Meixian District is a district of Meizhou City, in northeastern Guangdong Province, China. The district is an important Hakka settlement and is the ancestral home of many Hakka descendants living in Taiwan.

History

Its original name was Chengxiang county (程鄕) during the southern Han Dynasty where it was first created, all the way to the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties, and then renamed Jiaying county during the Qing dynasty. It only obtained the name Meixian in 1911 during the Xinhai Revolution.

Geography

Meixian almost completely surrounds Meizhou's central urban Meijiang District. This is due to the old urban core of Meixian becoming separated from the bulk of the county in the territorial reorganization following the 1949 establishment of the People's Republic of China, when it was given equal status.

Ethno-linguistic make-up

Meixian is noted for its large Hakka population.

Administrative divisions

Meixian has administrative jurisdiction over one subdistrict and 18 towns.

Culture

With a majority Hakka population, Meixian, along with Dabu County, is known as the home of Standard Hakka.