8 days / 7 nights · Quanzhou / Zhangzhou / Chaozhou / Shantou
Overseas Chinese Hometown Deep Journey 8 Days · Including Nan'ao Island and Chen Cihong's Former Residence
Quanzhou / Zhangzhou / Chaozhou / Shantou · 8 Days 7 Nights · Relaxed
Reference Price
$1,090Rise / Person
- Purely for fun, no shopping
- The itinerary can be slightly adjusted
- Includes ticket reservation service
Number of people in a group2–10 people
IntensityRelaxed
Best seasonOct–Apr
Traffichigh-speed rail + tour bus
AccommodationBoutique hotel + Tulou Homestay + Island Hotel
Departure MonthOctober to April
Prices vary between peak and off-peak seasons; the following order confirmation shall prevail · Tickets for highlands and peak seasons need to be booked in advance
Itinerary Details
All routes are for reference only, the actual route is subject to the explanation of customer service
Two days in each city, Shantou plus Nan'ao Island, Zhangzhou plus Yunshuiyao and Heguilou.
Day-by-day itinerary8 days in total · daily destination, meals, accommodation and transport
Expand day by day; click a title to collapse. Itinerary for reference and may be adjusted for weather and traffic.
- D1Arrived at Quanzhou · Kaiyuan Temple
DestinationLocally→ Quanzhou
- Meals
- Meals are self-managed
- Accommodation
- Quanzhou Hotel
- Transport
- Airport/Station Pickup and Drop-off
- Distance
- Within the city
Daily detailArrive in Quanzhou from various locations, with a dedicated airport or station pickup to your hotel. Afternoon free time.
One day in the old town (Kaiyuan Temple + West Street), one day at Haijiao Hall + Xunpu Village.
Kaiyuan Temple: Built during the Tang Dynasty, the East and West Pagodas are Quanzhou landmarks, with Hindu patterns on the main hall's pillars.
Meals: Mianxian porridge, ginger duck, and bamboo shoot jelly.
Tip: Free incense is available at the temple entrance; For the Xunpu flower hairdressing experience, it's recommended to go in the morning; afternoons are busier. - D2Quanzhou · Quanzhou Overseas Transportation History Museum, Xunpu Village
DestinationQuanzhou → Zhangzhou
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Quanzhou Hotel
- Transport
- High-speed rail / tour bus → Zhangzhou
- Distance
- Intercity Transfer
Daily detailQuanzhou Overseas Transportation History Museum: Clearly explains the ships, cargo, and religious stone carvings of the Song and Yuan Dynasty Maritime Silk Road.
Xunpu Village: The 'Hairpin Flower Enclosure' and Oyster Shell House for the Xunpu women have been the most popular villages in recent years.
Meals: Mianxian Hu, Ginger Duck, and Earthen Shoot Jelly.
Note: Free incense is available at the temple entrance; For the Xunpu flower hairpin experience, it's recommended to go in the morning; afternoon is crowded.
In the evening, take the high-speed rail or tour bus to Zhangzhou and stay overnight there. - D3Zhangzhou · Nanjing Tulou (Tianluokeng), Yunshuiyao Ancient Town
DestinationZhangzhou urban area
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Zhangzhou Hotel
- Transport
- City bus Walking
- Distance
- Walking about 4-6 km within the city
Daily detailNanjing Tulou (Tianluokeng): The combination of five Tulou with four dishes and one soup offers the most breathtaking panoramic views from the viewing platform.
Yunshuiyao Ancient Town: The thousand-year-old trail and large waterwheel by Changjiao Creek, perfect for leisurely walking.
Dining: Zhangzhou braised noodles, oyster omelet, four-fruit soup.
Tip: Many Tulou still have residents; permission must be obtained before entering; Mountain roads are winding, so those with motion sickness should take medicine in advance. - D4Zhangzhou · Hegui Tower, Huaiyuan Tower, and the ancient city of Zhangzhou
DestinationZhangzhou → Chaozhou
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Zhangzhou Hotel
- Transport
- High-speed rail / tour bus → Chaozhou
- Distance
- Intercity Transfer
Daily detailHegui Tower and Huaiyuan Building: One is built on a marsh, the other is a double-ring building, making the contrast very intuitive.
Zhangzhou Ancient Town: The arcades and old streets in the city center, with well-preserved shophouses on Taiwan Road and Hong Kong Road.
Dining: Zhangzhou braised noodles, oyster omelets, and four-fruit soup.
Tip: Many tulou buildings still have residents; permission must be obtained before entering; Winding mountain roads require people with carsickness to take medicine in advance.
In the evening, take the high-speed rail or tour bus to Chaozhou and stay overnight there. - D5Chaozhou · Guangji Bridge, Guangji Tower, and Paifang Street
DestinationChaozhou, urban area
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Chaozhou Hotel
- Transport
- City bus Walking
- Distance
- Walking about 4-6 km within the city
Daily detailGuangji Bridge: Combines a floating bridge and a beam bridge, with scheduled shuttle boat openings and closing every day, and a light show at night.
Guangji Tower and Archway Street: An old street formed by 23 stone archways, lined with arcades and densely packed shops.
Dining: Beef meatballs, braised goose, duck mother twisted buns.
