China (Chaozhou / Shantou, Guangdong) Sept 2013

Map of Chaozhou & Shantou
Guangdong, China

Total expenses incurred (3 days) : Y$361

Hostel: Y$70 Per pax x 2 nights (Home Inns - double bed room)
Bus: Chaozhou>Shantou - Y$17
Shantou > Chaozhou - Y$15
Chaozhou>Xiamen - Y$100
Food: Y$79
Entrance fee (Kaiyuan Temple): Y$5 (senior)
Trishaw: Y$5

" Chaozhou or Chiuchow or Chaochow or Teochew is a city in the eastern Guangdong province of China, bordering Shantou to the south & Jieyang to the southwest, Meizhou to the northwest, the province of Fujian to the east & the South China Sea to the southeast. " 

Chaozhou is about 6.5 hrs by bus from Guangzhou. It is easy to visit Shantou from Chaozhou by bus which takes about an hour. We stayed in Chaozhou for 2 nights and this allowed us time to visit the waterfront area of Shantou & the touristy places near the old town of Chaozhou ie the old city wall, Kaiyuan Temple & the ancient top scholar memorials. 

The people in Chaozhou & Shantou speaks Teow Chew dialect, many of the early migrants from Malaya, Singapore & Thailand were from these two cities. 

The Teow Chew mandarin oranges are popular and widely consumed during the lunar Chinese New Year in Malaysia & Singapore. 

1) The Archway (Paifang) Street, ancient city of Chaozhou, Guangzhou

2) The Archway (Paifang) Street by Night, Chaozhou

3) Kaiyuan Temple, Chaozhou - an ancient Buddhist temple built during the Xuanzhong Emperor era (built in AD 738) located in Xiangqiao District of Chaozhou

4) Guangji Lou & Old City Wall, ancient city of Chaozhou, Guangzhou 

5) Guangji Bridge, Chaozhou - also known as Xiangzi Bridge, is sn ancient bridge that crosses the Han River east of Chaozhou, Guangdong province. 

6) Walkabout in Chaozhou city, Guangdong

My travel buddy, Mr Choy

7) Small eat in ancient city of Chaozhou - savouring a bowl of Teochew porridge during the  evening in the old city of Chaozhou !

8) Home Inn Hotel, Chaozhou - this hotel chain operates in major cities of China, my one night stay in Chaozhou.

 

Y$140 for a twin bed room

Shantou or Swatow is a coastal city on the east coast of Guangdong.  

" Chaozhou or Teow Chew or Chiu Chow; the 4th largest group of Chinese in Malaysia; early migrants settled in southern Peninsula Malaysia, Thailand & Singapore, Teow Chew opera; Teow Chew porridge; Chaoshan cheap eats; Prominent statesmen are Li Ka Shing, Thaksin & our William Cheng, chairman of the Lion & Parkson group "

Pork, beef & seafood noodle
Chaoshan style