8-Day Private Guangzhou to Chaoshan Tour: Lingnan Culture

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Guangzhou Arrival

   Arrival at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, your private guide will pick you up and take you to your hotel to have a rest.

   Free Time Idea: If you have more spare time, take a stroll through Huacheng Square to see the first-tier city’s beautiful night view.

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   4-Star Hotel in Guangzhou
2. Day 2: Guangzhou to Chaozhou by High-speed Train
   Explore the hidden gems of ancient villages & savor local delicacies

   Your Guangzhou tour guide will take you to the train station to catch a high-speed train to Chaozhou. A guide in Chaozhou will meet you to make sure you can enjoy the city smoothly.

   Discover the hidden gem of Chaozhou’s ancient villages, Longhu Ancient Village, and gain an insight into the traditional architecture and culture of the Chaoshan region, featuring ancient buildings from the Song and Qing dynasties adorned with exquisite carvings and porcelain.

   

   On the famous Archway Street — a hub for Chaozhou cuisine — join a culinary walking tour and sample authentic local delicacies such as fermented bean curd cakes and duck-shaped pastries.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Chaozhou
3. Day 3: Chaozhou History
   Discover the history of Chaozhou’s ancient towers, bridges, and temples

   Visit China’s largest octagonal earthen tower, Daoyun Tower, where you can witness the fascinating fusion of Hakka architecture and the Philosophy of Feng Shui.

   Pass through the quaint Guangji Tower and arrive at Guangji Bridge — an ancient drawbridge featuring a building and a marketplace constructed directly on the bridge. You can discover the wonders of ancient retractable bridges with their dynamic “beam-and-deck integrated, openable and closable” structures.

   Next, visit Kaiyuan Temple to see the 1,200-year-old Tang Dynasty stone sutra pillars and the heavy Song Dynasty bronze bell weighing over 3,000 jin (1.5 tons)

   

   Chaozhou people love drinking tea, so when you’re there, you simply must experience one of their local teahouses, Zaiyang Teahouse. Sip tea with friends while listening to traditional dialect music, and take photos with the traditional Kung fu tea sets. It’s truly a delightful experience.

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   4-Star Hotel in Chaozhou
4. Day 4: Drive from Chaozhou to Shantou
   Visit the old town, enjoy the sea view, and take beautiful photos

   After breakfast, drive to Shantou to start a new journey.

   Take a stroll through the Little Garden Park, and visit the Tianhou Temple and Laoma Temple theater to get a sense of history. Next, admire the unique architectural styles of the Post Office Building and the Port Opening Exhibition Hall — truly bringing to life the natural and cultural charm of Shantou’s ancient town.

   Explore the Chaozhou-Shantou History and Culture Expo Center and enjoy Chaozhou-Shantou song and dance performances: If you happen to catch a show, you’ll witness the breathtaking spectacle of the “Chinese War Dance” and experience the ruggedness and grandeur of this intangible cultural heritage.

   Explore Queshi Scenic Area, where mountains, sea, and unique rock and cave formations come together, offering a chance to admire jagged peaks while taking in breathtaking panoramic views of the coastline.

   

   Take a leisurely cable car ride to the mountaintop and look down on Shantou from above. The fresh air and tranquil surroundings are incredibly soothing — it’s far more interesting than crowded little parks, and offers great photo opportunities.

   Take the Qimian Ferry to watch the sunset over the river, feel the evening breeze, and travel back and forth between Queshi Bridge and Wan Bridge, enjoying the scenic river views and historical sites along the way.

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   4-Star Hotel in Shantou
5. Day 5: Nan’ao Island Coastal Tour
   Take a ride across the majestic sea bridge & take in the view of lighthouses

   Driving from Nan'ao Bridge toward the seaside, the deep blue sky blends with the vast ocean, making you feel like you're in a painting. The first thing that catches your eye is Nan'ao Island's landmark, the Changshanwei Lighthouse.

   

   Next, head to Qing'ao Bay, known as the 'Hawaii of the East.' It's a perfect spot to watch the sunrise, and don't forget to check in at the Tropic of Cancer marker tower, the 'Gate of Nature,' by the beach.

   Along the way, come across the red-and-white Sancongya Lighthouse, standing like a guardian on the cliff. You can also visit Nan'ao Island National Forest Park, which has cultural landmarks like Tang Dynasty stone carvings and Ming Dynasty beacon towers. The most unique attraction has to be the Zongbingfu (General's Mansion) — the only one of its kind on an island in China, where you can learn about the stories of national heroes like Zheng Chenggong.

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   4-Star Hotel in Shantou
6. Day 6: Jieyang to Chaozhou, Back to Guangzhou by High-speed Train
   Step into Hakka villages to uncover the wisdom of architecture

   Take a private transfer to Jieyang today. Explore De'anli in Puning, a well-preserved Hakka walled village, known as a 'living fossil' of Chaoshan architecture. While touring the village, take note of its drainage system, a testament to the wisdom of our ancestors.

   

   Next, head to Jixian Gate, a must-visit spot in Jieyang. This gate, known locally as the “Gate of Auspiciousness,” holds 400 years of the ancient city’s history and carries auspicious meanings. Coming here might bring you good luck.

   Afterward, visit the Jieyang Academy and the City God Temple.

   Wander through the Ancient City Zhongshan Arcade Street, famous for its traditional shop houses, which is now being developed into a street with an intangible cultural heritage theme. You might even get to experience a lot of new and interesting cultural activities.

   After the tour, board a high-speed train bound for Guangzhou.

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   4-Star Hotel in Guangzhou
7. Day 7: Guangzhou Essence
   Another journey deep into cultural exploration

   Admire the traditional Lingnan architecture and ornamentation at the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, often referred to as the Museum of Guangdong Folk Crafts. Particularly noteworthy are its gables, door lintels, and wall finials. You can make out the phoenix’s feathers, the beards of the figures, and even the veins of the leaves.

   Head to Temple of Six Banyan Trees to pray for blessings — this temple is widely recognized in Guangzhou as a “sacred site for matchmaking”! Since the Tang Dynasty, it has been renowned for “granting prayers for marriage.”

   

   Head to the Museum of the Nanyue King, where you can see the burial artifacts of ancient Chinese emperors, ranging from jade objects and weapons to daily necessities—as well as the coffin of the King of Nanyue and the legendary silk-threaded jade suit. The collection is incredibly rich.

   When visiting the Canton Tower, stand at its base and take photos looking up to capture the tower’s towering, majestic silhouette against the sky — any shot you take will look stunning.

   You can also go straight up to the 488-meter outdoor observation deck, featuring 360-degree floor-to-ceiling glass and an unobstructed outdoor platform, where Zhujiang New Town, Haixinsha, and the Liede Bridge all appear as miniature models.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Guangzhou
8. Day 8: Departure from Guangzhou
   Enjoy a relaxing breakfast. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport or the high-speed railway station for your onward journey.

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