A detailed food and culture journey with honest reviews and real costs
This 13-day itinerary covers four cities in Southern China — Quanzhou, Chaozhou, Shantou and Guangzhou. The trip combines historical landmarks, traditional culture, and an extensive food exploration with practical transport and hotel insights.
Day 1 – Arrival in Quanzhou
We arrived at Quanzhou Airport and experienced a random COVID row check upon arrival.
Didi from airport to hotel: 44 RMB
Hotel: Quanzhou Overseas Chinese Hotel
Approx. SGD 66 per night
Rating: 4/5
The hotel offered strong water pressure and genuinely hot water. Towels were individually wrapped in plastic. Two types of slippers were provided — plastic bathroom slippers and thick indoor slippers. Large bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body wash were available.
A thoughtful touch was the sleep spray placed in the room. Android and Apple chargers were also provided.
After returning from dinner, the hotel surprised us with white fungus lotus dessert sent to our room — not overly sweet and very comforting. A lovely detail that elevated the stay.
The hotel is within walking distance of the ancient street area and surrounded by many eateries.
Dinner in Quanzhou 斯丹姜母鸭 restaurant
Just a 10 mins walk from Quanzhou Overseas Chinese Hotel. Rating of the taste of each dish we ordered.
- Jiang Mu Ya 姜母鸭 (Ginger Duck): 4/5
- Oyster Omelette (海蛎煎): 4/5
- Stir-fried pickled vegetables: 3/5
We stopped by a random dessert shop to try a few local sweets.
- The mango sago and other desserts were average overall, about 3/5.
A strong first introduction to Fujian flavours. After dinner, we took a short stroll through West Street to soak in the night atmosphere. The small shops and narrow alleyways were especially interesting to explore.
Day 2 – Museums and Kaiyuan Temple
Breakfast at the hotel was excellent (5/5). The mian xian hu 面线糊 with 油条 was particularly memorable also the signature food in Quanzhou.
Since it was raining, we decided to explore Museum.
Didi to museum: 12 RMB
We visited:
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Quanzhou Museum
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Muslim Museum is just next to Quanzhou Museum.
When the rain stopped, we went Kaiyuan temple
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Kaiyuan Temple 开元寺
Kaiyuan Temple is one of the most significant Buddhist temples in Fujian province and a must-visit in Quanzhou.
Street snacks and small purchases throughout the day included tofu dishes, candied hawthorn, drinks and a local hat souvenir.
We stumbled upon a Guoqiao Tofu (过桥豆腐) Rmb 15 stall with an impressively long queue, which immediately caught our attention. Curious, we decided to join the line — and it was worth it. The tofu was freshly fried, crispy on the outside and soft inside, and served with a wide variety of toppings. Customers could choose and customise their own toppings, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Overall, it was a satisfying and flavourful snack.
Later we went to the puppet show.
This is the famous Quanzhou Puppet Show — a thousand-year-old traditional performance. And these aren’t ordinary puppets. They’re fully string-controlled, with incredibly detailed movements.
Tickets cost about SGD18 and even include tea and some snacks while you wait. I booked mine through Trip.com — super easy. Seating is first come, first served, so arrive early if you want the front row.
Address :
- 3-008-1, 3rd Floor, Kaiyuan Shengshi Plaza, No. 366 Xinhua North Road, right in the city center.
At the end of the show, the sifu demonstrates some puppet tricks, and there are plenty of puppets for the audience to touch and try.
Afterwards, you can grab dinner upstairs — we went to Haidilao, which cost only around SGD60 for four people. Highly recommended!
Dinner at Haidilao cost 336 RMB.
Day 3 – Coastal and Heritage Tour
The day tour began at 8am after breakfast. We booked a private car SGD123 for whole day.
Stops included:
- Wulin Nanyang-style Village (晋江乌林传统村),
- Yongning Ancient Town (永宁古镇)
- Luojia Temple (罗伽寺)
- Golden Coast (黄金海岸)
- Xiaowei Sea (小嵬海),
- Xunpu Village (浔埔村)
Lunch at “Yu Ni Zai Yi Qi” 鱼你在一起 included mala fish pot and chicken (84 RMB).
