Chaozhou (Teochew) i

Chaozhou (Teochew) is an excellent place to spend a weekend. The most famous sight in Chaozhou is the Guangji Bridge 广济桥, partly consisting of stone towers with a pontoon section in the middle that can be opened by moving the wooden boats. The extant bridge is a modern reconstruction of the ancient original, but it looks convincing. It's a little bit dear to cross, but the ticket itself is a postage-paid postcard. The old city of Chaozhou retains its ancient wall on the river side, which makes a nice spot for a stroll. Visit the picturesque West Lake, 西湖, and then walk along Zhongshan Road towards the river to see many workshops where the traditional art of Chaozhou woodcarving is still practised. The temples and ancestral halls in the old town are richly decorated with such carving. Finally, stroll along the century-old main street marked by dozens of memorial arches and try some tasty street food or buy some locally made satay sauce to take home. Several trains a day go from Guangzhou and Shenzhen to Chaoshan Station, from where you can get a bus to Chaozhou itself. Chaozhou is not very big, so you can easily visit it and neighbouring Shantou (Swatow) in a weekend. #qingmingtravel #urbanexplorer #lightthecity #oldtown #historicculture #historicallandmarks #chaozhou #teochew #guangdong #china #weekendtrip #sightseeing