Chaoshan Travel Guide / Guangdong Travel
First Time in Chaoshan? 2026 Chaoshan Travel Guide: Classic Routes in Shantou, Chaozhou and Nan'ao Island
2026-08-21 GoChinaNow Editorial Team
First Time in Chaoshan? Start by Understanding the "Three Core Areas"
Chaoshan travel mainly revolves around three areas: Shantou: Best for city history, food and the Xiaogongyuan cultural district Chaozhou: Best for old town architecture, Teochew culture and traditional crafts Nan'ao Island: Best for island leisure, natural scenery and seafood If it is your first time in Chaoshan, avoid trying to cover too many places in one day — plan your route sensibly based on your available time.
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"Chaoshan is not just a destination for checking off attractions — it is a land that blends history, architecture, food and Chinese cultural memory. On your first visit to Chaoshan, slow down and give yourself a few days to experience what Teochew life is really like." — GoChinaNow Chaoshan Travel Team
First time in Chaoshan? If you want to see Shantou Old Town, eat your way through Teochew cuisine, visit Nan'ao Island and explore Chaozhou Old Town — all without dragging luggage around every day — a 4-day, 3-night trip is ideal for Chinese families from Singapore and Malaysia. A smooth plan: Day 1 Shantou Old Town and food, Day 2 Nan'ao Island, Day 3 Chaozhou Old Town, Day 4 a half day in Shantou or Chaozhou depending on your departure time. You do not have to follow the schedule rigidly — weather, flights, the energy levels of elderly parents and children, and whether you are on a roots journey should all be factors in adjusting the plan. For a first trip to Chaoshan, I recommend 4 days and 3 nights. This length lets you enjoy Shantou, Nan'ao Island and Chaozhou as three separate core areas without crossing multiple cities in one day. It is especially suitable for families from Singapore and Malaysia: land and settle in on day one, see the sea on day two, slowly explore the old town on day three, and wrap up on day four based on your departure time. The point is not how many attractions you visit in a day, but minimising backtracking and hotel changes, and leaving time for meals, tea and family rest.
Key highlights
- Recommended route planning for a first Chaoshan trip
- What to do in Shantou, Chaozhou and Nan'ao Island
- Must-try culture and food in Chaoshan
- DIY vs custom tour — how to choose
- Local tour team route planning service
First Time in Chaoshan? Why a 4-Day, 3-Night Trip Works Best
When planning a first trip to Chaoshan, the most common mistake is looking at the map, seeing that Shantou, Chaozhou and Jieyang are not that far apart, and trying to squeeze everything into two or three days.
But real travel is not about connecting dots on a map.
You also need to factor in:
Getting from the airport or high-speed rail station into the city
Hotel check-in and check-out
Getting on and off Nan'ao Island
Rest time for elderly parents and young children
Meal times
Walking around the old town
Holiday traffic
So for families visiting for the first time, a 4-day, 3-night trip is far more likely to feel like a complete experience than trying to see as many attractions as possible.
Shantou is ideal for learning about its modern treaty-port history and everyday Chaoshan city life. The Xiaogongyuan Treaty Port Area is currently a key heritage district that Shantou is actively protecting and revitalizing, and has been reclassified as a national AAA-level tourist attraction. (Shantou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports: Official information on Xiaogongyuan Treaty Port Area)
Nan'ao Island covers the island and natural scenery side of the trip. The local area has long focused on coastal and eco-tourism as its development direction. (Relevant information from Nan'ao County People's Government, Shantou: Nan'ao Island cultural tourism information)
Chaozhou, on the other hand, is where you slow down — wander around Paifang Street, Guangji Bridge and the Han River area, then sit down for a proper cup of gongfu tea. The official Chaozhou tourism routes also feature Paifang Street, Guangji Bridge and the Han River banks as key stops.
How Should You Plan a 4-Day, 3-Night Trip?
The drive times below are rough planning estimates, not real-time navigation times. During holidays, rush hour and when traffic on Nan'ao Island is heavy, allow more time.