Drinks at Mixue cost 14 RMB at Golden Coast (黄金海岸)
Returned to the hotel at 5:30pm. Dinner totalled 337 RMB at a restaurant from dian bing 点评 app.
Day 4 – Luoyang Bridge and Cultural Sites
We booked another private car from Trip.com SGD 123 for the day.
The day included visits to:
- Luoyang Bridge (洛阳桥)
- Hui’an Women Cultural Village (惠安女民俗村) – Hui’an County
- Chongwu Ancient City Wall (崇武古城城墙) – Chongwu Town, Hui’an County
- Windmill Island (风车岛) – Near Chongwu, Hui’an County
- Xisha Bay (西沙湾)
- Confucius Temple (文庙) – Quanzhou
- West Street (西街) – Quanzhou
Luoyang Bridge is one of China’s earliest stone sea bridges and remains historically significant. During our visit, we encountered a high-profile VIP accompanied by officials and security, reinforcing the site’s importance.
Seafood dinner at 爱上海鲜大咖 cost 238 RMB and was good value for pax of 4
Chaozhou 4 days
We booked our high-speed train tickets from Quanzhou Station (泉州站) to Chaoshan Station (潮汕站) via Trip.com. The journey took 1 hour 54 minutes, and the ticket cost 159.56 RMB per person — fast, convenient, and hassle-free.
Day 5 – Arrival in Chaozhou
Chaozhou immediately felt more traditional, with strong Teochew cultural identity.
Food highlights:
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Teochew porridge (SGD 34.5) at Ruji 锐记砂锅粥, it seafood porridge for 4 people with lala clam
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Goose (40 RMB) – 刘卜卤狮头鹅 – Highly recommended. We loved it so much that we had it every day during our stay in Chaozhou.
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Oyster and beef kway teow (81 RMB)
Chaozhou is truly a destination for food lovers.
Day 6 – Jieyang 揭阳 Excursion and Night Show
Hotel: Chaozhou Hotel 广州宾馆
Approx. SGD 80 per night
Room rating: 3.5/5
Breakfast: 2/5
Lunch at “E Zuo She” 鹅作社 cost 158 RMB. The goose here is not as good as Liu Pu goose.
Didi to Jieyang: 100 RMB about an hour by didi ride.
Return: 112 RMB
Dinner at A Bin Beef Hotpot 阿斌牛肉火锅: 222 RMB
Evening show: “大潮归来如梦潮州” (SGD 19), booked from trip.com. Then followed by a bridge light show near Guangji Bridge 广济桥.
Additional snacks included braised goose and traditional Teochew pastries.
Day 7 – Guangji Bridge and Food Exploration
Visited:
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Han Yu 韩愈 Memorial (Didi 17 RMB) booked via wechat
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Guangji Bridge (ticket 20 RMB) booked via wechat
Guangji Bridge is one of the Four Ancient Bridges of China and is especially beautiful in the evening.
After lunch, visit Longhu Ancient Village (龙湖古寨).
Food throughout the day included fish noodles, glutinous rice desserts, mulberry juice and black sesame sweets.
We took a number at A Rong Seafood Hotpot (阿荣海鲜锅), but the wait was very long — around 2.4 hours. Since our hotel was only a 5-minute walk away, we went back to rest before returning. The meal, which cost 372 RMB, was disappointing: the seafood porridge was overly salty, the duck mixed plate was dry, and the abalone tanghoon was too hard. Overall, I would give it 2 out of 5 stars.
Best goose of the trip remained Liu Pu Braised Goose — simple but excellent, with complimentary porridge and rice.
