Chaozhou, city in southeastern China, in eastern Guangdong Province, on the Han River near the port of Shantou. Industry in Chaozhou includes leather goods, plastic, tool and die production, electric power generation, and ceramics. Well-known craft products of the city include drawings, embroidery, and woodcarving. Chaozhou is also renowned for its sweet “Chaozhou tangerines.” One of the notable historic sites in Chaozhou is the Kaiyuan Temple, built in the Tang (T'ang) dynasty (618-907) to house Buddhist scriptures. The temple was virtually destroyed during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) but has since been restored. The 518-m (1699-ft) long Guangji stone bridge, which spans the Han River east of the city, was constructed in 1169. Chaozhou was founded in the 6th century as the administrative and commercial center for the coastal plain and Han River estuary. In 1858, Shantou, a fortress site south of Chaozhou, was occupied by the British and established as a treaty port under the Treaty of Tianjin. The development of the port at Shantou contributed to the development of Chaozhou. A railroad and highway between Shantou and Chaozhou further promoted development, and the Chaozhou area reached a population of about 400,000 by 1920. During the early 20th century, Chaozhou and Shantou also served as points of departure for several million emigrants who left China seeking work in Southeast Asia and other locations. Chaozhou was designated as a city in 1953. Population (1991) 313,469.
