Chaoshan Travel Guide / Hong Kong Travelers’ GoChinaNow
Hong Kong Chaoshan travel agency recommendations: How to choose tour groups and local teams for departing Hong Kong to Chaozhou, Shantou and Nan’ao Island?
2026-09-15 GoChinaNow Editorial Team
Looking for a travel agency for Hong Kong to Chaoshan? Do not rush to compare only tour fees
For Hong Kong travelers looking for Chaoshan tours, you can first divide the choices into three categories: Category 1: Hong Kong travel agency tour groups. Suitable for travelers who want to book in Hong Kong and have someone uniformly arrange high-speed rail, hotels, meals and guides. Category 2: Take the high-speed rail from Hong Kong yourself + local Chaoshan team reception. Suitable for families, small groups of friends and people who want a freer itinerary. Category 3: Full private customization. Suitable for traveling with elderly people, children, large families, root-seeking trips, and travelers with requirements for hotels, food and itinerary pace. Currently, MTR high-speed rail official information clearly lists cross-border itineraries between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Chaoshan; starting January 2026, daily train services between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Shantou will also further increase. (Hong Kong High Speed Rail official: MTR High Speed Rail) So now when Hong Kong travelers plan a Chaoshan trip, they do not necessarily have to join a traditional large group. They can also take the high-speed rail there themselves and then have a local team pick them up at the station.
#Hong Kong Chaoshan travel#Hong Kong Chaoshan travel agency#Chaoshan tour group#Hong Kong to Chaozhou#Hong Kong to Shantou#Chaoshan private car#Chaoshan private customization
“Hong Kong to Chaoshan is no longer a long-distance trip with complicated transportation. What truly affects the experience is often not whether you can get there, but after arriving in Chaoshan, who arranges transportation among Shantou, Chaozhou and Nan’ao Island, and whether time is truly left for food, the ancient city and local life.”
Which travel agency should you look for when traveling from Hong Kong to Chaoshan? Hong Kong West Kowloon now has high-speed rail connections to the Chaoshan area. For Hong Kong travelers going to Shantou, Chaozhou and Nan’ao Island, you can choose a Hong Kong travel agency group tour, or take the high-speed rail to Chaoshan yourself and then have a local travel team pick you up, provide a private car or customize an itinerary. This article does not simply rank travel agencies by advertising, but introduces how to choose a Hong Kong Chaoshan tour from aspects such as licenses, routes, shopping arrangements, hotels, meals, transportation, local reception capability and cost transparency. It also analyzes which travelers are suited to the three methods: traditional Hong Kong travel agencies, local Chaoshan ground handling and private customization.
Key highlights
- Hong Kong West Kowloon can take high-speed rail to the Chaoshan area
- Distinguish Hong Kong travel agencies from local Chaoshan teams
- Teach you to judge whether a Chaoshan tour is worth booking
- Suitable reference for seniors, families and small groups of friends
- Provides route choice suggestions for Shantou, Chaozhou and Nan’ao
Main text
How do you choose a Hong Kong–Chaoshan travel agency? Here is the conclusion first.
If you are searching for:
“Hong Kong Chaoshan travel agency recommendations”
“Which Hong Kong–Chaoshan group tour is better?”
“Hong Kong to Shantou Chaozhou tour group”
Do not rush to look at which company has the lowest price.
For Hong Kong travelers, there are currently three fairly mature ways to visit Chaoshan.
If you want the least hassle
Choose a high-speed rail tour from a local Hong Kong travel agency.
Best for:
Seniors
First-time travelers to mainland China
People who do not want to book train tickets and hotels themselves
People who like fixed times and fixed itineraries
If you want more comfort and also more freedom
Take the high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon to Chaoshan yourself, then find a local private car or tour team.
Best for:
A family of four
Three-generation families
Small groups of 4–8 friends
People who do not like large coach tours
People who want to seriously eat their way through Chaoshan food
If you want to explore Chaoshan in depth
Choose a local private customized trip.
