The psychedelic Chikan Ancient Town in Kaiping
by 4 o clock
May 27, 2023
Day 1: Watchtowers & Water Villages – Time Travel to Republican Era  
Morning: Kaiping Zili Village Watchtower Cluster  
- **Highlights**: 15 century-old watchtowers dotting rice fields blend Roman columns with glazed tiles and Baroque carvings against gray walls – a stunning East-meets-West aesthetic! Climb Mingshi Tower (featured in "Let the Bullets Fly"), touch the Italian stained glass, and relive the passionate era of overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia.  
- **Tip**: Arrive before 8am! Capture misty morning reflections of watchtowers. Entry ¥78 (worth every penny).  
Noon: Chikan Ancient Town Claypot Rice  
- **Eat**: Firewood-cured meat claypot rice🍛 – crispy crust meets juicy sausages (~¥30/person). Snap photos of 600 arcade buildings and the breathtaking stained glass at Szeto Clan Library.  
- **New Trend**: The viral Nanyang floral installation is perfect for cheongsam-clad retro photos!  
Afternoon: Gulou Water Village Boat Ride  
- **Highlights**: Glide through "Lingnan's Venice" under banyan roots, watch egrets skim water, with folk songs and lotus ponds as backdrop – ultimate serenity.  
- **Secret Spot**: Head to "Shuilong Bridge" at dusk for golden sunset ripples – a living ink painting!  
Stay: "Liyuan·Rice Fragrance Watchtower" homestay (~¥200+/person) with paddy field views under starry skies.  
Day 2: Overseas Chinese Heritage & Old Town Flavors  
Morning: "The Knockout" Filming Locations Walk  
- **Route**: Changdi Square → **Thirty-Three Steps Street** (Qiangge's pork trotter noodles!) → Qimingli (century-old arcades + craft shops) → Overseas Chinese Museum.  
- **Must-dos**:  
 ✅ Recreate the drama's iconic backshot on the 33-step alley;  
 ✅ Sip "Qiaodu Coffee"☕ with tangerine peel latte at Qimingli;  
 ✅ Collect stamps at the museum's new "Republic Memories" exhibit.  
Noon: Gujing Roast Goose Feast  
- **Eat**: Hit **Gujing Roast Goose Street** (try "Pingxiang Roast Goose") – crispy skin, succulent meat with plum sauce (~¥98/serves 3).  
Afternoon: Bird Paradise & Tangerine Peel Village  
- **Highlights**:  
 **Bird Paradise**: Cruise through Ba Jin's "Bird Island" with herons flying close (bring telephoto lens!);  
 **Tangerine Peel Village**: Devour tangerine peel ice cream🍦 (¥9.9), try peel-infused milk tea, and buy aged peel for cooking/tea.  
⚠️ Pro Tips:  
1. **Transport**: 2hr drive from Guangzhou/Shenzhen; charter cars recommended (~¥300/day);  
2. **Avoid**: Lvmei Eco Park's flowers are off-season (no blooms in June❗) – opt for Guifeng Mountain;  
3. **Outfits**: Cheongsams for arcades, straw hats/baskets at watchtowers – guaranteed photogenic!  
"Wake to watchtowers, turn corners into arcades – a roast goose meal tells half of Jiangmen's overseas Chinese history. This city's romance is wanderers' deepest love letter to home."
Post by FoodieQueen | Jun 20, 2025






















