First trip to Chaoshan? Check out this super comprehensive 4-day, 3-night guide!

Drawn by the rich Lunar New Year folk culture of Chaoshan, I embarked on a Chaoshan tour during the Lunar New Year holiday, eager to experience the unique southern festive atmosphere. Chaozhou, Shantou, and Jieyang, each city exudes its own charm, captivating hearts with everything from enticing cuisine and profound culture to ancient relics and modern landscapes. Now, I'm sharing this meticulously crafted 4-day, 3-night itinerary with you! Chaoshan Transportation Guide External Transportation Airplane: Fly directly to Jieyang from various locations. Upon arrival, take the airport shuttle bus to Chaoshan or Jieyang city center, or the airport express line to Shantou. You can also take the high-speed train from Jieyang Airport Station to Jieyang Station (city center), Chaoshan Station, and Shantou. Of course, a ride-hailing service will cost around CNY 80–100. High-speed Rail: Take the high-speed train directly to Chaozhou or Shantou from various locations across the country. Intercity Transportation Shantou to Chaozhou: Take the bus, which goes directly to the vicinity of the ancient city. Chaozhou - Jieyang, Shantou - Jieyang: Travel between these cities by high-speed rail. Travel Tips: Shared electric bikes are the preferred mode of transportation within Chaoshan, Shantou, and Jieyang city centers, as they are convenient and avoid traffic jams. Buses and taxis are also good options. Ride-hailing services are not as prone to price gouging as rumored; I didn't encounter any issues during my trip. Four-Day Itinerary Day 1 Shantou Shantou Catholic Cathedral → Shantou Fire Museum → Guanyin Temple → Lao Ma Gong Opera House → Small Park → Former Post Office → Shantou Hotel → Guiyuan Garden → Former Railway Administration Park → People's Square Day 2 Nan'ao Island Nan'ao Bridge → Changwei Lighthouse → Qianaowan Lighthouse → Sancongya Lighthouse → Hot Spring Resort → Qing'ao Bay → Windmill Mountain → Highway No. 2 → Rainbow Estuary → Huangshan Forest Park Day 3 Chaozhou Chaozhou Ancient City - Paifang Street - Kaiyuan Temple - Guangji Gate - Guangji Bridge - Han Yu Memorial Temple - Ji Lue Huang Ancestral Hall - Zhenhai Tower - Chaozhou West Lake Park - Thai Buddhist Temple Day 4 Jieyang Jinxian Gate → Jieyang Confucian Temple → City God Temple → Zhongshan Road Old Street → Qingshi Cultural Community → Datong Street (Coppersmith Street) → Shuangfeng Temple For detailed guides to each location, please visit my homepage! Chaoshan Accommodation Recommendations Shantou: Near MixC and Longyan South Road in Longhu District. Chaozhou: Hostels or youth hostels near the ancient city. Jieyang: Near Rongcheng District and Yangmei Jade City. Chaoshan Food List Rice noodle rolls, clay pot porridge, beef hot pot, caramelized snacks, candied fruit, herbal jelly, beef kway teow, kway chap, marinated goose, fermented bean curd chicken wings, oyster omelet, raw marinated seafood, raw fish... There are simply too many delicious foods!