Better for:
Hong Kong families of Chaoshan descent
Returning to ancestral roots
Traveling with parents
Companies or large families
People who want to visit traditional villages and ancestral hometowns
People who do not want shopping stops
None of these three ways is absolutely best.
The key is what your travel purpose is.
- Getting from Hong Kong to Chaoshan is actually very convenient now
In the past, when Hong Kong travelers mentioned Chaoshan, they might first think of long-distance buses.
Now high-speed rail has changed many people’s way of traveling.
MTR High Speed Rail official information currently lists Chaoshan as a mainland destination that Hong Kong West Kowloon can connect to, and cross-border ticket examples directly list “Chaoshan Station to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station.”
Starting January 26, 2026, high-speed rail services will be further adjusted. Among them, trains between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Shantou Station will increase from 4 pairs per day to 5 pairs, while connections toward Chaoshan will also continue to be optimized.
This means Hong Kong travelers can now use a very practical way to travel:
Hong Kong West Kowloon
↓
High-speed rail
↓
Chaoshan Station / Shantou direction
↓
Local vehicle pickup
↓
Begin the Chaoshan trip
For a family or several friends traveling together, this way is often easier than taking a tour bus the whole way.
- Do Hong Kong travel agencies currently have Chaoshan tours?
Yes.
And Chaoshan has long been one of the more common destinations in Hong Kong’s short-haul mainland travel market.
As of the update of this article, Hong Kong travel agencies can be found offering related tours including:
Shantou
Chaozhou
Nan’ao Island
Chaoshan food
West Kowloon high-speed rail
For example, Wing On Travel currently lists a 3-day route from Hong Kong West Kowloon by high-speed rail to Chaoshan, visiting Nan’ao Island and staying in a Shantou hotel. Its public itinerary includes arrangements such as Hong Kong West Kowloon to Chaoshan Station, Nan’ao Island, and accommodation in Shantou.
In the previously and currently public products of Travel Expert, routes from West Kowloon by high-speed rail to Chaoshan, Shantou, Chaozhou and other areas can also be found, including Chaozhou Ancient City, Kaiyuan Temple, Paifang Street, Guangji Bridge, Shantou Xiaogongyuan and more.
It should be noted here:
These companies are listed in this article to show that related products do indeed exist in the Hong Kong market. It does not represent an unconditional ranking or commercial endorsement of any travel agency.
Tour details such as:
Departure dates
Hotels
Tour fees
High-speed rail schedules
Meals
Attractions
will all change.
Before actually booking, you must reconfirm the itinerary for that period.
- Who are Hong Kong travel agency Chaoshan tours suitable for?
The biggest advantage of traditional Hong Kong tour groups can be summed up in two words:
Hassle-free.
For example, after booking, they usually handle everything together:
Meeting up
High-speed rail
Hotels
Tour buses
Guides
Some meals
Attraction arrangements
This is especially convenient when traveling with elderly people.
Where to meet in the morning, what time to eat, and where to stay at night are all already arranged.
If your parents do not usually use mainland travel apps and are not used to hailing rides or booking hotels themselves, this model can feel more reassuring.
- But what should you focus on when booking a Hong Kong Chaoshan tour?
Many travelers first look only at:
How much is it in HK$?
In fact, this is exactly where it is easiest to choose wrong.
To decide whether a Chaoshan tour suits you, it is recommended to look at at least the following 7 points.
- Are there shopping arrangements?
This is the first thing worth checking.
You will find that some tours on the market clearly state:
Pure sightseeing
No shopping
No optional shopping stops
If your main purpose is to experience Chaozhou Ancient City, Shantou and Nan’ao Island, it is recommended to prioritize products with relatively transparent itinerary descriptions.
Especially when you only have 3 days, one or two shopping stops can take up a lot of real travel time.
- How many attractions are actually arranged each day?
With Chaoshan, the most feared kind of itinerary is:
It looks like it has everything, but in reality you do not really experience anything.
