7 Days Guangdong Chaoshan Authentic Food Tour (Chaozhou-Shantou-Meizhou-Xingning-Meizhou)

Tour Overview

Embark on a culinary journey through the heart of Chaoshan, a region renowned for its rich food culture and stunning landscapes. This 7-day tour takes you through the cities...

Code of Tour: CDT0000091469

Length of Travel: 7 Day

Destinations of Tour: Chaozhou-Shantou-Meizhou-Xingning-Meizhou

Departure City: Chaozhou

Price of Tour: Request

Type of Tour: Private

Features of Tour:

More Map & Picture

Embark on a culinary journey through the heart of Chaoshan, a region renowned for its rich food culture and stunning landscapes. This 7-day tour takes you through the cities of Chaozhou, Shantou, and Meizhou, offering an immersive experience of Chaoshan cuisine, traditional architecture, and local customs. Throughout the tour, you’ll explore historic sites, visit local markets, and enjoy hands-on cooking classes to learn the secrets behind famous dishes like Chaoshan Beef Hotpot and Hakka Rice Cakes. Whether you’re a food enthusiast or a cultural explorer, this tour combines the best of both worlds.

Tour Highlights

• Chaoshan Beef Hotpot: Savor one of the region’s most famous dishes, featuring tender beef cooked in a flavorful broth with garlic and local spices.

• Dim Sum in Chaozhou: Try Chaoshan-style dim sum, with unique offerings such as steamed dumplings, fish rolls, and pickled vegetables.

• Brine Goose: Sample the traditional Chaozhou Brine Goose, a signature dish of the region with tender goose meat cooked in brine and served with a tangy dipping sauce.

• Hakka Cuisine: Discover the flavors of Hakka cuisine in Meizhou, including Hakka rice cakes, stewed pork belly, and pounded taro.

• Cultural Sites: Visit the Guangji Bridge, Shantou’s Old Quarter, Meizhou’s Hakka villages, and the Thousand Buddha Pagoda to learn about Chaoshan’s rich history and architectural beauty.

• Hands-On Cooking Classes: Take part in cooking classes where you’ll learn how to prepare iconic Chaoshan dishes under the guidance of local chefs.

• Tea Tasting: Experience a traditional Chaoshan tea ceremony, savoring local teas and learning about their cultural significance.

• Hakka Cultural Performance: Attend a performance showcasing Hakka music, dance, and theater, providing insight into the region’s artistic heritage.

• Local Markets: Explore bustling local markets like Fengxi Wet Market and Shantou Food Street, where you can sample snacks and engage with local food vendors.

• Scenic Landscapes: Enjoy the natural beauty of Meizhou’s Hakka villages, the coastal charm of Shantou, and the historical streets of Chaozhou, along with visits to parks like Shenguangshan National Forest Park.

Day By Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Chaozhou

Accommodation: Stay in a well-located 3-4 star hotel in Chaozhou city center.

Arrival: Arrive at Chaoshan High-Speed Train Station or Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport. Your guide will greet you and take you to the hotel for check-in. After a brief rest, the tour kicks off with a cultural introduction to Chaozhou’s rich heritage.

Dinner: Chaoshan Beef Hotpot

Start your culinary adventure with a Chaoshan Beef Hotpot. Enjoy ultra-fresh beef, sliced paper-thin, cooked in a rich, aromatic broth with garlic and local spices. This hotpot is a signature dish of the region, offering a memorable first taste of Chaoshan cuisine.

Evening Activity: Tea Tasting at Zaiyang Tea House

Unwind with a traditional Chaoshan tea ceremony. Sample a variety of local teas while learning about the region’s tea culture. This tranquil setting allows you to relax and enjoy the art of tea brewing.

Day 2: Chaozhou to Shantou

Accommodation: Stay in a comfortable hotel in Shantou, known for its modern amenities.

Morning: Chaozhou Cultural Exploration

Guangji City Gate Tower: Visit this historical landmark, originally built in the Ming Dynasty, known for its architectural beauty and strategic significance.

Guangji Bridge: Explore this ancient bridge, the oldest of its kind in the area, which has connected people for centuries.

Fengxi Wet Market: Wander through the bustling market, where you’ll find local delicacies such as pickled vegetables, dried seafood, and fresh herbs used in local cooking.

Lunch: Chaozhou Brine Goose

Enjoy Chaozhou Brine Goose, a regional specialty. The goose is slowly cooked in brine, creating a tender and flavorful meat served with chaolao, a sweet and sour dipping sauce.

Afternoon: Shantou Drive & Exploration

Take a scenic drive to Shantou and visit the Queshi Scenic Area, known for its coastal views and the Queshi Temple, offering panoramic views over the sea.

