What are the differences and connections between Guangdong Chaoshan culture and Fujian Minnan culture?

As a native of southern Fujian, I have been to the Chaoshan area several times. I will not answer from official knowledge. I will share my personal feelings as follows:

1. Geographically, the two places are adjacent and both are coastal areas. Region, southern Fujian belongs to Fujian Province, Chaoshan belongs to Guangdong Province, southern Fujian mainly includes Xiamen, Quanzhou, and Zhangzhou, and Chaoshan mainly includes Shantou, Chaozhou, and Jieyang.

2. In terms of folk customs, both places are relatively tough, adventurous, business-oriented, partial to the protection of traditional Chinese culture, and somewhat xenophobic. The tea culture is very profound. People in both places will pay attention to Taiwan Strait news.

3. Economically, there are special economic zones, including Xiamen in southern Fujian and Shantou in Chaoshan. Relatively speaking, Xiamen is the most well-known. Quanzhou and Chaozhou feel very similar, with strong private sector and strong overseas business. The industrial clusters in the two places are somewhat complementary and competitive, such as plumbing, heating, ceramics and other building materials.

4. They all belong to the Hokkien language family, but it is difficult to communicate completely in Hokkien. As a native of southern Fujian, I can understand some local dialects when I am in Shantou, Chaozhou.

5. Most of the food is the same. Seafood is very popular in both places, as are stews and candied fruits. However, Chaoshan area is more famous for its candied fruits, and herbal tea is also more popular in Chaoshan area. Some of the snacks are actually the same, but most of them are slightly different.

6. In terms of urban construction, I feel that Shantou in the Chaoshan area and Xiamen in southern Fujian are better, especially Xiamen, which feels like it stands out. Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Chaozhou, and Shantou are all good in ancient city resources, especially Chaozhou and Quanzhou, which can be said to be representatives of the two historical ancient cities.

7. In terms of transportation, southern Fujian is better. Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Quanzhou each have multiple convenient train stations, and the airport is also convenient and developed. Private car and bus transportation are better. The train station and airport in Chaoshan are a bit confusing. Buses are also more expensive.

Southern Fujian is an absolute key area and core area in Fujian, but Chaoshan is not in Guangdong and is a bit marginalized. This may be the biggest difference. Both places speak the Hokkien language, but the exchanges between them are insufficient. The two places are geographically neighbors, but the transportation is still a bit different. The biggest problem may be that the two places are limited by administrative influences, including regional integration, Taiwan issues, etc., lack of large-scale investment, and no absolute leading city, or There is a feeling that each has its own destiny to develop separately, and integration is insufficient. It is still driven by opportunities to work together for great development.