GUANGDONG offers numerous enticing travel options, and one certainly worth visiting is the charming city of Chaozhou. An ancient trading port, also known as Chiu Chow or Teochew abroad, it is located in the easternmost part of Guangdong, bordering Fujian. The city is a cultural hub with many claims to fame, including its dialect, cuisine, opera, tea, and much more. Five hours from Shenzhen by bus, it is ideally located for a weekend getaway.

Chaozhou's history as an established city dates to the Sui Dynasty, and as such the city boasts an abundance of historical sites. The oldest of these is the Guangji Bridge, dating back to 1170 A.D., which was originally supported by 18 boats and 24 piers. Another attraction is the visibly prominent Phoenix Pagoda, built in 1585 A.D. A climb to the top offers a spectacular view of the city from across the Han River. Further attractions in the city include Kaiyuan Temple, Han Yu Memorial, and the Xu Mansion, all of which reveal interesting layers of the city's unique history. The old part of the city, near the Ming Dynasty Wall, is well worth exploring on foot, with traditional architecture, numerous alleys and lanes to get lost in, and plenty of street food to sample.

Any lover of Chinese tea would be well at home in Chaozhou, the birthplace of the Kungfu Tea Ceremony, which features small cups of tea in shot-glass sized cups, mindfully prepared by a skilled tea master. Chaozhou residents can be seen drinking the tea (usually Oolong) at virtually all times and all places in and around the city. Once inside a local person's home or business, it's highly unlikely you won't be offered a seat and a chance to partake in this ancient tea custom; the perfect opportunity to socialize and relax.

Just one hour by bus outside Chaozhou is the town of Fenghuang, where the majority of Chaozhou's Oolong tea is grown. Idyllic farms and villages dot the countryside around the town, making for a nice day trip. The nearby Phoenix mountain, the tallest in eastern Guangdong, offers stunning views of the countryside, and at the highest altitudes, some of the most expensive and sought-after tea you'll ever find.

While the city has plenty of hotels to choose from, none offers a better place to wind down and relax after a day of sightseeing than the Kingshine Rivage Hydrotherapy Center, located on Xinyang Road. The spa features a large and luxurious hot tub complex with names such as "Spirit Bubble Bath" and "Gushing Spring," among many others. After soaking in the tubs, you'll be ushered upstairs into the lounge room, where plush chairs await, fresh fruit and tea are served, large screen TVs adorn the walls, and live piano music permeates the air. While the Kingshine Rivage is first and foremost a spa, and does not offer standard hotel rooms, it does have a sleeping area consisting of several corridors of sleeping booths, each about the size of a twin bed, and surrounded by cushioned walls on three sides and a slide-down curtain at the entrance. Best of all, the entire package costs only 68 yuan (US$9). Massages, manicures, pedicures, and meals cost extra.

The Chinese have an ancient saying "yi jian ru gu" which means "to feel like old friends at the first meeting." This can easily be applied to Chaozhou, as one of the best things about the city is the friendliness of its people. While the food, music, history, and attractions may draw you there, the kindness and generosity of the people will keep you going back.