7 Days Authentic Chaoshan Heritage Journey with Hakka Culture

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Chaozhou Arrival
   Explore Chaozhou Ancient City, Ancestral Hall, Paifang Street Cuisine

   Welcome to our one week trip to Chaoshan! After arrival, the driver and tour guide will take you directly to today's first destination, Chaozhou Ancient City. With a history of over 2000 years, the ancient town is renowned for its unique Minnan, Hakka, Chaoshan cultures, and exquisite architectural complex. The history of the city wall can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. It was once about 5.3 kilometers long and had 11 city gates. Today, only the city wall over 2100 meters long, is preserved for flood control purposes.

   

   Visit Zhenhai Tower, the soul landmark of Chaozhou Ancient City and the high point of the ancient city area. Climbing to the top, overlook the panoramic view of Chaozhou (optional at your own expense). Next, go to the Huang Clan Ancestral Hall to admire the exquisite roof with colorful inlaid porcelain. It is also a location where local community people perform traditional customs like ancestor worship.

   Later, take a stroll on Paifang Street where the local culinary delights like oyster omelette, and beef hotpot are waiting for you to try. In addition, there are many tiny shops on both sides of the street selling Chaozhou intangible cultural heritage products such as embroidery and porcelain inlay.

   Finally, we will escort you to the hotel for check-in after all visits.

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   4-Star Hotel in Chaozhou
2. Day 2: Chaozhou Essence
   Discover Longhu Ancient Village, Guangji Bridge, Kaiyuan Temple, Kung Fu tea with Opera

   Today, you will be led to explore Chaozhou's heritage in depth. It's only a half-hour drive to Longhu Ancient Village. Covering an area of 1.5 square kilometers, this village was founded in the Song Dynasty, surrounded by the Ming Dynasty, and flourished in the Qing Dynasty, witnessing the historical changes of the Chaoshan region from the agricultural era to the commercial era. The explanation of your tour guide will lead you to the marvelous folk crafts like wood carving, stone carving, porcelain inlay, and painting on ancient buildings.

   Han Wengong Temple, which was established in the early days and is the only existing one in China dedicated to Han Yu - the Tang poet. The temple is built along the mountain, with 51 stone steps symbolizing Han Yu's arrival in Chaozhou at his age of 51. Inside the main hall, there is a statue of Han Yu sitting, holding a scroll, with a peaceful expression. The oak planted by Han Yu is still alive today and is considered a good omen for examination.

   

   After the visit, head to Guangji Bridge, which is one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Chaozhou and an important component of Chaozhou culture. The total length of the bridge is 518 meters, with a floating bridge in the middle of 97.3 meters long, connected by eighteen wooden boats. Even nationwide, it is a quite unique bridge.

   Next, explore the "first ancient temple in eastern Guangdong" - Kaiyuan Temple. There are three main halls and one scripture storage building inside. The Main Hall is the highest building in the temple, its ridge decorated with gourds and pheasant tails; There are many Buddhist stories carved on the steps in front of the hall, as well as rare birds, exotic animals, flowers, and plants. Entering the hall, you can see a lot of exquisite Buddha statues.

   Before concluding today's itinerary, taste exquisite Kung Fu tea at the first tea house in Chaozhou that combines tea with Chaozhou opera performances - Zaiyang Teahouse, while enjoying Chaozhou opera and string performances.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Chaozhou
3. Day 3: Chaozhou to Shantou
   Visit Chen Cihong Residence, Stroll Shantou Small Park, Enjoy a Scenic Sunset Ferry

   After breakfast, drive to Shantou to visit Chen Cihong Former Residence, which was built by the Chen Cihong family, an overseas Chinese industrialist and financier. It was founded in 1910 known as the "first overseas Chinese residence in Lingnan". This is Shantou's cultural showcase to the outside world and a link connecting overseas Chinese. The former residence includes 506 halls and rooms, with an area of 25400 square meters. The most representative good living room has 202 rooms of various sizes, which is the largest and most well-designed among all the residences. It integrates Chaoshan style and Western architectural elements, embellishing pavilions, towers, and overpasses. Have a glimpse into the daily lives of overseas wealthy businessmen.

   

   To make the most of your day, take the Small Park for a walk. Do not let the name mislead you; the park is actually a cultural district which is mainly the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Pavilion. It is regarded as the main attraction of the Shantou Ancient City. There are a lot of interesting buildings to visit: The Department Store has a mainly yellow façade, and its third and fourth-floor balconies are of deep green; the General Post Office building gives a glimpse into the history of postal services since Shantou opened as a treaty port; and the Laoma Palace Theater is a place where shadow puppet shows are performed for the major folk festivals like the Lantern Festival and Mazu's birthday, while on the usual days it is a market.

   After the tour finishes, board the ferry between Queshi Bridge and Bay Bridge as the sun sets. The 10-minute one-way journey passes by 15 scenic spots. You will then be transferred to your hotel in Shantou for check-in.

