Hello, fellow travelers! I'm your Tourpal, and I'm excited to guide you deep into a surprising coastal city in China's Guangdong province: Shantou (汕头), the heart of the Chaoshan region.

When you’re searching for travel destinations in Southern China or planning a Chaozhou Shantou Tour, one name will inevitably pop up: Shantou Old Town (汕头老城), and its beating heart—the Small Park (小公园) area.

This is not the China of Beijing’s skyscrapers or Shanghai’s neon lights; nor is it the preserved antiquity of Lijiang. Shantou Old Town is an open, slightly faded, yet profoundly vivid old photo album. It records the prosperity and dreams of this city as a "Treaty Port" over a century ago.

Ready to join me with a curious heart, and step into this captivating corner woven from time, art, culture, and cuisine?

Part 1: The Pulse of History—From Treaty Port to "Little Paris of the East"

To truly appreciate Shantou Old Town, we must start with its history.

Shantou, formerly known as "Swatow," was opened up to foreign trade in 1860 following the Treaty of Tientsin. Imagine a quiet fishing village rapidly emerging as a vital global trading port. The Small Park area was the nucleus of this historical transformation.

🚢 History: The Marks Left by Time

The history of the Small Park dates back to the early 20th century. Its core structure, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Pavilion (中山纪念亭), built in memory of the pioneer of China's democratic revolution, serves as an anchor. From this circular pavilion, main streets like Anping Road and Guoping Road radiate outwards, creating a unique, fan-shaped urban layout. This "one-center, four-vertical, eight-horizontal" radial design was considered a model of modern urban planning at the time, infused with the romance and practicality of European city design.

Crucially, Shantou was a pivotal trade hub:

• Maritime Connectivity: It was closely linked not only to Southeast Asia but also to major Chinese coastal cities, including Shanghai, Tianjin, and Qingdao.

• Inland Network: Overland trade routes starting from the port could reach other inland areas, including Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Hunan provinces.

🌊 The Great Migration and the "Nanyang Run"

The history of Shantou Old Town is inseparable from a massive historical migration.

According to customs records, between 1864 and 1911 alone, nearly 3 million people from the Chaoshan region (covering today’s Chaozhou, Shantou, and Jieyang cities) migrated south from Shantou to seek a living in Southeast Asia. This historical movement is often referred to as “Going to Nanyang” (South Seas).

• Qiaopi Culture (Overseas Chinese Correspondence): Shantou is a famous "hometown of overseas Chinese." The bond between these expatriates and their families relied on a special financial letter: the "Qiaopi." Museums like the Qiaopi Cultural Museum and the Shantou Port Opening Culture Exhibition Hall are essential stops to understand this unique history. These remittances and letters embody the deep longing of the overseas children for their homeland and the heavy value placed on "integrity and trustworthiness" by the Chaoshan people.

• The Authentic Charm: As some travel notes mention, preservation work is ongoing, and some buildings remain weathered or even dilapidated. But this is precisely where its unadulterated and authentic charm lies. What you see are the true marks of time, giving it a unique "ruin beauty" that is a sincere record of the city's past, not just a polished tourist facade.

Part 2: The Fusion of Art—The Practical Romance of the Qilou Arcades

For architecture enthusiasts, Shantou Old Town is an open-air museum, defined by its unique Qilou (骑楼) arcade building complexes.

🏛 Architecture: Sino-Western "Nanyang Style"

When checking your Shantou Old Town Map, you'll notice that the streets are dominated by these structures featuring covered corridors or colonnades. This is the Qilou.

• Practical Philosophy: The ground floor facing the street forms a public, roofed sidewalk, allowing pedestrians to walk beneath the upper floors—hence the name, literally "Riding Tower." This design brilliantly merged Western colonial-style portico structures with Nanyang (Southeast Asian) influences. It's incredibly practical for the local climate, offering shelter from both the scorching sun and heavy rain, while facilitating street-level commerce.

• Artistic Details: Look closely at the facades and you’ll find intricate details: Baroque-style carvings, colorful ornamentation, traditional Chinese motifs of fortune and longevity, and Western Corinthian columns. It's a cross-continental "artistic collision," where local artisans interpreted exotic Western architectural aesthetics using traditional Chinese craftsmanship.

Landmarks you must see include:

• Nansheng Department Store (南生百货大楼): This seven-story, Western-style building, erected in 1932, was once a symbol of the city's commercial prosperity.

• The General Post Office (老邮政局): With its iconic Baroque dome, it witnessed the frantic communications during Shantou's days as an international port.

Part 3: The Smoke of Culture—Faith, Art, and Chaoshan Cuisine

Many travelers ask: Shantou Old Town things to do? My answer is simple: immerse yourself in its profound spiritual culture, and then eat like a local.

🙏 Faith: The "Last Stop" and the "View of Home"

In the Old Town, two adjacent temples, the Tianhou Temple and the Guandi Temple, hold the nostalgia and hope of countless Chaoshan people.