For example, cramming into one day:
Chaozhou Ancient City
Shantou Xiaogongyuan
Nan’ao Island
Traditional villages
Several restaurants
On the map the distances may not look especially exaggerated, but in reality they also involve:
Getting on and off the bus, parking, walking, crossing bridges, queuing, eating.
In the end it easily becomes:
“Sleep on the bus, take photos when you get off.”
For a first visit to Chaoshan, the more comfortable way is usually:
One core area per day.
For example:
Day 1: Shantou
Day 2: Chaozhou
Day 3: Nan’ao Island
If you have 4–5 days, then add Jieyang or traditional villages.
You can refer to GoChinaNow’s Chaoshan 3-day 2-night itinerary recommendation.
- Where exactly is the hotel?
“Local five-star”
“Local luxury hotel”
“Upscale hotel”
These descriptions sound good, but what really determines the experience is still:
Hotel name + location.
If you mainly visit Chaozhou that day but are arranged to stay somewhere far away at night, then have to ride back again the next day, the actual time cost is not low.
So before booking, it is recommended to ask directly:
“What is the hotel called?”
“Which district is it in?”
“About how long does it take from the hotel to the attractions each day?”
This is more practical than only asking about star ratings.
- Is the food “group meals,” or can you truly experience Chaoshan cuisine?
Coming to Chaoshan but eating poorly is a great pity.
There are many foods in Chaoshan truly worth experiencing:
Chaoshan beef hot pot
Lion’s head goose
Chaozhou cuisine
Beef balls
Kueh products
Chaozhou gongfu tea
Claypot porridge
Seafood
But “large group meals” and “actually going local to eat” can be completely different experiences.
When looking at the itinerary, pay attention to:
Are the restaurants specified?
Are representative local dishes arranged?
Is every meal a fixed round-table meal?
If you are coming specifically for the food, a small private group or local customization is often more suitable.
- What is the difference between Hong Kong travel agencies and local Chaoshan teams?
This is a point many Hong Kong travelers easily confuse.
Simply put:
Hong Kong travel agencies
Are better at solving:
Problems on the Hong Kong side.
For example:
Booking in Hong Kong
High-speed rail arrangements
Meeting up
Group procedures
Organizing the whole group
Local Chaoshan travel teams
Are better at solving:
How to travel after arriving in Chaoshan.
For example:
Chaoshan Station pickup and drop-off
Chaozhou Ancient City routes
Local Shantou food
Nan’ao Island transportation
Private car
Local guide
Private customization
Chaoshan root-seeking
So for many Hong Kong families, there is actually a third route:
Buy high-speed rail tickets yourself + local Chaoshan team ground handling.
- Who is more suited to “Hong Kong high-speed rail + local Chaoshan team”?
If the number of people reaches around 4, this way of traveling is well worth considering.
For example:
Two parents
Two spouses
Two children
A family of 6.
Traditional tour groups may require following the schedule of 30 people or even more.
A local private small group can adjust to your own family’s pace.
What if the elderly get tired from walking?
You can return to the hotel early.
What if the children need a nap?
You can leave a little later in the afternoon.
Does the family especially love beef hot pot?
You can set aside two hours to eat slowly.
Is the rain unsuitable for going to Nan’ao Island?
You can adjust the dates for Chaozhou and Nan’ao Island.
This kind of flexibility is relatively hard for large groups to achieve.
- Who is a local Chaoshan team like GoChinaNow suitable for?
If your goal is not “departing with a large group in Hong Kong,” but rather:
Having someone receive you and arrange routes after arriving in Chaoshan,
then the local customization model will fit better.
GoChinaNow’s current website services mainly focus on local Chaoshan ground handling and private customization, including:
Local Chaoshan private car
Shantou travel
Chaozhou travel
Nan’ao Island
Small family groups
Food routes
Chaoshan cultural experiences
Root-seeking customization
The core routes currently public on the website also mainly focus on major Chaoshan destinations such as Shantou, Chaozhou and Nan’ao Island.