Day
Main Plan
Suggested Base City
Approximate Drive Times
Walking Intensity
Best For
Day 1
Shantou Old Town + Food
Shantou
Airport/Chaoshan Station to city centre: usually allow about 40–60 minutes
Low to medium
Just landed, travelling with parents and kids
Day 2
Full day on Nan'ao Island
Mainly Shantou
Shantou city centre to main island attractions: usually allow about 1–2 hours
Low to medium
Families, photographers, sea-view lovers
Day 3
Chaozhou Old Town
Chaozhou or stay in Shantou
Shantou to Chaozhou: usually allow about 45–60 minutes
Medium
History and culture buffs, foodies, families on a roots journey
Day 4
Half day in Shantou/Chaozhou + Departure
—
Work backwards from your actual departure point
Low
Everyone, especially those who prefer not to rush
If you only have 3 days, check out our Chaoshan 3-Day, 2-Night Slow Travel Itinerary. Three days is doable, but you will generally need to drop one area or accept a tighter pace with more time in transit.
Day 1: How Should You Spend Your First Day in Shantou Without Burning Out?
On day one, focus on just two things:
Old town, and food.
If you arrive in the morning or around noon, check in first, then head to the Xiaogongyuan Treaty Port Area.
This is a great starting point for getting to know Shantou. The shophouses, old streets, overseas Chinese heritage and traditional commercial spaces are all concentrated here — and for Chinese families from Singapore and Malaysia, it is also a natural way to connect "Chaoshan" with the history of the previous generation who sailed south to Nanyang.
Choose based on your energy levels:
Xiaogongyuan Sun Yat-sen Memorial Pavilion
→ Shophouse district
→ Xidi area
→ Find a spot for tea or snacks
→ Dinner
On the first night, do not try to tick off every must-eat in one go.
Beef hotpot, kway teow, braised dishes, late-night porridge, sweet soups — spread them across the next few days.
What If Your Flight Arrives Late?
Then it is even simpler:
Check in + have a normal dinner.
Do not drag your parents to Xiaogongyuan at 10pm just to complete a checklist.
The old town can be moved to Day 4, or slotted in on Day 2 if the weather on Nan'ao Island is bad.
If you are arriving at Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport for the first time, check out our Jieyang Airport to Shantou City Transport Guide before deciding between a taxi, private transfer or car charter.
Day 2: How Should You Do Nan'ao Island Without It Feeling Like a Checklist?
If the weather is good, dedicate day two to Nan'ao Island.
The worst thing you can do is hop on and off the vehicle constantly just to "complete the island loop."
For a first visit, just pick a few types of experiences:
Sea views and the coastal ring road
Qing'ao Bay area
A lighthouse or seaside stop
A proper seafood lunch
Add historical or cultural island attractions if interested
When travelling with parents or children, fewer stops is better.
What really takes up time on Nan'ao Island is not any single attraction — it is getting onto the island, moving around and spending time there.
Does Nan'ao Island Have to Be on Day 2?
Not necessarily.
If Day 2 brings persistent rain, strong winds or other weather unsuitable for island activities, just swap it with Day 3:
Go to Chaozhou first, then visit Nan'ao once the weather improves.
This is why this 4-day, 3-night route should be understood as a "framework," not a fixed tour schedule.
When holiday traffic is heavy, you can also reduce the number of stops on the island — no need to take a detour just to see one more lighthouse.
Day 3: Why Spend a Full Day in Chaozhou?
Because the most regrettable way to visit Chaozhou is to only give it two hours.
For a first visit, plan around the old town:
Kaiyuan Temple
→ Paifang Street
→ Guangji Tower
→ Guangji Bridge
→ Han River banks
→ Gongfu tea or Teochew cuisine
You do not need to "check off" every single spot.
With parents, you can skip a few alleys and spend more time drinking tea; younger travellers can save the old town for the evening and keep shopping, snacking and shooting night scenes.
Chaozhou's official old town tourism routes also link Paifang Street, Guangji Bridge and the Han River banks, so putting these places on the same day makes for a natural flow.
Should You Stay in Shantou or Chaozhou on the Third Night?
If Day 4 departure is from the Chaozhou side, and your family wants to experience the old town at dawn or in the evening, stay in Chaozhou.
If you are travelling with elderly parents or young children, are already comfortable in Shantou and do not want to repack, you can absolutely stay in Shantou and do Chaozhou as a day trip.
