Xingmei Han Opera." It generally uses Meizhou Hakka Mandarin (Mandarin with a strong Hakka accent). It is more popular in Dabu County and surrounding areas of the Meizhou region. The Guangdong Han Opera Theatre is currently the largest Hakka Han Opera troupe in China and is an official troupe of the Chinese Communist Party.

10.6 Shangding

Shangding is a custom prevalent in parts of Xingning and Wuhua. Due to the similarity in pronunciation between "Shangding" and "Shangdeng" (appreciating lanterns) in the Xingning dialect, Shangding is often mistakenly written as Shangdeng, Xiangdeng, or Xiangding.

Typically, every clan in Xingning holds a Shangding ceremony each year. Shangding takes place from the ninth day to the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, with the peak concentration on the twelfth and thirteenth days. Each clan sets its own Shangding date, which is generally fixed annually. Some clans also have a "Nuandeng" (warming the lantern) ceremony around the fifteenth to the twentieth day of the first lunar month.

Shangding carries a dual meaning: one is to appreciate flower lanterns, and the other is to celebrate the addition of a male child (in the Xingning dialect, "Ding" (male child) is homophonous with "Deng" (lantern)).

If a boy was born in the previous year, the Shangding ceremony this year is referred to as "Xinding" (new child). The climax of Shangding is the "Shengdeng" (raising the lantern) ritual. The parents of the boy choose an auspicious time to hang the flower lantern on the main beam of the ancestral hall, which is called "Shengdeng." Firecrackers are set off during Shengdeng, and performances like dragon dances are organized that evening, lasting until late at night.

On the day of Shangding, some places invite the "flower lantern." When receiving the flower lantern, a young boy must lead the way in front. People carry the paper-made flower lantern, exit the Weilongwu through the back door, make a large circle, and then return to the Weilongwu through the main gate. Along the way, two dragon lanterns follow, and firecrackers are set off continuously until they return to the Weilongwu and hang up the flower lantern.

Additionally, areas like Longbei in Xingning have "Qiangzhulong" (dragon snatching the pearl) activities, while areas like Longtian and Heshui have "Xianghuolong" (incense fire dragon) activities.

The Meixian region also has the Shangding (appreciating the child) custom during the first lunar month, similarly meaning to report to the ancestors that a new male child has been added to the family. The ritual in the Meixian region mainly involves preparing offerings for ancestral worship while simultaneously hanging new lanterns on the high beams inside the clan ancestral hall, which is called "Shangdeng" (hanging the lantern).

11. Sister Cities

• Meizhou City and Victoria, the capital of Seychelles
• Meixian District and Curepipe, the second largest city in Mauritius

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Meijiang District

Wuhua County

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