Walking Shantou's Old Quarter: Arcades and Treaty-Port History

Radial lanes around Xiaogongyuan, blocks of arcaded shop-houses, decades-old shop signs — Shantou's old quarter deserves half a day on foot.

TeByTeochew Travel Editorial TeamPublished 2026-04-021 min

#Shantou#Qilou Arcades#Old Town

Walking Shantou's Old Quarter: Arcades and Treaty-Port History

About the author

Teochew Travel Editorial Team

Editorial team

A local editorial team in Chaoshan documenting old-town lanes, gongfu tea and the qiaoxiang story.

This guide is published by the Teochew Travel editorial team, covering local travel, culture and roots journeys across the Chaoshan region.

Related guides

The Old City Walls and Lanes of Ancient Chaozhou

Culture

A Beginner's Guide to Chaoshan Culture: Gongfu Tea, Old Towns and the Qiaoxiang

A cultural primer for anyone visiting Chaoshan for the first time: first, what Chaoshan actually is, then three threads to follow — food, gongfu tea and qiaoxiang roots-seeking.

2026-10-02Read more

Culture

Everyday Chaoshan: Life in the Backstreets

Leave the archway street and the tourist route. Step into the lanes: drying peel, repairing woodwork, chess and tea — the real texture of Chaoshan.

2026-05-24Read more

Culture

Teochew Ancestral Halls: A Family History in One Building

The clan hall is the centre of a Chaoshan village — ancestor rites, meetings, weddings. Read one and you understand half of Chaoshan.

2026-05-06Read more

Need help planning your Chaoshan trip?

Tell us your dates and interests, and we'll shape a private Chaoshan journey around you.

Chat on WhatsAppWeChat ID BIN154486755Plan My Trip