Dinner: Chaoshan-Style Dim Sum at Zhongshan Road

Experience Chaoshan-style dim sum, which is distinct from Cantonese dim sum. Enjoy small plates featuring steamed dumplings, fish rolls, sweet buns, and pickled vegetables.

Day 3: Shantou

Morning: Shantou’s Old Quarter

Explore the Shantou Old Town, a charming area filled with colonial-era buildings, traditional alleyways, and ancient temples. Don’t miss the Shantou Old Post Office, one of the most photographed spots in the city, reflecting its rich commercial past.

Lunch: Fish Hotpot

Relish a traditional Chaoshan Fish Hotpot made with fresh fish of the day, cooked in a rich fish broth with local herbs and spices. This dish highlights the region’s coastal influences.

Afternoon: Cultural and Heritage Sites

Shantou People’s Park: Take a relaxing walk through this historical park, known for its cultural exhibitions and open spaces.

Shantou Museum of Chaoshan Culture: Learn about the history and evolution of Chaoshan culture, from architecture and literature to martial arts and theatre.

Evening: Explore Shantou’s Food Street

Discover Shantou’s vibrant food street where you can sample local snacks like fried oysters, tea eggs, pancakes with fillings, and fried rice cakes. Engage with the food vendors to get a taste of Shantou’s lively culinary culture.

Day 4: Shantou to Meizhou

Accommodation: Stay in a charming hotel with traditional Hakka-style architecture.

Morning: Scenic Drive to Meizhou

After breakfast, travel to Meizhou, the heart of Hakka culture. Along the way, enjoy the changing landscapes of rolling hills, rice fields, and coastal views.

Lunch: Meizhou Hakka Cuisine

Enjoy a traditional Hakka meal with dishes like Hakka rice cakes, stewed pork belly, and pounded taro—simple, hearty flavors that reflect the Hakka way of cooking.

Afternoon: Visit Hakka Villages

Explore Hakka World Scenic Area, famous for its round houses (tulou). These fortified structures are made from stone and wood and feature a circular layout, a hallmark of Hakka architecture.

Yannanfei Scenic Area: Take a leisurely walk in this peaceful park, offering magnificent views of the Meizhou River.

Day 5: Meizhou

Morning: Visit the Hakka Cultural Museum

Learn about the Hakka people’s history through exhibits on their migration, traditions, and influence on local cuisine and culture.

Lunch: Hakka Hot Pot

Enjoy a communal Hakka Hot Pot, where various meats, vegetables, and tofu are cooked together in a shared broth. This communal meal reflects the Hakka people’s emphasis on family and community.

Afternoon: Explore Meizhou’s Ancient Streets

Dongming Tower: Visit this historic tower offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

Meizhou Ancient Streets: Stroll through narrow, cobblestone streets filled with local shops offering handcrafted goods and traditional herbal remedies.Evening: Hakka Performance

Attend a performance showcasing traditional Hakka music, dance, and theatre, providing deeper insight into the region’s cultural heritage.

Day 6: Meizhou to Xingning

Accommodation: Stay in Xingning.

Morning: Explore Shenguangshan National Forest Park

Visit this picturesque park, known for its lush forests and ancient temples. Take a gentle hike or enjoy a peaceful boat ride on the lake.

Lunch: Xingning Specialty Dishes

Sample local specialties like pickled vegetables, smoked fish, and roasted duck—each dish tells a story of the region’s culinary heritage.

Afternoon: Lantern Culture Park

Visit Xihe Bay Lantern Culture Park, the world’s first lantern-themed cultural park. Explore lanterns of all shapes and sizes, including towering pagodas and intricate street lamps, and learn about their significance in local festivals.

Day 7: Meizhou, Departure

Morning: Thousand Buddha Pagoda Temple

Visit the Thousand Buddha Pagoda, an ancient Buddhist structure with stunning views of the surrounding area. Before departing, also visit the Chinese Hakka Museum to further understand the roots of Hakka culture.

Lunch: Final Chaoshan Meal

Enjoy a leisurely Chaoshan-style lunch featuring light soups, marinated meats, and steamed seafood.

Transfer: Depending on your departure time, you will be transferred to the airport or train station for your onward journey.

Service Included:

• Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
• Meals as listed in the itinerary;
• Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
• Private English-speaking tour guide;
• Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
• Service charge & government taxes;
• Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
• Domestic train tickets of soft sleeper.

Service Excluded:

• Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
• Single room supplement;
• Tips to guides and drivers;
• Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
• Personal travel accident insurance;
• All optional programs.