MEI-CHOU

Pinyin Meizhou, formerly Mei-hsien, Pinyin Meixian, city in northeastern Kwangtung sheng (province), China. It is situated on the north bank of the Mei River, a tributary of the Han River, which discharges into the sea at Swatow. A county was established there in the late 5th century. It became the seat of a prefecture (chou) in the early 10th century and received the name Mei in 971; the prefecture was abolished in 1368. The Ch'ing dynasty (16441911), however, established a superior prefecture ( fu) there under the name Chia-ying. In 1912 it reverted to county status and took the name Mei-hsien. It received its new name, Mei-chou, in 1991. Mei-chou is the chief collecting centre for the produce of the Mei River basin, which lies behind the coastal ranges of Kwangtung; this produce is exported to Swatow. The city lies in an area mostly inhabited by the Hakka. Pop. (1989 est.) 125,300.