Zhanjiang: A Seafood Paradise That Will Blow Your Mind! Stunning Sea Views Rivaling Sanya + Mouthwatering Delights to Wow Your Feed – Worth the Trip for Food Alone

Since the Chinese New Year, a small city in Guangdong has been frequently flooding the social media feeds of travel enthusiasts:

The deity-parading event in Yanzao lets you experience the awe of traditional Chinese New Year; Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin recommended the sunset views over the bay to the world, and the endlessly delicious local snacks have made countless people gain five pounds in just three days...

Even outside holidays, this city is now so crowded that it’s shoulder-to-shoulder, yet many still fall for it time and again, adding it to their travel bucket lists.

This utterly captivating city is none other than:

，

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Shantou, a famous hometown of overseas Chinese, the only city on mainland China with an inner bay, a blessed land where typhoons detour by divine protection, and a "culinary island" that food lovers never want to leave.

Here, there are mountains, seas, arcade buildings, and food—each alone is enough to make visitors so "hooked" they don’t want to go home.

When it comes to Shantou, the most "addictive" thing is undoubtedly its food.

Whether it’s the savory beef hotpot, steaming rice noodles, fragrant braised goose, or fresh seafood, all make people rave endlessly.

Even renowned foodie Chen Xiaoqing said, "Shantou is a culinary island in China!" "If a Chinese claims to be a gourmet but hasn’t been to Shantou, then he isn’t one."

Here, good food is never in short supply—every old eatery is delicious, not to mention the endless variety of rice cakes and countless snacks, all worth visiting for, again and again...

As a coastal city, Shantou’s seaside is always enchanting.

Take a bus to Nan’ao to feel the sea breeze, ride an e-bike around the island to chase sunsets and lighthouses, or visit the still-bustling fishing villages—it’s pure romance.

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The old town’s rustic charm instantly transports you to the 1980s, and its nostalgic vibe is utterly captivating.

Every frame of Shantou’s old streets feels like a scene from a retro film—walk past the Octagonal Pavilion, through Small Park, and into Wuqiao Old Street, as if time has paused.

If food and architecture offer fleeting "enchantment," then the city’s genuine, down-to-earth vibe is the real reason everyone gets "hooked."

Stroll through the old town, snack as you go, sip slow-brewed tea, and chat—this grounded way of life slows your heart down too.

In short, Shantou isn’t for checklist tourism, but it’s perfect for leisurely wandering and eating.

1. Five meals a day in Shantou—so delicious it’s addictive!

Breakfast in Shantou ranges from the simplest congee and fried dough sticks to specialties like rice noodle rolls and pork blood soup—endlessly varied.

Especially starting the day with a bowl of steaming pig blood soup is simply unbeatable. Pig blood, various pork offal, paired with wolfberry leaves, motherwort, watercress, pearl vegetable, or sesame leaves—different combinations offer distinct flavors.

Recommended shop: Shidianpu Dading Pig Blood Soup (No. 108, Danyang Straight Street, Longhu District, Shantou; avg. ¥17/person).

Compared to Cantonese-style rice noodle rolls, Shantou’s version is more "bold and unrestrained," with basic fillings like "fresh shrimp + oysters + lean pork + egg + bean sprouts + preserved radish," topped with a rich sauce—absolutely divine!

Recommended shop: Three Sisters Rice Noodle Rolls (No. 28, Yongping Road, Jinping District, Shantou).

In Shantou, having a bowl of rice noodles or goose meat rice for lunch is pure satisfaction!

Whether it’s the classic beef ball rice noodle soup, the springy fish ball rice noodle soup, or the stir-fried beef with kale rice noodles, each dish is irresistibly delicious.

Recommended shop: Huawu Three Brothers Beef Balls (Huawu Road, Jinping District; avg. ¥15/person).

The braised goose featured in *A Bite of China* is a dish so mouthwatering you’ll drool just watching it on screen.

