The ancient city of Chaozhou in eastern Guangdong has been designated as one of China's top ten "Sweet Cities", according to a report released on April 13 by China Media Group with the support of the WaCLab of Nankai University.
Besides Chaozhou, China's other "Sweet Cities" are Zhangzhou, Dunhuang, Wuxi, Weihai, Qiandongnan Prefecture, Luoyang, Jinzhong, Jiaxing, and Yibin.
What makes a city 'sweet'?
Unlike rankings based on economic output or livability, the "Sweet Cities" index evaluates urban quality through four dimensions: culture, lifestyle, local products, and the extent to which a city's character can be effectively conveyed through media.
Chaozhou was selected based on four criteria: its living cultural heritage, the distinctive atmosphere of its historic districts, its tea and culinary industries, and its suitability for digital storytelling.
A city of rituals and detail
Known as the "Famous State on the Ridge and by the Sea", Chaozhou is situated on the lower reaches of the Hanjiang River. Its character is shaped less by rapid modernization than by centuries of accumulated tradition.
Central to this identity is Chaozhou's Kung Fu tea ceremony. The city is home to multiple UNESCO-recognized and nationally designated intangible cultural heritage traditions.
For residents, culture is not confined to museum displays. Tea rituals, cuisine, and traditional crafts remain embedded in everyday life. On Paifang Street, elderly residents still prepare tea using the traditional high-pour, low-drip technique. In nearby workshops, artisans hand-beat beef balls for hours to achieve the right desired springy texture.
Ancient streets with real life
The city's historic core has been preserved not as a theme park, but as a living neighborhood. Paifang Street, a national-level tourist leisure district, sees visitors walking alongside residents who shop, eat, and chat.
At night, the light show at Guangji Bridge draws crowds, while lanterns illuminate the alleyways.
Tea and food as urban pillars
Chaozhou's "sweetness" is also economic. The Fenghuang Dancong tea industry supports a full value chain from plantation to tourism.
Tea is not merely a crop. It shapes hospitality, aesthetics, and daily rhythm. Many tea shops in the old city now offer tea-and-food pairings, creating a "tea banquet" that attracts visitors. Local officials note that the industry has transformed tea from a local product into a city brand.
Built for sharing
The city's assets—tea, old streets, handicrafts and opera—are highly visual and easily shareable on social media. Hashtags related to Chaozhou's ancient city and Kung Fu tea have gained widespread popularity online.
In Chaozhou's perspective, its "sweetness" is neither loud nor flashy. Rather, it is a taste refined by time, ritual and everyday care—a blend of craftsmanship, old alleys, and a slow, communal way of life.
The recognition, local officials said, affirms Chaozhou's thousand-year cultural legacy and provides a roadmap for deepening the integration of culture and industry. The city plans to continue developing its tea culture, protecting its historic streets, and strengthening its food sector, to turn this "elegant sweetness" into a driver of long-term urban development.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Chaozhou Daily, Chaopai News