Changing hotels one less time is often more important than staying in one more city.
Day 4: Should You Plan a Half Day in Shantou or Chaozhou?
Do not lock in Day 4 in advance.
Check your departure time first, then work backwards.
If departing early
Head straight to the airport or station after breakfast.
Do not add any more attractions.
If departing in the afternoon
If staying in Chaozhou, continue exploring the old town for a half day after breakfast;
If staying in Shantou, catch up on Xiaogongyuan, markets, food or souvenir shopping.
If departing in the evening
You can add a light activity, but leave plenty of buffer for transport.
As of 2026-10-03, this article does not list specific flights, schedules or fares. This information changes frequently and should be rechecked on official channels such as airlines, airports and China Railway 12306 based on your actual departure date.
When Should You Adjust This 4-Day, 3-Night Route?
This section is more important than any "attraction list."
Scenario 1: Travelling with parents around 70 or with limited mobility
Reduce daily stops.
Stay all 3 nights at the same Shantou hotel, and use a car charter or taxi for the Chaozhou round trip to avoid constant repacking.
On the Nan'ao Island day, do not aim for a complete island loop.
Scenario 2: Travelling with young children
Nap time takes priority over attractions.
If the kids are not in good shape in the afternoon, head back to the hotel — no need to push through until evening.
Scenario 3: The main purpose is a roots journey
Then you cannot follow this route exactly.
First confirm whether your ancestral home is in Chaozhou, Shantou, Chaoyang, Chaonan, Jieyang, Puning or another area, then set aside half a day or a full day for the ancestral village.
Do not cut out the hometown you actually want to visit just to keep Nan'ao Island in the plan.
Scenario 4: Weather is unsuitable for the island
Swap the order of Chaozhou and Nan'ao.
If necessary, skip the island entirely and switch to Shantou culture, food or indoor activities.
Scenario 5: Only 3 days, 2 nights
Cut, do not compress.
Refer to the earlier 3-Day, 2-Night Itinerary and keep the two areas most relevant to your interests.
Travelling with Parents? How Should You Adjust the 4-Day, 3-Night Plan?
The keywords for the parents version are:
Fewer hotel changes, less backtracking, no early starts.
A comfortable approach:
Day 1: Shantou Old Town + Dinner
Day 2: Nan'ao Island, a few selected stops
Day 3: Chaozhou Old Town + Gongfu tea, minimise long walks
Day 4: Breakfast + Departure
If your parents are of Chaoshan descent, consider swapping Nan'ao Island for a visit to their ancestral hometown.
For the older generation, an ancestral home, an old street or an ancestral hall can mean far more than an island attraction.
When choosing accommodation, do not just aim for "inside the scenic area." A lift, vehicle access to the door, breakfast and room quietness are usually more practical considerations.
Young Travellers Visiting Chaoshan for the First Time — How Can You Adjust?
The younger version can shift the pace a little later.
For example:
Day 1 evening: add an old town night walk or supper;
Day 2: spend more time on Nan'ao Island for photos and beach time;
Day 3: finish Chaozhou Old Town later, with night views, sweet soups and street food;
Day 4: sleep in a bit, then move according to your departure time.
If everyone is young and travelling light, you could also stay on Nan'ao Island on Day 2 and head to Chaozhou on Day 3.
But that means one more check-out and luggage move.
So whether it is worth it depends on whether you value an island night more, or travel efficiency.
What Should Singapore and Malaysia Travellers Sort Out Before Departing?
On a first trip back to Chaoshan, what really trips people up is usually not attractions — it is the stuff on your phone.
For example:
Mainland China maps and ride-hailing
WeChat or Alipay
Linking overseas bank cards
Mobile data
Real-name high-speed rail ticket purchase
Airport to hotel transfers
Especially when travelling with parents, have one family member sort these out in advance.
Payment rules and international card support change over time, so this article does not repeat fixed limits or fee figures. Before departure, check GoChinaNow's WeChat/Alipay International Credit Card Payment Guide, and refer to the rules published by Alipay, WeChat Pay and your card issuer at the time.
First Time in Chaoshan — Where Should You Actually Stay for 4 Days, 3 Nights?
