Chaozhou Ancient City

Chaozhou Ancient City covers the old Xiangqiao district on the west bank of the Han River and is one of the most rewarding stops in eastern Guangdong for travelers interested in Lingnan history. Unlike reconstructed heritage theme parks elsewhere in China, this is a genuinely lived-in quarter where Teochew-speaking residents still work, worship, cook, and shop among centuries-old architecture. Wandering the lanes, you encounter Taoist and Buddhist temples, clan ancestral halls, and 19th-century shophouses side by side with busy noodle stalls and tea houses.

The city's layered past is visible in its gates, walls, and religious sites. Guangji Gate Tower marks the eastern edge facing the river, while Kaiyuan Temple, founded in 738 during the Tang dynasty, anchors the spiritual core. Nearby, the Memorial Shrine to Han Yu honors the influential Tang-era official and essayist whose exile to Chaozhou helped shape the city's literary identity. Every corner seems to layer a different dynasty onto the one before it.

For most foreign visitors, the highlight is simply walking. The narrow lanes hide carved granite door frames, upturned swallowtail rooflines, and small courtyards where families dry preserved olives or roast tea leaves. Paifang Street, with its row of commemorative arches and arcaded qilou shopfronts, runs through the heart of the old town and is the easiest orientation line for first-time visitors.

Chaozhou is also the spiritual home of Teochew cuisine, widely regarded as one of China's great regional cooking traditions. Within the ancient city you can sample beef hotpot, braised goose, rice rolls, kueh, and the delicate local confectionery that traveled with Teochew emigrants to Southeast Asia. Combined with the old quarters, the food alone justifies a slow overnight stay rather than a day trip from Shantou or Guangzhou. As a base for exploring Teochew culture, Chaozhou Ancient City offers the densest concentration of history, architecture, and food in the region.