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   4-Star Hotel in Shantou
4. Day 4: Shantou Coastal Culture
   Explore Maritime Heritage, Tropical Beaches, Iconic Lighthouse

   Have breakfast, then get on a boat to Nan'ao Island, which is south of the South China Sea and has been dubbed "Hawaii of the East". Nan'ao Island has been a major trade port for the southeast coast of China and a significant point on the "Maritime Silk Road" since the early days. With your tour guide, you will visit the General Headquarters, which was a military command center for the maritime defense of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Natural Gate, located at the crossroads of the Tropic of Cancer and the eastern coastline of Chinese mainland, is going to be a breathtaking attraction for you.

   

   Qing'ao Bay, surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the sea on one, is the Oriental Hawaii. It boasts a 2,400-meter crescent-shaped beach with pristine, fine white sand and crystal-clear waters. Stroll along the shore, feel the cool sea breeze caress your face, and admire the boundless blue ocean.

   Take a snapshot of the Sanchongya Lighthouse that is painted in red and white stripes. By far the biggest and most important navigation help in the southeastern seas of Nanao Island, its beam of light can be seen from as far as 18 nautical miles. The observers' decks, located along the coastal road, provide the best views of the lighthouse as well as the cliffside seascape.

   Return to the hotel for rest after the tour concludes.

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   4-Star Hotel in Shantou
5. Day 5: Shantou to Jieyang
   Explore De’anli Village and Historic Jieyang Old Town with Rich Chaoshan Heritage

   Interestingly, even many Chinese people are not aware that the “Chaoshan region” actually refers to three cities. Besides Chaozhou and Shantou, the other one is Jieyang. Today, you will be transferred to Jieyang for a full-day tour.

   It is a one-hour drive from Shantou City. Your first stop during the visit is the De'anli Ancient Village. The narrow alleys and black tiles with white walls here have undergone over a hundred years of vicissitudes but still retain their original charm. It is mainly composed of the Old, Middle and New Three Villages. Each village has a large ancestral hall as the center, and the other buildings are distributed hierarchically, fully demonstrating the clan hierarchy of the Chaoshan region. Entering the museum of the Old Village, appreciate various precious cultural relics, such as porcelain, tea sets, and bridal sedan chairs, and experience the old-time folk customs of Chaoshan.

   

   Then, proceed to Jieyang Ancient Town, which is often referred to as "the Lotus on Water" and is one of the first places in eastern Guangdong that were administratively settled. The Jinxian Gate, which is an archaeological site at an ancient administrative settlement, is the town's most important and famous landmark that has existed for nearly 400 years. The City God Temple situated in the town is the largest among all, prominently featuring a layout as well as architectural styles and techniques from the Ming and Qing dynasties mixed with the local one.

   Among other famous sites is the Confucius Temple, which was not only a center of Confucianism but also a revolutionary place where the prime minister of the newly formed People's Republic of China, Zhou Enlai, was active in 1925. Just to the east of the city, the imposing walls formed by a baggy street line the entrance to the ancient kingdom, and with the same caress of the hands of the past, the cobbled streets will narrate their stories. With no hurry you may come up close to the old buildings, and while doing so, get on with sampling some of the delicious local food (bear in mind that these will be at your own expense).

   After you have finished with your exploration, a pleasant hotel in the downtown area of Jieyang city will be your transport's next stop.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Jieyang
6. Day 6: Jieyang to Meizhou
   Discover Hakka Culture through Museums, Arcaded Streets, Grand Ancestral Halls

   Meizhou is a famous hometown of overseas Chinese and is recognized as the center of Hakka culture. A city that you can reach in just 2 hours after breakfast. The first stop will be the China Hakka Museum, a comprehensive museum in China that entirely displays the origin and evolution of Hakka culture. The main buildings encompass the Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall, the Hakka Overseas Chinese Museum - which is designed in a Hakka-style and contains 13 thematic exhibition halls such as the Thai Hall, the American Hall, the Singaporean Hall, and the Canadian Hall, the Hall of Famous Officials and Honest Officials, and the General's Hall. Get a comprehensive insight into the origin and growth of the Hakka people.

   

   Then, head to Lingfeng Road in the old urban area. It is approximately 1,000 meters long and is lined with a mixed Chinese and Western-style arcade buildings. This place has well-preserved the Hakka cultural style of the 1930s and is the first provincial-level historical and cultural district in Meizhou.

   Explore the largest Hakka Dragon-encircled House in the area - Renhou Wengong Ancestral Hall, which has a history of over 500 years. The entire building is grand in scale and looks quite majestic; At its peak, there were over 400 houses that could accommodate nearly 500 people. It is a typical Hakka gathering house and also the oldest and largest family building complex in Meizhou. In addition to the buildings, there are two giant cycad trees here, which have endured more than 450 years of wind and rain and are still lush with branches and leaves. They bloom almost every year.

   After the visit, return to your hotel in Jieyang to spend the last night of this Chaoshan root-seeking journey.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Jieyang
7. Day 7: Jieyang Departure

   Enjoy your free time in the morning. Your driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the airport according to the departure time of your flight. Your 7-day trip to Chaoshan has come to an end. See you next time!

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