When eating, pour over the rich braising sauce, dip it in garlic-vinegar paste, and chew it with cilantro—the burst of aroma is addictive.

Recommended shops: Wudi Goose Meat Shop (Intersection of Pengfa Road and Yingbin Road, Waisha Town; open 8:30–13:30); Ririxiang Goose Meat Restaurant (Middle section of Tai’an Road, Danhong Garden South District).

PS: There are many goose meat restaurants in Chenghai, and the quality doesn’t vary much.

In the afternoon, wander the streets for snacks: crispy oyster omelets, dazzling varieties of rice cakes, or the ultra-stuffed Laoma Palace rice dumplings with pork, egg yolk, chestnuts, mushrooms, ginkgo, dried shrimp, and fermented tofu meat.

Yinping Oyster Omelet (100m northeast of the intersection of Lianfeng West Road and National Highway 324, Chenghai District, Shantou).

Qiu Shuying Oyster Omelet (Shop 110, Building 7, Yinghua Garden, Jinping District, Shantou).

Recommended shop: Piaoxiang Snack Shop (No. 39, Guoping Road, Jinping District, Shantou).

PS: This shop offers a wide variety of rice cakes; try a sampler platter with different types.

Though sweet soups are common elsewhere, Shantou’s tofu pudding brings new surprises.

Here, the tofu pudding is warm, firm, and rich in soybean flavor, topped with crushed peanuts and sugar—sweet and fragrant in every bite.

Recommended shop: Master Zhang’s Old-Fashioned Tofu Pudding & Sweet Soup (1F, Huitao Garden, Gongyuan Road, Jinping District, near People’s Square, Shantou).

As a foodie, the most important thing in Shantou is, of course, enjoying an authentic beef hotpot for dinner!

Chaoshan people are extremely particular about eating beef, selecting 3 to 4-year-old yellow cattle and consuming it freshly slaughtered. The beef is meticulously divided into specific cuts, each with its own name and cooking method.

The hotpot broth is made from beef bones, clear and transparent, with a few pieces of white radish floating on top.

When eating, the beef is blanched for just 6 seconds, then dipped in satay sauce, delivering a rich beefy flavor with layers of savory, umami, and a sweet aftertaste.

Xinghua Wuji Beef Hotpot (No. 16 Xinghua West Road, Jinping District; ¥87 per person)

Baholihai Ji Beef Restaurant (Pingxi, Huanggang Road, Jinping District)

Additionally, Dongli braised pork rice is a must-try. The pork is tender and falls apart effortlessly, fatty but not greasy, sticky yet not clingy, and pairs perfectly with steamed rice—so delicious even light eaters will crave a second bowl.

△Squatting while eating is the proper way to enjoy braised pork rice.

Laolong Braised Pork Rice (Shantou Main Store) (No. 111, Building 5, Qiaoyuan, Rongjiang Road, Longhu District, Shantou)

PS: If time allows, head to the original Laolong Braised Pork Rice in Chenghai Dongli to experience the authentic squatting dining atmosphere.

By nightfall, many cities have already "closed shop," but Shantou's culinary revelry is just getting started.

Here, you must try claypot porridge. Plain congee cooked with fresh crab, shrimp, and other seafood—minimal seasoning but so delicious it’s almost addictive.

Recommended spot: Awu Claypot Porridge (No. 16 Gongxin Road, Jinping District, Shantou, storefront of Zhongqiaoyuan South District)

A visit to Shantou isn’t complete without "da leng." On hungry nights, a bowl of plain congee paired with raw marinated seafood and braised dishes is the locals' go-to late-night meal.

Guiyuan Plain Congee (No. 29 Guiyuan, Changping Road, Jinping District, Shantou (next to ICBC); ¥35 per person)

Fuyuan Dining (100m south of the intersection of Jinsha East Road and Chaoyang Street, Jinping District, Shantou (next to the Commodity Inspection Bureau); ¥66 per person)

2. The arcade streets hold stories of the past—step inside and trace the echoes of history.

Shantou is a place rich in history and tales, and its arcades are an inseparable part of its narrative.

