China Guide
Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan Island
Chaozhou
On the banks of the Han River, CHAOZHOU is one of Guangdong's most culturally significant towns, yet is overlooked by many tourists. It is staunchly traditional, proudly preserving its architecture, superstitions and local character, making it a splendid place to spend some time. In addition to some of the most active and manageable street life in southern China, there are some fine historic monuments to tour, excellent shopping for local handicrafts, and a nostalgically dated small-town ambience to soak up.
Chaozhou's old quarter comprises an endlessly engaging warren of narrow streets packed with a mixture of colonial and traditional buildings, far better maintained than in almost any comparable town in China. In the quieter residential back lanes, look for old wells, Ming-dynasty stone archways, and antique family mansions, protected from the outside world by thick walls and heavy wooden doors, and guarded by mouldings of gods and good luck symbols.
Shopping
1 Hardware market Just inside the Guangji Gate along Shangdong Ping Lu A good place for something a bit unusual: razor-sharp cleavers, kitchenware and old-style brass door rings.
2 Kaiyuan Si shops Around Kaiyuan Si, at the eastern end of Kaiyuan Lu Temple trinkets, from banners to brass bells, ceramic statues – made at the nearby hamlet of Fengxi – and massive iron incense burners are sold at numerous stores in the vicinity of Kaiyuan Si, also a good area to find ceramic tea sets and silk embroideries.
Read more ▼
- Practical Information ▼
- Sight(s) ▼