Editing Chaozhou (section)

==Culture==
[[Image:Chaozhou Opera-Menglikung.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Chaozhou Opera]]
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Chaozhou is famously known as a globally renowned cultural center of the [[Lingnan]] region of China. Throughout China's turbulent history, the Chaozhou region was nonetheless able to flourish and thrive, enabling the nourishing of a unique and distinctive character epitomized in the city's native [[Teochew dialect|dialect]], ceramics, opera, [[Chaozhou cuisine|cuisine]], Fenghuang Dancong tea, music, style of lion dance, embroidery and another needlework called drawnwork.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chaozhou {{!}} China {{!}} Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Chaozhou|access-date=2021-11-29|website=www.britannica.com|language=en}}</ref>

[[Chaozhou opera]] ({{lang-zh|t=潮劇|labels=no}}) is a traditional art form which has a history of more than 500 years and is now appreciated by 20 million Chaozhou natives in over 20 countries and regions. Based on the local folk dances and ballads, Chaozhou opera has formed its own style under the influence of [[Nanxi (Chinese opera)|Nanxi Opera]]. Nanxi is one of the oldest Chinese operas and originated in the [[Song dynasty]]. Clowns and females are the most distinctive characters in a Chaozhou opera, and fan-playing and acrobatic skills are more prominent than in other types of performances.

[[Gongfu tea ceremony|Kung fu tea]], the 'espresso' of Chinese teas with a formidable kick, which was first created in the [[Song dynasty]], is still flourishing and remains an important part of social etiquette in Chaozhou. Visitors to local families can be sure of at least one round of Kung Fu {{clarify|date=March 2014}} tea. Though it tastes bitter when it first reaches the mouth, Kung Fu tea renowned for its lingering aftertaste.

At the local teahouse, tea service is often accompanied by Chaozhou music. [[Chaozhou xianshi|String music]], gong and drum music and the ancient music of set flutes<!--what are "set flutes"? This is a poor translation--> are the traditional forms of Chaozhou music. Chaozhou string music is made up of mostly plucked and bowed string instruments, and on some occasions, wind instruments are used. The most characteristic instruments are the ''rihin''<!--where does the romanization "rihin" come from?--> ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=二弦}}), ''[[Tihu (instrument)|tihu]]'', ''[[yehu]]'' (all two-stringed bowed lutes), and the ''[[sanxian]]'', ''[[pipa]]'', ''[[Ruan (instrument)|ruan]]'', ''[[guzheng]]'', and ''[[yangqin]]''. The number of instruments and performers in an ensemble is flexible and depends on the availability of instruments and musicians to play them – but to have an even and balanced texture, only one of each instrument is preferred. Chaozhou drum music ensembles includes the big drum and gong, the small drum and gong, the dizi set, drum and gong and su, drum and gong combinations. The current Chaozhou drum music is said to be similar to the form of drum and wind music during the Han and Tang dynasties. The Chaozhou ''[[guzheng]]'' and ''[[erhu]]'' are also regarded as major members of the southern instrument family.

The region is most widely known for the origin of '[[Bak Kut Teh]]' ({{lang-zh|labels=no|t=肉骨茶}}), loosely translated in dialect as 'Meat Bone Tea', which is a popular dish among the overseas Chinese Teochew community in Singapore and Malaysia. Owing to its coastal geography, Chaozhou is also famed for its seafood soups, and a porridge called "mue" ({{lang-zh|labels=no|t=潮洲糜}}).