潮(chao)州市(shi)位(wei)于广(guang)东(dong)省(sheng)最东(dong)端，处于韩(han)江(jiang)中(zhong)下游(you)。东(dong)与福建省(sheng)的诏安(an)县(xian)(xian)、平和县(xian)(xian)交界(jie)，西与我省(sheng)揭(jie)阳市(shi)的揭(jie)东(dong)县(xian)(xian)接(jie)壤，北连梅州市(shi)的丰顺县(xian)(xian)、大埔(pu)县(xian)(xian)，南(nan)通(tong)汕头市(shi)和汕头市(shi)属的澄(cheng)海市(shi)，并濒临南(nan)海。

潮州市(shi)(shi)于1985被国家(jia)批准为(wei)对(dui)外(wai)开(kai)放旅(lv)游城市(shi)(shi)；1986年(nian)被广(guang)东(dong)省人民政府列(lie)为(wei)沿海(hai)经济开(kai)放的县市(shi)(shi)之一；1989年(nian)列(lie)为(wei)广(guang)东(dong)省直辖市(shi)(shi)。

潮(chao)(chao)州文(wen)物古迹众多。5处(chu)全国(guo)重点文(wen)物保护(hu)单位有(you)始(shi)(shi)建于南宋、中(zhong)(zhong)国(guo)四(si)大古桥之(zhi)一、被(bei)誉为世界上第(di)(di)一座启闭式石桥梁的广济桥，国(guo)内罕见的宋代建筑(zhu)府第(di)(di)许驸马府，始(shi)(shi)建于唐(tang)代、堪(kan)称粤东地区佛教活动(dong)中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)的开元寺(si)，集潮(chao)(chao)州木(mu)雕之(zhi)大成的己略黄(huang)公祠，反映(ying)宋代潮(chao)(chao)州陶瓷业(ye)繁荣景象的笔架山宋窑遗址。

省市级重点文(wen)(wen)(wen)物保护单(dan)位有(you)(you)始建(jian)于(yu)宋代、我(wo)国现(xian)存历史最(zui)久、保存最(zui)完整的(de)(de)(de)纪念唐(tang)代大文(wen)(wen)(wen)学家韩愈的(de)(de)(de)韩文(wen)(wen)(wen)公祠，始建(jian)于(yu)明代、全(quan)长(zhang)2.6公里(li)的(de)(de)(de)古城(cheng)(cheng)墙(qiang)，有(you)(you)与(yu)广州越秀山(shan)镇海楼齐名的(de)(de)(de)明代建(jian)筑广济(ji)城(cheng)(cheng)楼等。此外(wai)还有(you)(you)目前国内(nei)建(jian)筑面积最(zui)大的(de)(de)(de)泰式(shi)佛殿，有(you)(you)珍藏珍贵历史文(wen)(wen)(wen)物的(de)(de)(de)淡浮文(wen)(wen)(wen)物院等。

潮州八(ba)景(jing)"凤凰时(shi)雨、湘(xiang)桥春涨、鳄(e)渡秋(qiu)风(feng)、北阁佛灯、龙(long)湫宝塔等景(jing)点(dian)，如珠(zhu)散落(luo)于韩江两岸(an)，与2.6公里(li)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)城(cheng)墙、滨江长廊和(he)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)城(cheng)内保存(cun)完好的(de)(de)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)民居群一起，构(gou)成潮州古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)城(cheng)文化(hua)旅(lv)游(you)区(qu)的(de)(de)壮(zhuang)丽景(jing)象。景(jing)观：潮州市现有文物(wu)点(dian)700多处，包括古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)遗址、古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)墓(mu)葬(zang)、古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)海蚀、古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)建(jian)筑、古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)祠(ci)、古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)寺、古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)井、古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)桥、古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)塔、古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)牌(pai)坊(fang)、摩崖石刻、碑碣(jie)等。