For most Singapore and Malaysia families, I would prioritise two options.
Option A: 2 nights in Shantou + 1 night in Chaozhou
Best for:
First-timers who want to experience the evening atmosphere of both cities and are not carrying too much luggage.
The advantage is that you do not have to rush back to Shantou on Day 3.
Option B: 3 consecutive nights in Shantou
Best for:
Those travelling with elderly parents, young children, lots of luggage, or who simply do not want to check out every day.
The trade-off is that Chaozhou becomes a day trip, but overall it is more hassle-free.
Whether to stay a night on Nan'ao Island is best left to those who genuinely want an island holiday as the focus.
For a first 4-day, 3-night trip, there is no need to change hotels three times just to say you have stayed everywhere.
DIY or Car Charter — How Do You Decide for a First Trip to Chaoshan?
For 1–2 adults who are familiar with mainland China maps, ride-hailing and mobile payments, DIY travel is not difficult.
If you are:
A family of 4–8
Travelling with parents
Travelling with young children
Carrying multiple large pieces of luggage
Planning a roots journey
Needing airport transfers
Wanting to link Shantou, Nan'ao and Chaozhou together
Then the value of a car charter or local custom tour is mainly in reducing cross-city transport coordination — not in having someone guide you around to tick off attractions.
GoChinaNow's existing Chaoshan 4-Day, 3-Night Shantou + Nan'ao + Chaozhou Package also uses the "Shantou — Nan'ao — Chaozhou — Departure" framework, and can be adjusted based on family size, accommodation and the needs of elderly parents or children.
Other Common Questions About a First Trip to Chaoshan
Q1: For a first visit to Chaoshan, is 3 days or 4 days better?
If you only want to see Shantou and Chaozhou, 3 days works.
If you also want to include Nan'ao Island without rushing every day, 4 days and 3 nights is clearly more relaxed.
Q2: Do you have to visit Nan'ao Island on a first trip?
Not necessarily.
If you love sea views, photography or family beach activities, go for it.
If the weather is unsuitable for island activities, or your parents are not particularly interested in islands, spend the time in Chaozhou, Shantou or on a roots journey instead.
Q3: Is Jieyang worth including on a first visit?
If you only have 4 days and 3 nights, and the focus is Shantou, Chaozhou and Nan'ao, there is no need to squeeze in Jieyang just to say you have visited all three Chaoshan cities.
If your ancestral home is in Jieyang, Puning, Jiexi or nearby, then prioritise the roots journey instead.
Q4: Is it more convenient to stay in Shantou or Chaozhou?
For a first family trip, if transport, food and fewer hotel changes are the main considerations, Shantou works well as a base for the first two nights.
If you want to experience Chaozhou's night views and the old town at dawn, move to Chaozhou for the third night.
Q5: Is Nan'ao Island suitable for elderly parents?
In most cases, yes — but reduce the number of stops and long walks, and decide based on weather and health conditions.
What really affects the experience is how many times you get on and off the vehicle in a day, not whether you complete the full island loop.
Q6: If you arrive on the first night, does it still count as 4 days and 3 nights?
Technically yes, but your actual sightseeing time is reduced.
In this case, treat Day 1 as an "arrival day" and do not force in the old town; if your Day 4 departure is later, add a half day then.
First Time in Chaoshan — What Should You Remember Most?
On your first trip to Chaoshan, you do not need to prove you have "seen it all."
The most comfortable logic for a 4-day, 3-night trip is actually very simple:
Day 1: Get to know this overseas Chinese hometown through Shantou;
Day 2: Give a full day to Nan'ao Island;
Day 3: Slow down and explore Chaozhou Old Town;
Day 4: Leave time for departure and anything you did not get to earlier.
If the weather, flights, parents' energy levels or roots journey plans change, adjust accordingly.
The itinerary should serve your family's trip — not the other way around.
If you need help planning airport transfers, accommodation, car charter, a pace suitable for elderly parents and children, or a roots journey all together, contact GoChinaNow and we will tailor a 4-day, 3-night plan based on your actual arrival time and family situation. If DIY travel works for you, feel free to use this article as a route framework and plan it yourself.