• Tianhou Temple (天后宫): Dedicated to Mazu (妈祖), the Goddess of the Sea, she is worshipped by seafarers, fishermen, and those heading abroad for safe passage.

• Guandi Temple (关帝庙): Dedicated to the famous general Guan Yu from the late Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25–220), renowned for his courage, loyalty, and integrity.

For the millions who went to Nanyang, these two temples had extraordinary significance. They were the "last stop" before setting sail, where they prayed for good fortune and peace, often taking some incense ash with them. Upon their return, these magnificent temples were the "first view of home" they saw.

🖼 Art: The Enameled Splendor of Qian Ci

These two temples, originally built in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and reconstructed in the early 1990s, boast decorative details that testify to their importance.

• Unique Craftsmanship: Look up at the temple roofs, where you'll see a unique decorative art called Qian Ci (嵌瓷), or Enameled Porcelain Mosaic. This is a form of decorative art where fragments of brightly colored porcelain are cut and meticulously pieced together to form intricate, three-dimensional patterns.

• Symbolism and Utility: The motifs are rich: dragons, phoenixes, auspicious symbols, figures from local Chaoshan Opera, and floral patterns. What's more ingenious is that the iron weaponry held by the warrior figures in these mosaics also serve a practical purpose: they act as lightning rods! This fusion of faith, art, theatre, and function is a unique cultural treasure of the Chaoshan region.

🥢 Cuisine: Culinary Exploration and Slow Living

The streets radiating from the Small Park area are the perfect place to experience the "Flavor of Chaoshan." Chaoshan cuisine is famous for its emphasis on "freshness, clarity, tenderness, and crispness."

• Must-Try Delicacies: You absolutely must try the hand-beaten Chaoshan Beef Balls (潮汕牛肉丸), the crispy Oyster Omelette (蚝烙), and the uniquely flavored Chaoshan Rice Noodle Rolls (潮汕肠粉).

• Gongfu Tea (功夫茶): Chaoshan people love tea, and their Gongfu Tea ceremony is a key part of their hospitality and daily life. You'll see locals gathered in many corners of the Old Town, brewing concentrated Oolong tea in small sets. Take a moment to sit down, listen to their stories, and experience the slow pace of a "Chaoshan Moment."

• New Meets Old: Stroll down Shunchang Street, which has been revitalized into a Coffee Culture Street. Here, specialty coffee is served in the historic Qilou buildings, often infused with local elements. Enjoy a modern brew while seated beneath the ancient arches—this blend of old and new is an exclusive charm of Shantou Old Town.

Part 4: Travel Guide—How to Explore the Small Park?

You are probably looking for a Shantou Old Town Map and some practical travel tips.

The core area of the Small Park is compact and perfectly suited for a walking tour. The best way to explore is to simply "get lost."

🚶♂️ Suggested Route and Highlights:

1. Start at the Center: Begin at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Pavilion to capture the perfect panoramic photo of the radiating streets and surrounding Qilou.

2. Arcade Walk: Stroll along the main roads like Anping Road and Guoping Road, looking for the decades-old shop signs and building facades.

3. Dive into the Alleys: Be brave and turn into the less-renovated side alleys! This is the most authentic side of the Old Town, where you’ll witness the daily life of residents and smell the scent of home cooking.

4. Spiritual Stop: Visit the Tianhou Temple and Guandi Temple to admire the incredible Enameled Porcelain Mosaics on their rooftops up close.

💡 Practical Travel Tips:

• Getting There: Shantou Old Town is easily accessible. If you are doing a Chaozhou Shantou Tour, intercity transport is convenient. The Old Town itself is best explored on foot.

• Best Time to Visit: Avoid the hot and humid summer (July–August). Spring (March–May) and Autumn (September–November) offer pleasant weather for walking outdoors.

• Beyond the Park: If you have extra time, Nan’ao Island (南澳岛) is a fantastic nearby destination with beautiful seascapes and a lighthouse. The Chen Cihong’s Former Residence (陈慈黉故居) is also highly recommended—a grand complex that perfectly merges traditional Chaoshan architecture with Western mansions.

Conclusion: A Dream Destination Not Yet Fully Polished

Shantou Old Town (Small Park) is a corner of the city that demands you slow down and savor every detail.

It may not be as glossy as some other tourist destinations, but its authenticity and sincerity, its history as a Treaty Port, its unique Sino-Western Qilou architecture, its grand migration stories, and its unforgettable Chaoshan cuisine make it a distinct "hidden gem" on the South China coast.

Come, international travelers, visit www.cntourpal.com and find your Chaoshan journey! In Shantou Old Town, you won't just be a tourist; you'll be a witness to history and an explorer of culture. Here, romance and nostalgia walk hand-in-hand, and grand history coexists with simple life.

We look forward to your "grand" discoveries at the Small Park!