If Hong Kong travelers can already handle high-speed rail tickets themselves, then they can directly:
Depart from Hong Kong West Kowloon → arrive in Chaoshan → local team pickup.
This reduces intermediate steps while preserving the freedom of private travel.
- How should a 3-day Hong Kong–Chaoshan trip be reasonably arranged?
If you only have 3 days, do not be greedy.
You can consider:
Day 1: Hong Kong → Shantou
Take the high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon to the Chaoshan area.
After arrival, a vehicle picks you up at the station.
Afternoon:
Shantou Xiaogongyuan Historical and Cultural District
→ Old town arcades
→ Chaoshan food
In the evening, you can arrange beef hot pot or Chaozhou cuisine.
Day 2: Chaozhou Ancient City
It is recommended to leave the whole day for Chaozhou.
Main arrangements can include:
Paifang Street
→ Kaiyuan Temple
→ Guangji Tower
→ Guangji Bridge
→ Han River waterfront
→ Gongfu tea experience
Chaozhou is not a city suited to rushing.
Sitting down for tea once is often more interesting than cramming in two more attractions.
(Related tourism information from the Chaozhou Municipal People’s Government: Chaozhou Municipal People’s Government)
Day 3: Nan’ao Island / Shantou → Hong Kong
If the train back to Hong Kong is later, you can arrange part of the Nan’ao Island route.
If there are elderly people traveling with you, or you do not want the third day to be too rushed, you can continue staying in Shantou.
Here you must adjust according to the actual return high-speed rail time.
Do not make the whole family drag luggage and rush for the train on the last day just so the “itinerary looks rich.”
- If you have 4 days, how can Hong Kong travelers enjoy Chaoshan more comfortably?
I would recommend:
Day 1: Hong Kong → Shantou
Xiaogongyuan + food
Day 2: Nan’ao Island
Arrange a full day
Day 3: Chaozhou
Ancient City + food + gongfu tea
Day 4: Chaozhou/Shantou → Chaoshan Station → Hong Kong
This will be noticeably more relaxed than a three-day itinerary.
GoChinaNow currently also treats 3–5 days as a fairly common itinerary range for a first visit to Chaoshan, with key coverage of Shantou, Chaozhou and Nan’ao Island.
- What should Hong Kong seniors especially look at when choosing a travel agency for Chaoshan?
Chaoshan is very suitable for traveling with parents.
Language, food and culture are also relatively easy for many Hong Kong families to adapt to.
But travel for seniors cannot focus only on attractions.
It is recommended to confirm first:
Does the hotel have an elevator?
How long is the walk each day?
Are there attractions with continuous stair climbing?
How long do you need to sit on the coach?
Are there frequent hotel changes?
Is breakfast convenient?
Do you need to catch an early high-speed train?
If your parents have average mobility:
Changing hotels less is more important than visiting one more attraction.
Vehicles being able to get close to attractions is more important than a “rich itinerary.”
Leaving rest time each day is more important than a slightly cheaper tour fee.
- Traveling from Hong Kong to Chaoshan with children: group tour or private tour?
It mainly depends on the child’s age.
If the child is already in primary school
A traditional tour group can also be considered.
Chaozhou Ancient City, Xiaogongyuan and Nan’ao Island all have fairly strong sightseeing appeal.
If the child is younger
For example:
2–6 years old,
needing a stroller, naps, and snacks at any time.
It is more recommended to choose:
A local private small group.
The reason is very practical:
Children do not grow according to a tour group schedule.
At 1 p.m. the guide needs to gather everyone, but the child has just fallen asleep. At that time, a large group usually will not wait for you.
A private group is much easier to adjust.
- For Hong Kong families of Chaoshan descent returning home, is an ordinary tour group enough?
If it is only sightseeing, of course it is enough.
But if the purpose also includes:
Seeking roots
Finding the ancestral house
Seeing the ancestral hall
Returning home to pay respects to ancestors
Finding the family genealogy
Visiting the village where your parents grew up
Then a traditional tour group may not be suitable.
