A Niche Cultural Heritage Itinerary for Chaozhou

Most tourists who come to Chaoshan eat beef hot pot, have a bowl of beef kway teow, stroll along Xima Road, visit Kaiyuan Temple, and watch the opening and closing of Guangji Bridge. Today, however, I'm sharing a niche itinerary focused on intangible cultural heritage. ⛱️Must-sees: 1. Xie Shunxing Lantern Shop: A small storefront, not easy to park, but easy to find on the roadside. 2. Jin Zi Song Woodcarving Research Center: Across the street from the lantern shop, this is the studio of a woodcarving artisan with 50 years of experience. He has several apprentices, and you can see them carving on the first floor. The master is very welcoming and will take you to the second-floor exhibition hall, which displays all his award-winning works. The hollowed-out carvings of Chaoshan people's bamboo baskets with shrimp and crabs are particularly stunning. 3. Clay Sculptures: The most famous is probably Wu Ji, which even has a modern-style reception room. We visited the studios of other clay sculpture artisans, which were simpler and empty. 🏨Accommodation: The studios of intangible cultural heritage artisans are scattered, so it's recommended to stay by the Songjiang River or in the city center so you have things to do in the evening. 💗Other tips: If you're not particularly interested in traditional culture, there's no need to visit the artisans' studios. You can find many small shops selling intangible cultural heritage items on Guangji Bridge and Xima Road in Chaozhou.