Day 1 Various locations → or → Chaozhou ★Assembly day
All day
Meet in Chaozhou all day and check in at the designated hotel in Chaozhou city
Tourists arriving early can explore and take photos or look for delicious food on their own. Please pay attention to safety during free time.
Recommended Teochew delicacies: beef hotpot, oyster omelet, fish dumplings, rice noodle rolls, Teochew minced meat, rice noodles, sesame tea, almond tea, etc.
Recommended places to visit and take photos: Qinglong Ancient Temple, Longhu Ancient Village, Chaozhou West Lake, Guangji Bridge Night Light Show, etc.
Transportation instructions to the meeting hotel in Chaozhou city:
Chaoshan High-Speed Railway Station: Take a direct taxi, with online taxi fares ranging from 70 to 90 yuan. Alternatively, take the K2 Express bus and get off near the meeting point. From there, walk or take a taxi to the hotel.
Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport: Take a direct taxi, with online taxi fares ranging from 70 to 100 yuan. Alternatively, take the Chaozhou Line Airport Bus and get off at Chaozhou Jinxin Building Station. From there, walk or take a taxi to the hotel.
Day 2 Chaozhou → Dachanglong Village → Puning
All day
In the morning, go to visit and photograph Chaozhou Ancient City
We'll visit Kaiyuan Temple in Chaozhou, known as "a blessed land for millions of families and a lush forest for the world." It's one of China's ten largest Kaiyuan temples, commissioned by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty during the Kaiyuan reign. Afterwards, we'll pass through Memorial Archway Street and the Guangji Gate Tower before visiting and photographing Guangji Bridge, one of China's four great ancient bridges. Standing atop the bridge, we'll experience the architectural wisdom of the ancients. At noon, we'll enjoy a leisurely city walk through the ancient city, exploring the streets and alleys to savor the charming cuisine of Chaoshan.
In the afternoon, we went to Dachanglong Village in Puning to take photos of the lanterns.
Every year on the 14th and 15th nights of the first lunar month, Dachanglong Village is illuminated by brilliant lights, illuminating the village like daylight. Village men hold lanterns, many with the words "Thousands of Sons and Tens of Thousands of Grandsons" inscribed on them. Those with five generations living together may simply have "Five Generations Under One Roof" written on them. Because people chant "Master, congratulations" during the lantern parade, the parade is called "He Lantern Festival." Evening was still early, but we could already see everyone preparing for the evening lantern display. We had plenty of free time to capture some of the unique New Year atmosphere, like the red lanterns in front of their doors. On the night of the 14th day of the first lunar month, families from all over the village gathered before nightfall to form a procession in front of the God's Factory in the East Gate. They held a T-shaped stand with a handful of incense sticks lit in the center, and lanterns hung on either side. Inscribed on the lanterns were large red characters like "Chen," "Thousands of Sons and Grandsons," "Five Generations Under One Roof," and "Happiness." After several rounds of this procession, the God of Heaven was invited to come out for a parade. The scene was grand and spectacular! After finishing our photoshoot, we checked into a hotel in downtown Puning for the night.
Day 3 Puning → Shalitan Village → Putai → Fengshun
All day
At noon, we went to Shalitan Village in Jiexi to photograph the flooded Bogong (walking along the Bengxi River)
Every year during the Lantern Festival, Shalitan Village in Jiexi holds its annual parade. After lunch, villagers carry the statue of the Earth God and parade it to the riverside to the sound of gongs and drums. There, they celebrate the unique folk custom of drowning the Earth God, also known as "walking through the collapse stream." Braving the cold, villagers rush to accompany the Earth God in the water, tumbling and twisting around in his arms. Legend has it that over a century ago, villagers accidentally caused the Earth God to fall into the water while parading him. As a result, the weather was favorable that year, and this custom has been passed down ever since.
