1 Day Chaozhou Anceint City Culture Tour

After breakfast, meet your guide at your hotel or designated pickup point in Jinping District or Longhu District of Shantou, then travel by air-conditioned vehicle to Longhu Ancient Village.

Begin the day exploring this well-preserved historic settlement, famous for its traditional layout of three main streets and six lanes. More than one hundred ancestral halls, official residences, merchant mansions, academies, and temples are scattered throughout the village. During the walk, admire the refined craftsmanship of Chaozhou woodcarving, stone carving, ceramic inlay, shell carving, painted decoration, and lime sculpture. The village preserves architectural features from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties and is often described as an open-air museum of traditional mansion culture.

Continue to Chaozhou Ancient City, a National Famous Historical and Cultural City renowned for its temples, historic streets, traditional residences, local cuisine, handicrafts, opera, and tea culture.

Visit the Han Yu Memorial Temple, built in honor of Han Yu, the celebrated Tang Dynasty scholar and official. Although he served in Chaozhou for less than eight months, local tradition remembers his efforts to promote education, improve administration, release bonded servants, and protect residents from crocodiles along the river. If the memorial temple is closed, the visit may be replaced with the Thai Buddhist Temple.

Next, proceed to the Han River for an exterior view of Guangji Bridge, also known as Xiangzi Bridge. The bridge is famous for its central pontoon section and distinctive structure described as “eighteen floating boats and twenty-four bridge piers.” Together with Zhaozhou Bridge, Luoyang Bridge, and Lugou Bridge, it is traditionally regarded as one of China’s four great ancient bridges. Walking onto the bridge is optional and requires a separate entrance ticket.

Enjoy lunch featuring authentic Chaoshan beef hotpot, one of the region’s best-known culinary experiences. Fresh beef is cut into different portions and briefly cooked in a light broth to preserve its tenderness and natural flavor.

After lunch, stroll along the Chaozhou Riverside Promenade, a landscaped walkway beside the Han River. From the promenade, enjoy views of Guangji Bridge, Guangji Gate Tower, the ancient city wall, Phoenix Pagoda, historic temples, cultural relics, riverside gardens, and the surrounding hills.

Continue to Guangji Gate Tower, one of the most recognizable landmarks of Chaozhou Ancient City. Standing between the Han River and the old city streets, the tower once formed part of the city’s defensive system and remains an excellent location for photography.

Walk into Paifang Street, a historic pedestrian street lined with memorial archways, traditional shops, old residences, local snack stalls, tea stores, embroidery workshops, woodcarving shops, and handicraft boutiques. The street offers a vivid introduction to Chaozhou’s urban culture and everyday life.

Explore nearby Jiadi Lane, where traditional residences preserve classic Chaoshan architectural layouts such as Four-Point Gold houses and Si Ma Tuo Che mansions. Narrow lanes, grey-brick walls, carved doors, inner courtyards, stone foundations, and decorative rooflines reveal the lifestyle of wealthy Chaozhou families in earlier centuries.

Visit Kaiyuan Temple, one of the most important Buddhist temples in eastern Guangdong. Originally founded during the Tang Dynasty, the temple retains a traditional arrangement of halls and courtyards. Its monumental buildings, Buddhist statues, decorative roofs, incense burners, carved details, and peaceful atmosphere make it one of Chaozhou’s most significant religious and architectural landmarks. The temple may close temporarily during major religious ceremonies or special events.

Later, enjoy a complimentary cultural experience in a century-old residence featuring Chaoshan Gongfu Tea and Chaozhou Opera. Learn about the careful tea-brewing process, miniature teacups, traditional teapots, and local hospitality customs. You will also gain an introduction to Chaozhou Opera, a regional theatrical tradition performed in the Chaoshan dialect and known for its distinctive music, costumes, singing, and expressive stage movements.

Depending on the schedule, enjoy free time to explore additional attractions within Chaozhou Ancient City. Recommended sites include the Jilue Huanggong Ancestral Hall, famous for elaborate gilded woodcarving; the Xu Imperial Son-in-Law Mansion, one of the city’s oldest surviving mansion-style residences; the Haiyang Confucian Temple; and the Jao Tsung-I Academic Museum.

At the designated time, meet your guide and fellow travelers before transferring to the arranged hotel, bringing the Chaozhou cultural day tour to an end.

Please note: The order of visits may be adjusted by the guide according to traffic, attraction opening hours, crowd levels, weather, and other local conditions. Electric vehicles, scenic-area shuttle buses, optional admission to Guangji Bridge, and personal expenses are not included unless otherwise stated.