Because these places are often not standard tourist attractions.
You may need to enter:
Chaozhou villages
Jieyang townships
Villages around Shantou
Traditional clan settlements
You may even need to contact local people in advance.
In this case, it is recommended to find a team truly familiar with local Chaoshan conditions.
- Why do Hong Kong Chaoshan tour prices vary so much?
Do not judge by one fixed number.
Prices are usually affected by the following factors:
High-speed rail
Whether round-trip tickets are included.
Hotels
Ordinary hotels, international brand hotels and boutique accommodation have different costs.
Vehicles
A 30–40 person coach,
and
a 6–7 person business vehicle,
have completely different per-person costs.
Meals
Ordinary round-table meals,
and
beef hot pot, Chaozhou cuisine, specialty restaurants,
also have different costs.
Guides
A large-group guide,
and
a private guide,
have different service formats.
Itinerary
Whether there is shopping or optional paid items also affects the tour fee.
So the truly meaningful question is not:
“Why is someone else HK$XXXX while yours is a bit more expensive?”
but rather:
“What exactly does this price include?”
- When looking at quotes, confirm item by item
You do not need to make a complicated price comparison table.
Just check directly in the following order:
Transportation
Is there:
High-speed rail
Station pickup
City vehicles
Nan’ao Island vehicle
Accommodation
Does it state:
Hotel name
Room type
Breakfast
Single room supplement
Attractions
Does it state:
Tickets
Scenic area transportation
Electric shuttle
Meals
Does it state:
How many meals are included
Meal standard
Which meals are self-arranged
Services
Does it state:
Tour guide
Guide
Driver
Service fee
Other
Is there:
Shopping
Optional paid items
Extra tips
Only if the travel agency can explain these clearly does the quote truly have comparison value.
- How do you judge whether a Hong Kong Chaoshan travel agency is reliable?
Whether it is a Hong Kong travel agency or a local mainland team, you can judge from a few simple questions.
First, look at the company and service entity
Do not only look at:
Facebook
WhatsApp
WeChat groups
Short video accounts.
It is best to confirm the actual operating entity.
The list of travel agency rating assessments previously published by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism also publicly discloses travel agency names and travel agency business license numbers. This kind of official information can serve as a reference for judging a legitimate operating entity.
(Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism: official travel agency and tourism market-related information)
Second, look at the complete itinerary
A reliable team should be able to tell you:
About what time departure is,
where you go that day,
where you stay,
what is included,
what is not included.
Rather than only saying:
“Don’t worry, we’ll arrange everything for you.”
Third, see whether the costs are transparent
Ask clearly in particular about:
Shopping
Optional paid items
Tips
Single room supplement
Tickets
Hotels
Pickup and drop-off
Fourth, see whether the team understands Chaoshan
You can casually ask a question:
“We are bringing a 70-year-old elderly person. How should Chaozhou Ancient City and Nan’ao Island be arranged?”
If the other party just copies a fixed itinerary to you, then it is very likely just sales.
People truly familiar with local routes usually consider:
Weather, stamina, vehicles, hotels and return time.
- Hong Kong travel agency large group vs local Chaoshan private group: how to choose?
No table needed; understand it directly like this.
Hong Kong travel agency large group
Biggest advantages:
Hassle-free, budget-saving.
Suitable for:
1–2 people
Seniors
People who do not want to do research
People who accept a fixed itinerary
You may need to accept:
Group movement
Fixed meals
Fixed meeting times
Lower flexibility
Local Chaoshan private small group
Biggest advantages:
Flexible, comfortable.
Suitable for:
Families of 4–8 people
Three-generation travel
Small groups of friends
Food-focused travelers
Root-seeking travelers
You need to accept:
The per-person cost is not necessarily lower than a large group.
But if a family already has 5–6 people, the actual total cost difference between the two may not be as large as imagined.
- Will mobile payment be troublesome for Hong Kong travelers in Chaoshan?
It is much more convenient now than in the past.