In the afternoon, go to Fengshun Village to shoot the fire dragon
Puzhai Town in Fengshun is known as the "Hometown of Fire Dragons." Fire dragon performances have been practiced in Puzhai since the sixth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign in the Qing Dynasty. Every year on the night of the Lantern Festival, these folk ceremonies are held to pray for favorable weather, abundant harvests, peace, prosperity, and everlasting peace. Tens of thousands of local residents and tourists from around the country come to watch and photograph the spectacular spectacle, a spectacle passed down almost year after year. The Puzhai Fire Dragon is made of wire, bamboo, and paper, painted with scales, horns, and claws. It stretches tens of meters from head to tail. Thousands of fireworks, firecrackers, and rockets are attached to the dragon's body, and countless gunpowder is placed in its head and tail. The dancers, all bare-chested, allow fireworks and firecrackers to rain down on them. Because the word "pao" (bubble) in Chaoshan dialect sounds similar to "ticket," the more blisters a person receives, the more money they will receive in the new year. This event is listed in the first batch of my country's National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Day 4 Fengshun → Puning → Chaozhou
All day
In the morning, we went to Mazha Village in Puning to shoot the photos of Ying Laoye.
On the 16th day of the first lunar month, the villagers of Mazha Village carry a statue of the deity through a parade, led by a Yingge dance. The village is filled with the sound of gongs and drums, the blast of firecrackers, and a festive atmosphere. Mazha Village combines the "Ying Lao Ye" (Ying Lao Ye) performance with Yingge dance to create a lively and festive atmosphere. This unique local folk activity not only expresses reverence and prayers for the deity, but also showcases the charm of traditional culture through Yingge dance.
At noon, we went to Xidong Village, Zhanlong Town to shoot the fire jumping
Jumping over the fire is a local custom in Puning. Xidong Village holds this activity on the night of the 15th and afternoon of the 16th day of the first lunar month, symbolizing the farewell to the old and the welcome to the new. Villagers, young and old, light a blazing bonfire outside their gates or along the main road and jump over it to ward off bad luck. For teenagers approaching adulthood, jumping over the fire is a rite of passage in their hometown.
In the afternoon, I went to Xikou Village, Linxi Town, Chaozhou City to shoot the sugarcane alley
Every year on the 16th night of the first lunar month, Xikou holds a parade through Sugarcane Alley. Men in long gowns hold sugarcane lanterns, while young women, dressed in their finest attire, carry flags or play folk instruments. The parade passes through Sugarcane Alley, accompanied by drums and music, creating a truly spectacular spectacle.
Please note: Today's three folk activities are mainly parades, which are not suitable for following and filming throughout. The highlights of the activities will be filmed at the starting point. Please follow the leader's arrangements to complete the transition.
Day 5 Chaozhou → Xinheng Town → Jieyang → or → other places
All day
In the morning, we went to Shuolian Village, Jieyang City to shoot the pigs and sheep.
Shuolian Village in Xinheng Town has a parade of gods that has been practiced for over 500 years. In 2009, it was inscribed on the provincial list of intangible cultural heritage: the "Pan Pig and Sheep" ritual, also known as the "Big Pig Race." This folk custom is a way for local villagers to honor the gods of wealth, Zhao Gongming and Guan Gong. The ten natural villages (commonly known as the "Ten Shes") within Shuolian Village rotate in hosting the event. Residents display live pigs and whole sheep, each with an orange in its mouth, symbolizing good luck for the new year. Villagers use the "Big Pig Race" to showcase their family's wealth. The offerings on the altar reflect the generosity of the Chaoshan people: Chaoshan rice cakes, premium tobacco, tea, and alcohol, seafood, bonsai, and flowers. In addition to the pig and sheep displays, there's also a gong and drum troupe, Yingge dance, and other activities. The village is bustling with activity, as villagers carry the deities through a parade, accompanied by the sounds of firecrackers and drums, creating a festive and joyful atmosphere.
After lunch, we will disband at the airport and high-speed railway station. We will first be transferred to Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport (arrival around 14:30-15:00) and then to Chaoshan High-speed Railway Station (arrival around 15:00-15:30), concluding our enjoyable Chaoshan folk photography tour.
