Chaozhou-Shantou 7-Day In-Depth Travel Guide

Integrating the latest 2025 travel information and local features, covering three core aspects: **food exploration, cultural experience, and mountain-sea scenery**, while also considering summer cooling and off-peak travel tips. The total word count is about 1500 words to help you efficiently plan your trip. --- **Itinerary Overview** | **Date** | **Core Area** | **Key Experience** | **Accommodation Recommendation** | |----------------|---------------|------------------------------------------|--------------------------| | **Day 1** | Shantou Old Town | Arcade photography + first experience of beef hotpot | Hotel near MixC Shopping Mall | | **Day 2** | Shantou City | University humanities + Chaozhou Museum intangible cultural heritage | Same as above | | **Day 3** | Nan'ao Island | Island self-driving tour + lighthouse sunset + Qing'ao Bay night swim | Qing'ao Bay Seaview Apartment | | **Day 4** | Chaozhou Ancient City | Guangji Bridge light and shadow show + Paifang Street snacks | Paifang Street Guesthouse | | **Day 5** | Chaozhou Culture | Ancient village water town + Chaozhou cuisine cooking class | Same as above | | **Day 6** | Jieyang | Jieyang Tower history + Huangqi Mountain forest oxygen bar | Rongcheng District Hotel | | **Day 7** | Return & Shopping | Buy Chaozhou’s three treasures + try Longjiang pig trotter rice | — | --- **Daily Detailed Schedule** **🏙️ Day 1: Shantou Old Town Local Life** - **Afternoon**: Arrive at Jieyang Chaoshan Airport, take the airport shuttle bus (¥20) to Shantou city center, check in at a hotel near MixC (recommended "Chao Hotel·Simple Stay" smart guesthouse, about ¥150 per person). - **Evening**: - **Shantou Xiaogongyuan**: Photograph the radiating arcade buildings, check in at Zhongshan Memorial Pavilion vintage photo spot, buy Laoma Palace rice dumplings (savory and sweet combo ¥15). - **Longyannan Road Night Market**: Eat mashed taro (sweet and crispy), licorice fruit (refreshing), Wu Jinping snack shop’s rice noodle soup (¥10). - **Dinner**: Xinghua Wu’s Beef Hotpot (snowflake beef dipped for 8 seconds, perfect with satay sauce + fried garlic, about ¥80 per person). **📚 Day 2: Shantou Humanities and Sea Breeze** - **Morning**: **Shantou University**: Visit the "Most Beautiful Library in Asia"✅, take photos in the shaded corridor. **Chaoshan History and Culture Expo Center**: Free admission to see woodcarving "Golden Palace Celebration" and overseas Chinese letters relics (9:00-17:00). - **Afternoon**: **Seaside Road Cycling**: Rent a shared electric scooter (¥5/hour), chase the sunset and enjoy the sea breeze. - **Dinner**: Fuyuan Restaurant (white porridge with cold dishes, must-try marinated goose liver + raw marinated shrimp, about ¥80 per person). **🏝️ Day 3: Nan'ao Island Island Tour** - **Transportation**: Charter a car counterclockwise around the island (bridge toll ¥96/car), or rent an electric car for self-driving (¥200/day). - **Highlights**: - **Changshanwei Lighthouse**: Red lighthouse with the cross-sea bridge in the frame (right after the bridge). - **Sanchongya Lighthouse**: Ice cream-shaped tower, best photographed in the afternoon light. - **Qing'ao Bay**: Swim then check in at the Tropic of Cancer "Gate of Nature", seafood street food at dusk (Sister Xu’s seaweed fried rice + boiled squid). - **Overnight**: Qing'ao Bay Golden Coast Apartment (first-line sea view room off-season ¥150). **🌉 Day 4: Chaozhou Ancient City Time Travel** - **Morning**: Nan'ao Island → Chaozhou (1.5h drive), check in at Paifang Street "Chao Hotel·Monet Garden" (French vintage style). - **Afternoon**: **Guangji Bridge**: Climb the bridge to see Ming Dynasty water beasts (¥20), watch the "Bridge Removal" ferry gate opening ceremony at 17:30. **Paifang Street**: Eat Zhenji beef offal rice noodles (¥20), sugar scallion pancake (¥5), shop for Chaozhou embroidery souvenirs. - **Night**: **Guangji Bridge Light Show** (starts at 20:00): 500 lanterns light up the Han River, 3D water curtain projection of Chaozhou folk songs. **🛶 Day 5: Water Town Ancient Village & Chaozhou Cooking Class** - **Morning**: **Longhu Ancient Village**: Ride a black-awning boat on the waterways (¥30), see century-old "Four Horses Pulling Cart" woodcarving. - **Afternoon**: **Chaozhou Cuisine Cooking Class** (reservation required): Parent-child experience making hand-pounded beef balls or red peach rice cakes (2 hours ¥150/person). - **Dinner**: Lao Bin Oyster Omelette (Paifang Street store, crispy and bursting with oysters, served with fish sauce and pepper). **🌳 Day 6: Jieyang History and Nature** - **Transportation**: Chaozhou → Jieyang (1h drive). - **Morning**: **Jieyang Tower**: Landmark building to learn about Chaoshan history, touch the "Five Belly Lion" relief for good luck. - **Afternoon**: **Huangqi Mountain Forest Park**: Hiking and oxygen intake, climb to the top for panoramic view of Rong River (free). - **Dinner**: Xin Heng Beef Hotpot (crispy brisket, about ¥60 per person) or Longjiang Pig Trotter Rice (intangible cultural heritage braised flavor, ¥25). **🛍️ Day 7: Return & Souvenir Shopping** - **Morning**: **Paifang Street**: Buy "Chaozhou Three Treasures" (Old Medicine Tangerine ¥15/bottle, dried tangerine peel soybeans), vacuum-packed beef balls (¥35 per jin). **Yanghang Bakery**: Intangible cultural heritage mung bean cake, sesame cake (¥20/box). - **Lunch**: Jieyang Liu Bu Braised Goose (flavorful goose meat, about ¥40 per person). - **Return**: Head to Jieyang Chaoshan Airport or Chaoshan Station according to flight/train schedule. --- **🏨 Accommodation and Budget** | **Item** | **Recommended Choice** | **Reference Price** | |----------------|----------------------------|-----------------| | **Accommodation** | Shantou MixC Shopping Mall area, Chaozhou Paifang Street guesthouse | ¥150-300/night | | **Transportation** | Island charter + city Didi/shared electric scooters | ¥500/person (whole trip) | | **Tickets & Activities** | Guangji Bridge ¥20 + cooking class ¥150 | ¥200/person | | **Meals** | Daily snacks + main meals | ¥1000/person (7 days) | | **Total** | — | **¥2500/person** | --- **⚠️ Key Tips** 1. **Food Pitfalls to Avoid**: - For raw marinated dishes, choose "Ruijiao Mama" or "Fuyuan", pair with white porridge to reduce stomach irritation. - Eat beef hotpot in the morning for fresher meat (slaughtered and delivered early morning). 2. **Summer Specials**: - Guangji Bridge night laser show (20:00), Paifang Street intangible cultural heritage market (weekends). - Nan'ao Island Qing'ao Bay sunrise (arrive before 5:00 at Tropic of Cancer Plaza). 3. **Transportation Tips**: - Rent electric cars on Nan'ao Island from "Moucheng" with no deposit, check battery to avoid breakdowns mid-island. - Take K1 express bus from Chaoshan Station to Chaozhou Ancient City (¥8), saves about ¥50 compared to taxi. 4. **Typhoon Preparedness**: - July-August is typhoon season; if warnings occur, adjust itinerary: Day 3 to Queshi Scenic Area (cable car sea view) or Shantou Museum (indoor shelter). > This guide integrates 2025 new highlights (Guangji Bridge light show, Chaozhou cuisine DIY) with classic experiences. **Family trips can add Nan'ao Island fishing activities, couples are recommended to camp under the stars at Qing'ao Bay**. The soul of Chaoshan lies in the pounding sound of grandma’s hand-pounded beef balls, in the tea fragrance carried by the Han River night breeze, and in the lively atmosphere rising from every bowl of rice noodle soup. Be sure to follow the "Chaoshan Cultural Tourism" official account before departure to get consumption coupons (¥20 off every ¥100 spent on dining)!