Chaozhou Comprehensive Travel Guide to Unlock the Charm of the Ancient City

Preparation 1. Documents: ID card, other possible documents (such as student ID, senior citizen card, etc., for corresponding discounts). 2. Clothing: When visiting Chaozhou in summer, the weather is hot. Prepare light and breathable clothes, sun protection clothing, swimwear (if going to the beach), and comfortable flat shoes or sneakers for long walks. 3. Items: Sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat, umbrella or raincoat (for unpredictable weather), power bank, stomach medicine (for possible digestive discomfort from tasting local food). 4. Transportation: - External transportation: The nearest airport to Chaozhou is Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport. After landing, you can take the airport shuttle bus directly to Chaozhou; you can also choose the high-speed train. Chaoshan Station is close to Chaozhou Ancient City, with bus line K2 directly from the station, or take a ride-hailing car, about 50 minutes to arrive. - Internal transportation: Walking is suitable within Chaozhou Ancient City. There are sightseeing tricycles with drivers who explain the attractions, but be mindful of the price; you can also rent electric scooters, which are convenient for weaving through alleys, about 30 yuan for 2 hours, around 70 yuan for a day. Attractions 1. Chaozhou Ancient City: The central Paifang Street has 23 paifangs, each with 23 historical stories behind them. Along the street are craft exhibition halls and old brands. The surrounding top ten famous alleys are also full of charm. The whole route is over 2 kilometers and can only be walked; Jiadi Alley in the south-central part of the ancient city was once a gathering place for prominent families, preserving the Ming and Qing street layout and many ancient residences. 2. Guangji Bridge: The world's earliest movable bridge and one of China's four great ancient bridges. The middle of the bridge is connected by a floating bridge, with 24 pairs of pavilions and towers on the piers. Around 17:30 in the afternoon, the floating bridge is retracted, allowing you to see the "dismantling of the bridge after crossing"; the light show starts every night at 20:00 (with an extra show at 21:30 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays). The best viewing spot is at the Lower Water Gate Tower, across the road to the right by the riverbank, near a small bungalow. 3. Han Wengong Ancestral Hall: The earliest existing temple in China commemorating the Tang Dynasty writer Han Yu, also a filming location for the movie "Never Say Die." There are many steps, like climbing a mountain, so it is recommended to wear non-slip flat shoes. Book in advance. Climbing to the top of the Shilang Pavilion takes about 15 minutes and offers a panoramic view of Guangji Bridge. 4. Kaiyuan Temple: One of China's four ancient Kaiyuan Temples, the oldest temple in eastern Guangdong with over 1,200 years of history. It is a temple where locals pray for blessings. Please do not bring meat, alcohol, or smoke inside. It is recommended to wear long pants or long skirts. 5. Thai Buddha Hall: The first Thai-style Buddhist hall in Chinese Han Buddhism, full of authentic Thai style. If driving, you can park at the Huiru Park parking lot opposite. Traditional Dai costumes are available for rent at the entrance. Food Recommendations 1. Paifang Street: Hu Rongquan’s Duck Mother Nian is a specialty glutinous rice ball dessert, along with spring rolls, crisp cakes, and other snacks; Lao Ke Specialty Snacks offers oyster omelets with pearl oysters paired with crispy batter and fish sauce, and stir-fried rice cakes with layered flavors; Hou Ji Snacks sells traditional pastries like fermented bean curd cakes, mung bean cakes, and Chaozhou’s three treasures of preserved fruits. 2. Ximalu: Lao Da Snacks offers a variety of rice cakes; spring rolls are filled with mung beans and pork, crispy and delicious; Phoenix Floating Tofu has a golden crust and tender inside, served with a mint-like herb called "caozai" and vinegar sauce, refreshing and cleansing; Xima Licorice Fruit shop is enthusiastic, with fragrant licorice juice; Shibaqu Lao Er Fish Dumplings have fish meat skins, available as soup dumplings or fried dumplings, with seaweed enhancing the broth. 3. Kaiyuan Road: Kaiyuan salty rice cake is a childhood taste for Chaoshan people, soft rice cake paired with radish and dried vegetable chili sauce; Achen rice rolls come with peanut sauce topping, smooth in texture; Changyuan Qiji’s rice cake soup uses fresh ingredients and insists on cooking to order. 4. Others: Guantang Fengji Fish Sashimi is as thin as cicada wings, paired with secret sauce and more than ten kinds of mixed ingredients; Wu Xiangji Chaozhou Cuisine is served in an ancient mansion, with dishes arranged according to the customer's budget, featuring signature dishes like marinated blood clams and crab noodles; When in Chaozhou, be sure to try marinated goose. Guantang Yipin Marinated Goose Shop offers an eight-piece marinated goose platter, and the marinated liver in the broth is a must-try. Accommodation Suggestions 1. Luxury: Xiong Hotel in Chaozhou Ancient City is located in a celebrity’s former residence courtyard, full of ancient charm; Chaozhou Yu Hotel is a drama and cultural museum-style hotel; Chaozhou Tengrui Crowne Plaza Hotel offers a first-line river view, overlooking the entire city. 2. Scenic: Chaozhou Tengrui Crowne Plaza Hotel rooms have unbeatable river views; Hans·Xihu Hotel (Chaozhou Ancient City Paifang Street branch) is opposite Chaozhou West Lake; Chaozhou Linjiang Hotel has clean and tidy river view rooms with wide night views. 3. Local Style: Chaozhou Yingzhou Design Hotel has a historic architectural style with strong Republican-era charm; Chaozhou Hanting Courtyard Resort Hotel has a beautiful environment, like a small garden. Itinerary Planning Two Days One Night - Day 1: Arrive in Chaozhou in the morning, drop off luggage at the hotel, visit Paifang Street to experience the charm of the ancient street, and try Hu Rongquan’s Duck Mother Nian; in the afternoon, go to Kaiyuan Temple to feel the tranquility of the thousand-year-old temple; have dinner on Kaiyuan Road, then watch the light show at Guangji Bridge in the evening. - Day 2: Visit Han Wengong Ancestral Hall in the morning to learn about Han Yu’s culture; have various snacks at Ximalu for lunch; take photos and check in at Thai Buddha Hall in the afternoon; then return. Three Days Two Nights - Day 1: After arrival, check in at the hotel, then head to Chaozhou Ancient City to start a food tour on Paifang Street and visit Jiadi Alley to feel the historical charm. - Day 2: Visit Guangji Bridge in the morning, Han Wengong Ancestral Hall in the afternoon, and have dinner at a restaurant inside the ancient city to taste Chaozhou specialties. - Day 3: Go to Kaiyuan Temple for blessings in the morning, then visit Thai Buddha Hall; pack up in the afternoon and prepare to return.