Day 1 Various locations → or → Xiamen ★ Gathering day
All day
1. Today is the gathering day for the activity. Tourists are requested to go to Xiamen to gather and check in. Upon arrival at the designated hotel, please remember to report "China-Travel Note+Name" to check in. You will then be free at your own leisure.
2. Xiamen, a city built on the sea, draws many travelers to its charming charm, but leaves lasting memories of the simple, authentic delicacies found in its streets and alleys. While Xiamen's snacks may not boast the long history of Quanzhou or the diverse variety of Zhangzhou, they boast a rich tapestry of flavors, passed down through generations and retaining their unchanging flavors.
Recommended attractions (the whole day is free and easy, the main feature is flexibility and freedom, the following are recommended)
Island Ring Road: Head to Huangcuo and Yefengzhai Beaches for a leisurely bike ride along the coast, which is quite relaxing. When you get tired, head to Shapowei for a bite to eat. This place is a famous literary paradise and a major foodie destination in Xiamen.
The authentic Eight Markets: The seafood market where the "Feng Wei" crew came to Xiamen to buy ingredients hides a multitude of delicious foods, including fish ball shops with random flavors, flatbreads and taro buns from the 1970s and 1980s to the present day; the "magic soup" made by the owner of the Shacha Noodle Shop, known as the "Chow Yun-fat" of the Eight Markets; and the ball soup made from a bucket of fresh shrimp at the Xiamen version of "Elvis" shrimp noodle shop.
Specialties:
Shacha noodles, five-spice noodles, peanut soup, earthworm jelly, pork tenderloin skewers, taro buns
Day 2 Xiamen → Luojia Temple, Yongning Ancient Town → Wulin Ancient Village → Quanzhou West Street → Quanzhou City Hotel
All day
1. In the morning, depart for Luojia Temple on Quanzhou's Shishi Golden Coast. This "floating" temple is known as the "Buddhist Kingdom of Sea and Sky." Its yellow walls and orange tiles create a vibrant contrast against the azure sea, while the surrounding stretches of sandy beach offer a soothing and relaxing experience. (Approximately 1.5 hours by car, 1.5 hours by tour)
2. At noon, we will go to the nearby [Yongning Ancient City] to find food on our own. The locals are very self-confident about the unknown snacks scattered around the vegetable market and the old streets of Ming and Qing Dynasties. Many shops don’t even have names, simply because they are so old. The local tour guide will take you to find hidden delicacies such as pot rice, large intestine blood, vegetable cakes, flatbreads, and rice balls that are difficult to find online.
3. In the afternoon, head to Wulin Ancient Village in Jinjiang (approximately 40 minutes by car, approximately 2 hours to visit). Here, preserved buildings carry the nostalgia of generations of overseas Chinese from southern Fujian. Over 200 buildings include official-style mansions, a blend of Chinese and Western styles, Gothic architecture, and Romanesque architecture. Flowers bloom year-round here. You can dress in the distinctive Nanyang Nyonya costumes and take beautiful photos among the red-brick houses.
4. Set off for Quanzhou city in the evening (about a 50-minute drive) and go to West Street to buy some delicious food. If the sunset is just right, you can also choose a rooftop to take a photo with the East and West Towers.
At night, you can freely wander the streets and continue to enjoy authentic delicacies, such as the warm noodle soup, the cool agar-agar paste, the beef highly recommended by "A Bite of China" with a hint of local curry flavor; there are also local snacks with local flavor such as grandma's roasted pork dumplings, the signature chicken drumstick, earthworm jelly, Yuanxiao dumplings, etc.
Specialties:
Noodle soup, ginger duck, Yuanxiao dumplings, steak three-piece set, agar-agar, roast pork dumplings
Day 3 Quanzhou → Kaiyuan Temple → Qingjing Mosque Guandi Temple → Nanjing Tulou
All day
1. In the morning, visit three selected religious heritage sites: Kaiyuan Temple, Qingjing Mosque, and Guandi Temple
Guo Moruo once said, "See Xi'an from the underground, and Quanzhou from the ground." Local tour guides will share fascinating historical stories, showcasing the sphinxes, flying musicians, and thousand-year-old lotus mulberry trees you might miss on your own, and how to correctly ask for a fortune from Guan Yu using 24 incense sticks and the Minnan-style bo cup. China-TravelNote will specifically guide you to the East-West Pagoda, the filming location for the film "Black Myth: Wukong," where you can find the elusive Big and Little Xuanzang and Little Wukong, as well as Monkey King and Young Tang Sanzang, who predate the original "Journey to the West" by 300 years.
PS: This tour does not go to Xiapu Village. If you want to experience the Xiapu women changing clothes, you can do it yourself in West Street. The tour leader will recommend the check-in point in Kaiyuan Temple.
