Shantou: Chaozhou Ancient City & Kaiyuan Temple Day Trip｜China

Begin your day with a convenient pickup from your hotel in Shantou. Head to Longhu Ancient Village, where you'll explore the "Three Streets and Six Alleys" dotted with ancient mansions and grand ancestral halls. Discover over 100 ancestral halls, official residences of renowned officials, and luxurious mansions of merchants and wealthy gentry within the village.

Next, experience making Hongtao Guo, a traditional Chaozhou rice cake. Then, visit Han Wen Gong Temple, built in memory of Han Yu, a litterateur and thinker of the Tang Dynasty. Initially constructed in 999 AD, it is one of the oldest existing Han Wen Gong Temples in China.

Afterward, enjoy lunch at your own expense. Continue your journey to Xiangzi Bridge, also known as Guangji Bridge, one of China's four ancient bridges. Walk on the bridge, where the middle section is a pontoon bridge formed by eighteen wooden boats connected side by side horizontally. Every afternoon, for navigation purposes, the pontoon bridge is dismantled, a process that has been ongoing for over 800 years.

Proceed to Chaozhou Ancient City and tour the ancient city gate, Guangji Tower. Visit Taiping Road Paifang Ancient Street, the longest tourist commodity street in China with the most paifangs (memorial archways), integrating famous Chaozhou snacks, specialties, and traditional crafts such as Chaozhou embroidery, wood carving, and wax stone.

Tour Jiadi Lane and the grand mansions on both sides of the ancient street, observing architectural layouts such as "Four Horses Pulling a Carriage," "A Hundred Birds Facing the Sun," and "Four-Pointed Gold." Visit the "Pearl of Ancient Architectural Art," Kaiyuan Temple.