5 Days Chaoshan Root-Seeking and Ancestral Exploration Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Chaozhou Arrival
   Explore Longhu Ancient Village and Savor Authentic Chaozhou Flavors

   Welcome to the Chaoshan region, which refers to the three cities of Chaozhou, Shantou, and Jieyang! After arriving in Chaozhou, the tour guide will pick you up and take you to a hotel in the city to check in.

   You will have a visit in the afternoon to Longhu Ancient Village. The village, which had its origin in the Song Dynasty, occupies an area of 1.5 square kilometers and is famous for its "three streets and six alleys" layout as well as its more than 100 ancient buildings. It was voted as one of the top 10 beautiful ancient villages in Guangdong in 2012.

   

   Follow the tour guide's footsteps along the alleys to appreciate the exquisite architecture of multiple dynasties, such as the blue brick walls of the Song Dynasty, the bluestone paths of the Ming Dynasty, and the colorful paintings of the Qing Dynasty. In addition, Chaoshan techniques such as wood carving, stone carving, and inlaid porcelain are ubiquitous in doorways, and even stone drum carving of "Double Lion Playing Ball" is a very rare design throughout the country. ‌‌‌‌

   You will get to savor the flavor of your hometown when you take a food tour on foot in the Paifang Street of the Chaozhou Ancient City after that. The main characteristic of the architecture in this place is the fusion of Chinese and Western styles. The pedestrian street has shops on both sides with Chaozhou intangible cultural heritage products such as Chaozhou embroidery, ceramics, Kung fu tea, etc., and a wide variety of Chaozhou food like beef hotpot, kway teow (rice noodles)... The locals often say that Paifang Street can give you a good insight into the past and present of the ancient city of Chaozhou during your visit to Chaozhou.

   After the tour, we will drive you back to the hotel to rest.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Chaozhou
2. Day 2: Chaozhou's Essence
   Visit Ancestral Halls, Guangji Bridge, Kaiyuan Temple, Enjoy Kung Fu Tea with Opera

   In the morning, the tour guide will take you to Shutu Village to visit the Zhao Clan Ancestral Hall. This ancient building with a history of over 400 years has witnessed the rise and prosperity of the Zhao family. Founded in the late Ming Dynasty, the architecture has undergone two important constructions and is now even more imposing. It sits northwest to southeast and adopts a layout of “two courtyards and a skywell”. The four characters "赵氏宗祠" on the gate are powerful and vigorous, showcasing the glory and dignity of the family.

   

   Afterwards, our next stop will be Guangji Bridge, ranked as one of the four famous bridges in China. Outside the east gate of Chaozhou Ancient City, the bridge was built across the Han River and it was an ancient transportation hub for the southern provinces of China, namely Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang. Today, it is famous as the landmark of Chaozhou culture. The bridge is full of pavilions and their roofs vary in shape such as circular, triangular, quadrilateral, fan-shaped, etc. The floating bridge is very fascinating; it consists of 18 wooden boats (each 3.6m wide) that are connected and placed horizontally side by side.

   Following this, go to visit Kaiyuan Temple. Ancient trees tower over the grounds, while exquisite bonsai displays vie for attention, creating an elegant and peaceful environment. The temple houses a wealth of cultural relics, including Tang Dynasty stone sutra stupas, Song Dynasty bronze bells, Yuan Dynasty stone-carved incense burners, and a Ming Dynasty wooden Thousand Buddha Pagoda. It is considered as the "first ancient temple in eastern Guangdong" and the location of Lingdong Buddhist Academy.

   Finally, savor exquisite Kung fu tea at Zaiyang Teahouse, Chaozhou's first one blending tea with Chaozhou opera performances. Walk up to the second floor to enjoy authentic tea beverages, melon seeds, and other tea snacks while appreciating performances of Chaozhou opera and string music.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Chaozhou
3. Day 3: Chaozhou to Shantou
   Discover Shantou’s Heritage Districts, Coastal Fort Ruins, Scenic Sunset Ferry

   After breakfast, drive for 1 hour from Chaozhou to Shantou. Along the way, your guide will provide you with a detailed introduction to the unique features of the area.

   The first stop to visit in Shantou is Small Park, which is not a traditional park but a historical and cultural district. Centered around the Zhongshan Memorial Pavilion, this area boasts the largest radial arcade complex in the country. Appreciate the Laoma Palace stage, Anping Post Office, and explore intangible cultural heritage such as Chaoshan opera and embroidery.

   For lunch, you are recommended to taste Chaoshan beef hotpot (at your own expense). Your tour guide will be happy to arrange your order.

   

   In the afternoon, delve into the dialects, handicrafts, cuisine, opera, and other aspects of the region while visiting the Chaoshan Historical and Cultural Expo Center. The museum displays a large number of exquisite artworks, such as porcelain inlay, wood carving, stone carving, color painting, seal engraving, and bead embroidery. Inside the exhibition hall, there will be a performance of Chaoshan Yuege (a type of traditional folk dance) which combines elements of drama, dance and martial arts.

   After the visit, head over to explore the Stone Battery Park. In the late Qing Dynasty, it was an important coastal defense facility in the eastern Guangdong region. There was a river 23 meters wide and 3 meters deep that surrounded the battery. The battery had two floors, both sturdy and secure. At the northeast corner of the square, there was a freshwater well, which was the drinking water for the soldiers at that time. Although the well was only a few dozen meters away from the sea, the water quality was very sweet and pure.

   At sunset, take a ferry to shuttle between Queshi Bridge and Bay Bridge, passing through 15 scenic spots. Take some beautiful photos within the 20 minutes.‌‌

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Shantou
4. Day 4: Shantou to Jieyang
   Explore De'anli Hakka Mansion and Historic Jieyang Ancient Town Landmarks

   Today you will leave Shantou and head for Jieyang. A one-hour drive will take you to De'anli, an ancient village built in 1871. The architectural complex here was constructed by the Qing Dynasty's Guangdong Maritime Commander, and it is the largest and most intact mansion-style building complex in the Chaoshan region. It features rooms such as study and ancestral hall. Get a glimpse of the communal life of the Hakka people in the Chaoshan. Besides the architecture, what is most worth understanding is the drainage system of this village - it adopts a "nine turns and eighteen bends" design and finally flows into the stream in front of the village.

   

   Following that, you must stop by Jieyang Ancient Town, which is also known as "the Lotus on Water" and it is one of the first eastern Guangdong administrative settlements. Jieyang Ancient City's landmark structure is the Jinxian Gate which has been existing for about 400 years. The City God Temple is the largest among the temples of this sort. Its layout is a refreshing mix of the Ming-Qing dynasties styles and local craftsmanship.

   The Confucius Temple is a landmark of revolutionary activities where Zhou Enlai worked in 1925. Walking in the ancient city is like a time machine ride with its cobbled streets telling the history - little by little. Admire the ancient architecture and savor some local delicacies (at your own expense). After the stroll, drive to you a comfortable hotel in Jieyang city center.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Jieyang
5. Day 5: Departure from Jieyang

   After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Jieyang and Chaoshan region. Your driver will pick you up and then send you to the railway station or airport for departure. Thank you very much for choosing China Xian Tour!

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