Day 8 – Shantou 汕头 Day Trip
Didi from Chaozhou to Shantou: 143 RMB
Visited Shantou Small Park. 汕头小公园
Shantou Small Park (汕头小公园) is a hidden gem in the heart of Shantou, where history meets everyday life. Strolling through its streets feels like stepping back in time — colonial-era buildings line the roads, while bustling shops and local snack stalls bring the area to life. It’s the perfect place to soak up Shantou’s old-world charm, discover unique architectural details, and taste authentic local treats. For anyone wanting a mix of culture, history, and street-food adventure, Small Park is a must-visit stop.
Lunch at Lao Mu Seafood 汕头老木海鲜排档 in Shantou cost 195 RMB
- Didi from Chaozhou to Shantou RMB 143
- Didi from Shantou back to Chaozhou 194
Dinner is at 刘仆卤鹅 RMB150, 4 days in row eating in this place.
After dinner, we had some dessert Yamunian ya 鸭母捻
Guangzhou 广州
Day 9 – High-Speed Rail to Guangzhou (1 January)
Didi to hotel : 60 RMB. We opted for a VIP Didi car for added comfort, which cost 60 RMB.
High-speed train from Chaoshan to Guangzhou East: SGD 281 for four people.
Hotel: LN Hotel Five
Approx. SGD 130 per night
Late lunch at a small eateries included Chee chong Fun rice rolls and beef noodles, Total RMB25
At 繁楼 Dim Sum restaurant having dim sum for dinner. Total RMB 258
A Pearl River cruise was booked via Trip.com (SGD 116) for 4 pax.
Day 10 – Foshan Food Day (2 January)
Didi to Foshan: 45 RMB
At the Wong Fei Hung Memorial Hall (黄飞鸿纪念馆), there are usually three lion dance performances daily, typically in the morning and twice in the afternoon. It’s best to check the exact timing upon arrival and go early for a good viewing spot. After that we went for lunch in a shopping mall in Foshan.
Lunch at Cai Lan 蔡澜 Restaurant cost 323 RMB, highly recommended
Evening mala hotpot in Guangzhou, restaurant is only 5 mins walk from our hotel: 196 RMB. If you want a break from Canton cuisine, try this.
Late night dessert
Day 11 – Leisure and Classic Cantonese Dining
Visited Children’s Park and Liwan 荔湾 district.
Lunch at Yin Deng银灯: 305 RMB. Highly recommended.
Attended Changlong Circus in the evening. Get your ticket online. We gotten a vip seat from trip.com SGD215.16 for 4 pax.
Late night dessert
Day 12 – Leisure in Guangzhou city
We visited the Bruce Lee’s Ancestral Home (李小龙祖居) in Guangzhou. The restored residence offers insight into Bruce Lee’s family background and early connections to the city. Inside, you’ll find photographs, historical displays, and exhibits highlighting his lasting impact on martial arts and cinema. It’s a meaningful stop for fans and those interested in Lingnan cultural heritage.
Lunch at Tao Tao Ju 陶陶居 cost 374 RMB — a classic Cantonese dining experience.
Dinner beef noodle near Beijing Road Pedestrian Street (北京路步行街)
- Dafo Temple (大佛古寺)
Dafo Temple is located in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, near Beijing Road Pedestrian Street (北京路步行街) — not far from Shangxiajiu, but in a different area of the old city.
Final thoughts:
For the three cities we visited, I highly recommend including Quanzhou — it’s rich in culture and history. Chaozhou is great value for money, and the food is absolutely delicious. Guangzhou, on the other hand, is the most expensive in terms of hotels. The food in Guangzhou is amazing, but the city is crowded, and popular restaurants often have long queues.
Here’s a tip: if you use a Chinese dining app like Dianping (大众点评), you can check table availability, estimated wait times, or even book a table in advance. That way, you can explore the area while waiting and return when your table is ready — saving a lot of time.
To get around within each city, we mainly used Didi, which was convenient and affordable. For travel between cities, we took the high-speed train, which is fast and comfortable. The hotels we booked were around 4-star standard and included breakfast, making our stay both comfortable and hassle-free.
Along the way, we picked up a few mystery boxes (盲盒, mánghé) from Miniso and a local toy mart. It was so much fun opening them — you never know what surprises you’ll get!