Shantou: Discover hotels and historic cityscapes

Shantou brings together historic parks, arcade architecture, exhibitions, a coastal natural and cultural landscape, and Chaoshan cuisine. These different themes give your trip a range of possible focuses: you may be particularly interested in the city's history, architecture, nature or local dishes. The following places showcase these different sides of Shantou.

Memorial parks and distinctive parks

Shipaotai Park is a memorial park whose main structure is Qilu Fort. The site has a history of more than a hundred years. The park therefore combines its memorial function with a historic structure that stands at the heart of the grounds.

Established in 1928, Zhongshan Park is known for three distinctive features: a rock grotto, a memorial arch and the Nine-Arch Bridge. The park also includes a Flower Palace, a zoo, an amusement park and a botanical science park for children. An exhibition hall on Chaoshan Gongfu tea culture has also been newly built in the park. If you plan to visit particular facilities or the tea exhibition, check in advance whether they are accessible.

Arcades and city history

The Xiaogongyuan Opening Port Area preserves a comparatively well-maintained group of modern arcade buildings. They offer a glimpse of both Shantou's urban layout in the early 20th century and the character of a trading city shaped by overseas Chinese. The arcades therefore represent not only an architectural style, but also the history of urban life and trade.

The Cai Chusheng and Chaoshan Film Figures Historical Exhibition Hall is located in an arcade building dating from the early 20th century. The building was designated a Shantou municipal heritage site in 2017. An exhibition at the Shantou Port Opening Cultural History Museum covers the history of Shantou's opening and its development since the establishment of the Special Economic Zone. If you specifically plan to visit an exhibition venue, check its accessibility in advance.

Coastal scenery, hills and rocks

Queshi Scenic Area is a coastal natural and cultural landscape. Its described features include the sea, hills, unusual rocks and caves, as well as subtropical vegetation. Local homes and colonial-era villas also shape the area. Nature and the built environment come together here as distinct elements of the same landscape. Those interested in scenery will find a different theme here than at the memorial parks and arcades.

Chaoshan cuisine in Xiaogongyuan

At its opening in January 2023, Zhenbang Food Street in Xiaogongyuan brought together 26 local Chaoshan cuisine brands. Specialties offered at the time included braised goose, beef balls, oyster omelette, pork blood soup, Chaoshan cold dishes and Chaoshan desserts. The examples range from hearty hot dishes to cold foods and sweets. The number of brands and the offerings mentioned refer to the opening; individual vendors may change.

This way, you can make your choice based on your travel interests and the actual information provided for each hotel.

Discover more destinations: Dongguan, Zhanjiang, Shanwei, Maoming, Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Heyuan, Meizhou

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