Tip: The Guangji Bridge shuttle boat opening and closing has a fixed time, so check the time before you go; Gongfu tea is very strong, so don't drink too much on an empty stomach. - D6Chaozhou · Han Wengong Shrine, Kaiyuan Temple, and Jilüe Huang Gong Shrine
DestinationChaozhou → Shantou
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Chaozhou Hotel
- Transport
- High-speed rail / tour bus → Shantou
- Distance
- Intercity Transfer
Daily detailHan Wengong Shrine: The earliest existing shrine in China commemorating Han Yu, with inscriptions serving as a treasure trove of calligraphy.
Kaiyuan Temple and Jilue Huang Gong Shrine: Representative works of Tang Dynasty Buddhist temples and Chaozhou wood carving, with extremely high craftsmanship.
Meals: Beef meatballs, braised goose, duck mother twisters. Tip: The opening and
closing of the Guangji Bridge shuttle boat has a fixed time; check the time before you go; Gongfu tea is very strong, so don't drink too much on an empty stomach.
In the evening, take the high-speed rail or tour bus to Shantou and stay overnight there. - D7Shantou · Small Park Port Opening Area, Overseas Chinese Approval Cultural Relics Museum
DestinationShantou urban area
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Shantou Hotel
- Transport
- City bus Walking
- Distance
- Walking about 4-6 km within the city
Daily detailSmall Park Port Opening Area: A radial arcade street centered on the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Pavilion, reflecting the modern urban fabric of Shantou.
Overseas Chinese Pictorial Museum: The Overseas Chinese Pictorial Plaque is a certificate combining remittances and family letters sent by overseas Chinese returning home, and has been listed on the World Memory Register.
Dining: Chaoshan beef hot pot, oyster marinade, claypot porridge.
Tip: Chaoshan beef hot pot focuses on cuts and cooking time; just follow the staff's instructions; Check the weather before traveling during typhoon season. - D8Shantou · Chen Cihong's Former Residence and Return Journey
DestinationShantou → Airport drop-off / Station
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Not included
- Transport
- Private vehicle for transfer to airport/station
- Distance
- Walking about 4-6 km within the city
Daily detailChen Ci-Hong's Former Residence: A complex of overseas Chinese residences in Chenghai District, blending Chinese and Western styles, with a large scale.
Nan'ao Island: Accessible via the Nan'ao Bridge, with island loop roads and windmill farms suitable for an extra day.
Dining: Chaoshan beef hot pot, oyster omelet, claypot porridge.
Tip: Chaoshan beef hot pot focuses on cuts and cooking time; just follow the staff's instructions; Check the weather before traveling during typhoon season.
Arrange a dedicated shuttle to the airport or station according to flight or train time, and the itinerary ends.
Key facts
Departure pointAssemble in Quanzhou, disperse in Shantou
Number of people in a groupSmall group of 2-10 people
Recommended monthOct–Apr
AccommodationBoutique Hotel Tulou Guesthouse Island Hotel
TrafficHigh-speed Rail Tourist Bus
IntensityRelaxed
Route Overview
Main Route of Returning to the Hometown of Overseas Chinese: Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple and Maritime Exchange Hall, Zhangzhou Nanjing Tulou and Yunshuiyao, Chaozhou Guangji Bridge and Han Wen Gong Ancestral Hall, Shantou Xiaogongyuan Open-Port Area and Overseas Letter Museum. This route is specifically designed for Southeast Asian Chinese seeking to trace their roots.
The entire journey takes 8 days, progressing along "Quanzhou → Zhangzhou → Chaozhou → Shantou": Quanzhou / Zhangzhou / Chaozhou / Shantou. The pace is arranged by "one city, one segment," with high-speed trains as the main mode of intercity travel, and flights replacing segments with travel times over 5 hours.
Destinations on This Route
- Quanzhou: One day in the Old Town (Kaiyuan Temple + West Street), one day at the Maritime Exchange Hall + Xunpu Village.
- Zhangzhou: Suggested to stay one night in the Tulou to avoid tour groups in the early morning; the Ancient City can be scheduled on the way to or from the Tulou.
- Chaozhou: One day in the Ancient City: morning at Guangji Bridge and Han Wen Gong Ancestral Hall, afternoon at Paifang Street and Kaiyuan Temple.
- Shantou: One day in the city Open-Port Area + Overseas Letter Museum; Chen Cihong Former Residence and Nan'ao Island can each add half a day to one day.
Cultural Series
This route belongs to the Maritime Silk Sail & Returning to the Hometown of Overseas Chinese series. There are other itineraries of different durations on the same theme for comparison.
Costs include
- Accommodation listed in the itinerary (double occupancy)
- First entrance tickets to the attractions listed in the itinerary
- Ground transportation listed in the itinerary (high-speed rail / tour bus / scenic area sightseeing bus)
- Full-time Chinese-speaking tour guide service
- Daily breakfast, and meals specified in the itinerary
- Travel agency liability insurance and travel accident insurance
Cost not included
- Round-trip international airfare between the place of departure and China
- Personal visa and document fees
- Main meals not listed and personal expenses
- Optional items (cable car, additional boat rides, performances, etc.)
- Tips for guides and drivers (voluntary)
- Single room supplement
Booking Reminder
After confirming the itinerary and dates, pay the deposit, and the remaining balance should be paid 15 days before the trip. Cancellation more than 30 days before departure will get a full refund of the deposit, 70% refund for 15-30 days, 50% refund for 7-15 days, and no refund within 7 days. Popular sites such as Mogao Caves and Sanxingdui require real-name reservation, please submit ID information at least 15 days in advance. For seniors over 70 and children under 12, please indicate in the remarks, and we will adjust the daily walking amount.