But for a first visit to mainland China, it is still recommended to prepare before departure:
Mainland mobile payment methods
A usable bank card
A small amount of RMB cash
Mainland map apps
High-speed rail ticket purchase information
MTR High Speed Rail official information currently also provides guidance related to 12306 ticket purchases and cross-border tickets.
Especially when traveling with parents, it is not recommended to wait until arriving at Chaoshan Station to study payments and ride-hailing for the first time.
- What documents are needed for Hong Kong residents going to Chaoshan?
Hong Kong residents should prepare valid entry and travel documents according to their own status.
High-speed rail uses real-name ticketing, and passengers need to use valid travel documents that meet the requirements.
Hong Kong High Speed Rail official information also clearly reminds passengers that they need to use the corresponding identity documents when purchasing tickets and traveling.
- Which months are suitable for going from Hong Kong to Chaoshan?
Chaoshan does not have only one “best month.”
Different seasons offer different ways to travel.
Spring
More suitable for:
Ancient cities, food, culture.
Summer
Suitable for:
Nan’ao Island, the seaside.
But the weather is hot, and you also need to watch out for typhoons and heavy rain.
Autumn
More suitable for:
City wandering, combining ancient cities and islands.
Winter
Milder than the north, suitable for eating beef hot pot, Chaozhou cuisine and slowly strolling through the ancient city.
During Spring Festival you can also feel a stronger traditional Chaoshan cultural atmosphere, but popular dates will also see a clear increase in visitors.
Before departure, you can check information from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism as well as local weather and transportation departments.
(Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism: official culture and tourism information)
- For a first Hong Kong–Chaoshan trip, do I recommend a group tour or independent travel?
You can use a very simple way to judge.
Only 1–2 people
and do not want to do research:
A Hong Kong tour group is simpler.
4–8 people
especially families:
High-speed rail + local private car/private group is worth focusing on.
Traveling with parents over 70
The key is not “group tour or independent travel.”
It is:
How much walking each day, what time to get up, whether to change hotels.
Traveling with young children
Prioritize:
Itinerary flexibility.
Mainly for Chaoshan food
Recommended:
Independent travel or a local private group.
It is hard for a large group to leave a lot of time for queuing, eating and small shops discovered on the spot.
Returning home to seek roots
Recommended:
Contact a local Chaoshan team directly.
This is no longer within the standard service scope of an ordinary sightseeing group.
- FAQ about Hong Kong Chaoshan travel agencies
Q1: Are there tours from Hong Kong to Chaoshan?
Yes.
Hong Kong travel agencies can currently be found offering routes from West Kowloon by high-speed rail to Chaoshan, Shantou, Chaozhou and Nan’ao Island. For example, Wing On Travel and Travel Expert have both previously or currently offered related products. Specific departure dates and itineraries should be based on the travel agency’s current page.
Q2: Can you take the high-speed rail directly from Hong Kong to Chaoshan?
Yes.
MTR High Speed Rail official information clearly lists the cross-border high-speed rail connection between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Chaoshan.
Specific same-day train services should be checked through 12306 or the Hong Kong High Speed Rail official system.
Q3: How many days are suitable for Hong Kong to Chaoshan?
For a first trip, 3–5 days are recommended.
3 days is suitable for:
Shantou + Chaozhou + one key area.
With 4–5 days, you can more comfortably add Nan’ao Island.
Q4: Do you need a private car from Hong Kong to Chaoshan?
Not necessarily.
If there are only 1–2 people, you can use high-speed rail, taxis and ride-hailing.
If it is a family of 4–8 people and you plan to visit Shantou, Chaozhou and Nan’ao Island at the same time, a private car is usually more convenient.
Q5: Can a local Chaoshan team pick people up at Chaoshan Station?
Many teams providing ground handling and customized services offer station pickup, but whether it is included must be confirmed before booking.
GoChinaNow’s current service model includes local Chaoshan vehicles, route customization and local reception.
Q6: Is a group tour suitable for Hong Kong elderly people going to Chaoshan?
