3 Days / 2 Nights  |  Chaozhou, Shantou & Nan'ao Island FoodHeritageCoastalUNESCO

The Journey

Chaoshan — the combined cultural sphere of Chaozhou and Shantou — is China's most underrated food destination. The Chaoshan people are traders by history and artists by nature, and both qualities show in their cuisine: extraordinary attention to the quality of the ingredient, exquisite technique, and a seafood tradition that stretches back thousands of years along this South China coast.

DAY1

Coastal Gateway — Nan'ao Island

Arrive in Shantou. Drive across the iconic Nan'ao Bridge — a 11km engineering marvel over the South China Sea — to Nan'ao Island. Check in to a sea-view hotel. Afternoon: walk to the Changshanwei Lighthouse (长山尾灯塔) for a Pacific Ocean sunset that locals call "the most beautiful in Guangdong." Dinner: fresh oysters, cured fish and Chaoshan-style hot pot at a harbor-side restaurant.

DAY2

Cultural Heart — Chaozhou Ancient City

Cross back to the mainland. Drive to Chaozhou — one of China's best-preserved ancient cities. Morning: the Guangji Bridge (广济桥), a 600-year-old bridge with a floating pontoon section that opens daily to let boats pass. Afternoon: witness the Yingge Dance — the UNESCO intangible heritage performance where dancers in full warrior makeup move like "China's superheroes." Visit a brine goose master for lunch — the single most important dish in Chaoshan cuisine. Evening: Paifang Street, the arch gateway corridor of a thousand years of merchant culture.

DAY3

Heritage & Departure — Shantou Old Town

Morning: Han Wengong Temple (韩文公祠) — dedicated to the Tang dynasty poet-governor Han Yu, set in mountain gardens above the city. Drive to Shantou: the Shantou Small Park (小公园), a cluster of perfectly preserved 1920s–1930s colonial-era arcaded streets. Farewell lunch: Shantou double skin milk pudding (双皮奶) and oyster omelette. Transfer to airport.

Tour Highlights

UNESCO Yingge Dance

Not just a dance — witness "China's superhero warriors" in full oil-paint battle makeup. Transformative.

Brine Goose — The Masterpiece

Avoid tourist traps. We take you to the hidden alley where the city's best goose has been prepared for 40 years.

Nan'ao Island Lighthouse Sunset

Drive across the iconic bridge. Watch the South China Sea turn gold from the lonely Changshanwei Lighthouse.

✅

E-E-A-T Trust

Ministry of Culture & Tourism certified. All guides hold senior-level guide certification.

Included

2 nights hotel Private transport English guide Nan'ao bridge toll Brine goose lunch All entrance fees Inquire Now Get a Custom Quote REVIEWS

What Our Travelers Say

★★★★☆

“The Yingge Dance performance in Chaoyang was explosive — 108 dancers in full warrior costume, moving in perfect synchronization to pounding drums. UNESCO recognized it for good reason. Pure cultural electricity.”

Max T (Australia) ★★★★☆

“Nan'ao Island seafood was a revelation. We ate sea urchin straight from the ocean, grilled abalone on the beach, and the sweetest mantis shrimp I've ever tasted. A seafood lover's paradise that tourists haven't discovered yet.”

Antoine (France) ★★★★☆

“Beef hotpot in Chaozhou — they slice the meat so thin it cooks in 8 seconds. Different cuts from different parts of the cow, each with its own optimal cooking time. Our guide taught us the local dipping sauce formula.”

Chloé (France)

The Most Flavorful 3 Days in China

Chaoshan is a food lover's secret. Let us show you why.

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