City in eastern Guangdong province and its people maintain traditions of cultural enlightenment and education and pursue a high-quality life in all aspects, especially elaborate craftsmanship

Despite being close to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area－one of China's most dynamic regions teeming with the hustle and bustle of business－Chaozhou retains a lot of old-world charm, with traditional customs and a wealth of cultural heritage.

Situated in the eastern part of South China's Guangdong province and neighboring Fujian province, the city faces the sea to the east. It has a long fishing history, dating back 8,000 years. Archaeological discoveries show that humans lived there, catching fish.

Chaozhou delicacy. CHINA DAILY

"Chaozhou's culture is a dynamic, open system," said Huang Jingzhong, vice-president of Hanshan Normal University in the city and an expert of Chaozhou culture. "It is an outgrowth of interactions between indigenous and immigrant civilizations."

During some periods in ancient times, the nation was split into smaller regimes with frequent wars breaking out. To escape the chaos, crowds of people originally living in the Central Plain areas, roughly referring to the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River that were the economic and cultural center, went all the way to the south. Some of them settled in Chaozhou.

Generally, only wealthy families could afford such a long trip, and they were particular about their quality of life, Huang said. "They brought not only production technologies but also values and lifestyles, spurring the integration of farming and fishing cultures."