2. At noon, enjoy some free time to find snacks near the Confucian Temple, reluctantly bidding farewell to Quanzhou cuisine. Then, head to Yunshuiyao, a Hakka earthen building heritage site in Fujian (approximately 2.5 hours by car, 2 hours to visit). Visit Hegui Tower, the "Noah's Ark on Earth," and hike the Tea-Horse Trail, a picturesque double-ringed earthen building, Huaiyuan Tower.
3. Stay inside the Tulou in the evening and experience the Hakka life. When the lanterns are lit at night, you will feel like you are in Big Fish and Begonia. When the red lanterns hanging on the corners of the building light up one after another, light the fairy wand in your hand and set off small fireworks.
Tourists traveling during statutory holidays in 2025 can fully experience the unique and fun Fujian Intangible Cultural Heritage "Bo Zhuangyuan" event. China-TravelNote has local tour guides to organize this event. Don't worry about the complicated rules; just know how to roll the dice! !
PS: There are also dragon dances and long table banquets in the Tulou, which can be arranged by yourself or booked on behalf of others according to your needs. During the New Year's Day, the Tulou will also hold a New Year's Eve fireworks show.
Tulou specialties:
Muscular duck, river shrimp, steamed fish, shrimp claws, taro cake
Day 4 Nanjing Tulou → Chaozhou Ancient City → Guangji Bridge → Chaozhou Hotel
All day
1. Depart for Chaozhou in the morning (approximately 2.5 hours by car). Before noon, arrive at the end of Xima Road, home to a vibrant collection of traditional local snacks. Start your culinary journey: licorice fruit, beef rice noodles, banquet dishes, spring rolls, and salted rice cakes. Wander through the streets and alleys of Paifang Street, where you'll find delicious dishes like candied scallion pancakes, braised goose, and Hu Rongquan's duck mother rolls. Enjoy a wide variety of delicacies. The local guide will carefully select two or three archways to explain the true events recorded there. You'll also explore the many fascinating alleys along the street, including Jiadi Lane, Suoshi Lane, and Shipai Street, where you'll hear locals share stories of the past. (Approximately 2.5 hours)
1. Meet at Guangji Tower around 2:00 PM to visit Guangji Bridge, one of China's four ancient bridges. Commonly known as the Xiangzi Bridge, it was once a floating bridge capable of accommodating 86 large boats. Historically, the bridge's piers were built with "bridge houses," allowing businesses to conduct business inside, much like a wind and rain bridge. This is why it's known as "a mile-long bridge, a mile-long market." Here, you'll hear historical stories about the "Eighteen Shuttle Boats" and the Twenty-Four Continents.
3. At around 16:00, we will continue to walk to the back section of Paifang Street. Under the guidance of a master, we will learn how to make a hand-pulled teapot and experience the intangible cultural heritage. We will make our own teapot by ourselves (the experience lasts about 1 hour).
After the break, you can enjoy the night as you please. You can eat Chaoshan beef hotpot or Chaoshan original sashimi together. After dinner, you can go to the teahouse to listen to Chaoshan opera and drink Chaoshan Kungfu tea. The strong aroma of Phoenix Dancong tea and the ups and downs of Chaoshan music are all in the teahouse of the Republican era Western-style building, feeling the elegance of the ancient people. For night owls, we recommend to experience the cold night porridge and its harem of three thousand concubines.
Day 5 Chaozhou Hotel → Shantou Small Park → Chaoshan Station → Chaoshan Airport
All day
1. Check out in the morning and head to Shantou Old Town (approximately a 1-hour drive): This area is home to numerous early 20th-century buildings, modeled after Parisian neighborhoods, yet exuding a lively urban atmosphere. The highlights are the decades-old alleyways and small shops, including Piaoxiang Snack Shop, Laoma Palace Zongqiu, Aixi Dry Noodles, and Zhenping Kueh Zhi Shop. Enjoy authentic Guangchang Tofu Pudding, Park Egg Tarts, and Juice Ice Cream. When you're full, head to the General Post Office and the Small Park. The arcades and streets of this area radiate out in a fan-shaped pattern. Stroll through the "Four Yongs and One Shengping" neighborhoods to relive the former prosperity of old Shantou (approximately 2 hours).
2. The trip ends at approximately 13:30 and we start dropping you off at the station. We recommend booking a train departing from Chaoshan Station after 14:30 or a flight departing from Jieyang Airport after 16:30.
PS: This trip ends in Chaoshan. The bus will return to Xiamen at approximately 18:00. If you choose to take a ride to Xiamen, you will only be able to enter the island and will not be dropped off at the station or airport.
