2 Day Shantou–Chaozhou Tour with Nan’ao Island

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and depart for Longhu Ancient Village, a 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 distributed throughout the village. Important buildings include Fangbo Mansion, Jinshi Mansion, Tanhua Mansion, Xiuyi Mansion, Xu Clan Ancestral Hall, Longhu Academy, the Former Residence of Xia Yulai, and Tianhou Temple.

During the visit, admire outstanding examples of traditional Chaozhou craftsmanship, including woodcarving, stone carving, ceramic inlay, shell carving, painted decoration, and lime sculpture. Decorative doorways, carved stone columns, lions, mythical animals, plaques, couplets, and colorful murals reflect architectural styles from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The village is often described as an open-air museum of traditional mansion culture.

Continue to Chaozhou, a National Famous Historical and Cultural City. Visit the Han Yu Memorial Temple, built in honor of the celebrated Tang Dynasty scholar and official Han Yu. Although he served in Chaozhou for less than eight months, local tradition remembers his efforts to promote education, improve public administration, release bonded servants, and deal with crocodiles that threatened residents along the river.

If the memorial temple is temporarily closed, the visit may be replaced with the Thai Buddhist Temple according to local arrangements.

Proceed to the Han River for an exterior view of Guangji Bridge, also known as Xiangzi Bridge. The bridge is famous for its distinctive structure of stone piers, traditional pavilions, and a movable pontoon section traditionally described as “eighteen floating boats and twenty-four bridge piers.”

Together with Zhaozhou Bridge, Luoyang Bridge, and Lugou Bridge, Guangji Bridge is regarded as one of China’s four celebrated 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 most representative culinary experiences. Fresh beef is divided into different cuts and briefly cooked in a light broth to preserve its tenderness and natural flavor.

After lunch, stroll along the Chaozhou Riverside Promenade beside the Han River. The landscaped walkway combines ancient trees, seasonal flowers, refreshing river breezes, and views of important landmarks such as Guangji Bridge, Han Yu Memorial Temple, Phoenix Pagoda, Guangji Gate Tower, the ancient city wall, and historic temples.

Visit Guangji Gate Tower, one of the most recognizable symbols of Chaozhou Ancient City, before entering Paifang Street along Taiping Road. The historic pedestrian street is lined with memorial archways, traditional shops, snack stalls, tea stores, embroidery workshops, woodcarving boutiques, and local specialty shops.

Continue through Jiadi Lane, where old mansions preserve classic Chaoshan residential layouts such as Four-Point Gold houses and Si Ma Tuo Che compounds. Narrow lanes, grey-brick walls, carved wooden doors, inner courtyards, and decorative rooflines provide a close look at the domestic architecture of historic Chaozhou families.

Visit Kaiyuan Temple, one of the most important Buddhist temples in eastern Guangdong. Originally established during the Tang Dynasty, the temple preserves a traditional arrangement of grand halls, ceremonial courtyards, Buddhist statues, incense burners, decorative roofs, and carved architectural details. Entry is subject to the temple’s operating schedule and may be restricted during major religious events.

Later, enjoy a complimentary cultural experience featuring Chaoshan Gongfu Tea and Chaozhou Opera in a century-old residence. Learn about the careful brewing methods, miniature teacups, traditional teapots, and hospitality rituals of Gongfu Tea while gaining an introduction to Chaozhou Opera, a regional theatrical tradition performed in the Chaoshan dialect.

Depending on the available time, guests may independently visit additional ancient-city attractions such as Jilue Huanggong Ancestral Hall, Xu Imperial Son-in-Law Mansion, Haiyang Confucian Temple, or the Jao Tsung-I Academic Museum.

At the designated time, meet your guide and transfer to Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport, Chaoshan Railway Station, or another confirmed departure point, bringing the two-day Chaoshan cultural and island journey to an end.

Meals: Hotel breakfast and Chaoshan beef hotpot lunch included; dinner not included
Accommodation: Tour ends

Please note: The order of attractions may be adjusted according to traffic, weather, attraction opening hours, sea conditions, performance schedules, and local operating arrangements. Admission to Guangji Bridge, ancient-city headsets, scenic-area shuttle vehicles, and personal expenses are not included unless otherwise confirmed.