Suitable, but it is recommended to choose routes with a slower pace, fewer hotel changes and fewer shopping arrangements.
If multiple family members are traveling together, you can also consider a private small group, making daily departure times and walking amounts easier to adjust.
Q7: Are Hong Kong Chaoshan tours better the cheaper they are?
No.
You should compare:
Hotels, transportation, meals, shopping, optional paid items, service fees and actual sightseeing time.
For obviously low-priced products, you should look even more carefully at the complete itinerary and cost explanation.
Q8: Can Hong Kong travelers buy only high-speed rail tickets and then find a local Chaoshan travel agency?
Yes, and this is currently a very practical way to travel.
Hong Kong travelers handle on their own:
Hong Kong West Kowloon ↔ Chaoshan
The local team handles:
Station pickup + hotel + private car + attractions + food + guide.
It is especially suitable for families and small groups of friends.
- Hong Kong Chaoshan travel agency recommendations: how should you ultimately choose?
Rather than asking:
“Which travel agency is best for Hong Kong to Chaoshan?”
It is better to first answer:
“What kind of service do I actually need?”
If you want:
After booking, you do not need to manage anything,
choosing a traditional Hong Kong travel agency group tour is simplest.
If you want:
To take the high-speed rail from West Kowloon yourself, but have someone arrange things after arriving in Chaoshan,
you can choose local Chaoshan ground handling.
If you want:
To bring parents, bring children, eat slowly, and adjust the itinerary at any time,
a private customized small group is more suitable.
If you want:
To return to your ancestral hometown, seek roots, find your old home,
then you should prioritize finding a team truly familiar with local Chaoshan culture and township conditions.
Conclusion: Hong Kong to Chaoshan is already very convenient; choosing the right “how to travel locally” is more important
Now, going from Hong Kong to Chaoshan is no longer a matter of transportation being the hardest problem to solve.
Hong Kong West Kowloon can already connect to the Chaoshan area by high-speed rail, and cross-border high-speed rail services in 2026 are still being continuously optimized.
What truly determines the experience of a Chaoshan trip is how you arrange the days after arrival.
Is it cramming seven or eight attractions into one day,
or slowly drinking a pot of gongfu tea in Chaozhou Ancient City?
Is it viewing Nan’ao Island from a tour bus,
or leaving an afternoon to walk by the sea?
Is it eating uniform group meals,
or specifically finding a local beef hot pot restaurant to sit down for a meal?
Different ways of traveling have no standard answer.
But for families coming from Hong Kong to Chaoshan for the first time, a fairly practical principle is:
If there are few people and you want the least hassle, you can book a Hong Kong tour group.
If there are four or five in the family and you want more comfort, you can consider Hong Kong high-speed rail + local Chaoshan private car.
For larger families, traveling with elderly people and children, or root-seeking trips, private customization is more suitable.
For Hong Kong families, if you can handle high-speed rail tickets yourself, you can completely split the trip into:
Hong Kong handles departure, local Chaoshan handles the experience.
This preserves freedom while also avoiding having to handle the cumbersome routes and vehicle arrangements among Shantou, Chaozhou and Nan’ao Island yourself.
Authoritative and information references:
Hong Kong High Speed Rail / MTR: Hong Kong West Kowloon high-speed rail and mainland destination information.
Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism: Guangdong tourism market, travel agency and tourism information.
Wing On Travel: currently searchable example of a Hong Kong West Kowloon–Chaoshan high-speed rail tour.
Travel Expert: example of travel agency information for Hong Kong West Kowloon to Chaoshan, Shantou and Chaozhou.
The travel agencies mentioned in this article are only examples of current products in the Hong Kong Chaoshan travel market and references for choice. They do not constitute a ranking or guarantee of any specific travel agency’s service quality. Tour fees, departure dates, high-speed rail schedules, hotels, restaurants and specific routes may all change. Before booking, the latest information from the travel agency, high-speed rail operator and relevant official institutions should prevail.