Morning: Paifang Street and Old Alley Exploration
Start from "Taiping Road Paifang Street," where nearly 20 Ming and Qing dynasty archways stand in sequence. The stone carvings of "Four Scholars Archway" and "Zhuangyuan Archway" tell stories of imperial examinations. Turn into "Jiadixiang Alley" to admire the inscriptions of "Loyalty, Filial Piety, Integrity" on brick-carved gatehouses. Wander into century-old mansions in "Gucuo Alley," where orchids in courtyards and wood-carved beams reflect the architectural wisdom of "Chaozhou houses, built like imperial palaces."
Noon: Alleyway Food Hunt
Order "Yamuniang" (glutinous rice dumplings) at "Huronquan"—filled with peanuts and sesame. The crispy "spring rolls" at neighboring "Ouyang Heji" pair perfectly with iced lemon tea (人均 20 RMB).
Afternoon: Intangible Heritage and Temple Serenity
Visit "Kaiyuan Temple," where Tang-dynasty stone pillars and Song-dynasty wood-carved Buddha niches have weathered millennia. The ancient Buddha paintings in the eastern "Scripture Pavilion" are worth savoring. Later, head to "Chaozhou Intangible Heritage Workshop" to experience "Qiancici" (porcelain mosaic art)—create a flower-and-bird design with broken porcelain pieces, which you can take home (workshop fee 60 RMB/person).
Evening: Guangji Bridge Night View and Han River Charm
Walk to "Guangji Bridge," the "world’s earliest retractable bridge," which glows like a colorful dragon under lights. Watch the 20:00 light show, then stroll along the "Riverside Promenade," listening to Chao Opera melodies carried by the river wind (bridge ticket 20 RMB).
Day 2: Between Landscape · Humanities and Nature
Morning: Han River and Ancestral Temple Culture
Take a ferry from "East Gate Ancient Ferry" to the opposite bank of the Han River (5 RMB round-trip). Climb "Phoenix Tower" for a panoramic view of the river; red ribbons on ancient banyan trees at the tower’s base hold wishes. Return to the city to visit "Han Wengong Temple," where Han Yu’s calligraphy inscriptions reveal how this literati transformed Chaozhou.
Noon: Authentic Beef Hotpot
freshly sliced beef—"diaolong" (tender sirloin) and "feipian" (fatty brisket) are best 涮 8 seconds, dipped in satay sauce (人均 60 RMB).
Afternoon: Ceramics and Tea Country
Visit "Fengxi Ceramic City" to admire "Chaozhou colored porcelain" with meticulous flower-and-bird paintings. Then head to "Phoenix Mountain Tea Garden" to pick spring tea buds and learn tea-roasting techniques (experience fee 50 RMB/person, take home 100g tea).
Evening: Old Town Night Food and Chao Opera
Try "licorice fruits" (bayberry, wax apple with plum sauce) at "West Road Night Market," then enjoy a Chao Opera performance of Chen San and Wu Niang at "Ancient City Teahouse," where embroidery on costumes dazzles (teahouse minimum 40 RMB/person).
Day 3: Ancient Town and Souvenirs · Taking Chaoshan Flavors Home
Morning: Longhu Ancient Village Exploration
Drive 30 minutes to "Longhu Ancient Village," a Song-dynasty settlement with a "three streets, six alleys" layout. Admire porcelain mosaics on "Fangbo Mansion" and brick-carved windows at "Granny’s Ancestral Hall." Buy aged "laoyaoju" (preserved citrus) at the village’s old shop (30 RMB/jin, great for digestion).
Noon: Village Home-Cooked Flavors
Try "caoguo" (grass jelly with brown sugar) at "Granny’s Stall" and "rice noodle soup" with fresh shrimp at "Village Canteen" (人均 15 RMB).
Afternoon: Souvenir Shopping and Departure
Return to "Taiping Road" to buy "furu cake" (fermented bean curd cake from "Zhenyuan Building") and "dried tangerine duck" (vacuum-packed). Finally, pick up a jar of "laoxianghuang" (preserved 佛手 fruit) to conclude the journey.
Transportation and Accommodation Tips
Transport：Rent an e-bike (30 RMB/day) for the city; take a taxi to Longhu Village (≈50 RMB round-trip).
Stay：Recommend "Paifang Street B&Bs" like "Zaiyang Inn" (renovated arcade house with breakfast, ≈400 RMB/night).
Note：Book Chao Opera performances 1 day in advance via "Chaozhou Culture Travel" WeChat; some alleys are narrow—yield to locals.