The arcades are a defining symbol of Shantou and an enduring memory for its people, with old buildings evoking a sense of time travel.

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And when it comes to Shantou’s arcades, Xiaogongyuan is a must-mention.

"A small park, half the history of Shantou."

This is the historical landmark of Shantou's century-old commercial port, and the only arcade street in China with a fan-shaped radial layout.

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It is also the "city center" in the hearts of Shantou locals. Every Shantou native feels a deep sense of familiarity when mentioning the small park.

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The small park still preserves vast stretches of arcades. Strolling down any street feels like stepping back into the Republican era, with a touch of European charm.

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Here, the aged buildings, with their ornate columns, arches, reliefs, and window decorations, still whisper the former glory of this "century-old commercial port."

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Shengping Road was once the most bustling commercial district in Shantou.

In Shantou's history, there's a saying: "Four Yong and One Shengping, where wealth once thrived."

Among them stands Shantou's largest department store: Nansheng Department Store.

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There's also the first tallest European-style building from Shantou's early port days: the Aw Boon Haw Building.

Shantou's first official post office: the Shantou General Post Office Building.

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Nearby are other historic structures like the Old Ma Temple, Dabu Guild Hall, Tongwen School, Taofang Restaurant, and Yongping Restaurant… a testament to the flourishing of temples, guilds, and businesses.

Along Shantou's Waima Road, one can also find numerous elegant and time-honored historical buildings.

This two-kilometer-long street was once lined with trading firms, consulates, churches, and mansions. Today, it still boasts many historic sites: Xiangyuan, Tongwen School, Cunxin School, the Catholic Church, Dafeng Temple…

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What's even more precious is that in the streets and alleys of Shantou,

old shops still sporadically remain open. The watch repair master is still bent over fixing timepieces; elderly folks with reading glasses by the roadside skillfully weave rattan chairs; gray-haired chefs in snack shops prepare stir-fried rice cakes for customers; pharmacies still hang old handwritten signs...

Visitors can't help but feel a nostalgic sentiment unique to Shantou's old town.

3. Shantou, where the sea is actually breathtaking

Perhaps overshadowed by its culinary fame, many overlook that Shantou is also a coastal city.

As the only city in China with an inland sea within its urban area, Shantou's coastal charm lies precisely in having the sea at its heart!

Nan'ao Island, the "Oriental Hawaii" just 3 hours from Guangzhou, is Guangdong's only island county, comprising the main island and 37 surrounding islets.

Here, you can drive across the 9,341-meter Nan'ao Bridge spanning the sea—a spectacular sight in itself.

©Tuchong: Allenchen214

Stroll along the seaside promenade where red lighthouses contrast with azure skies, creating a literary and fresh ambiance like a manga-inspired coastal town.

Walk barefoot on Qing'ao Bay's fine white sands collecting shells—its crystal-clear waters make every photo frame-worthy.

Lounge at the Tropic of Cancer Square, whiling away afternoons chatting in the sea breeze.

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Wander through any fishing village where the faint briny aroma immerses you in authentic local life.

Watch fireworks over the sea at night or dawn's first light—experiencing unique coastal romance.

Feast at local seafood stalls—oysters, squid, mantis shrimp—all fresh, sweet, and affordable.

Beyond famous Nan'ao, Shantou also boasts:

Dahaoo Peninsula, the second-largest island with purer marine landscapes precisely due to its lesser fame.

Stroll its beaches—cerulean skies, translucent waters, soft sands and gentle waves will effortlessly captivate you.

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Nanshan Bay boasts a unique geographical location, with the boundless South China Sea stretching to its south.

Here, you can experience pristine beaches, gentle waves lapping at your feet, crystal-clear waters, and egrets soaring overhead—a truly delightful scene.

The Bay Bridge spans the Queshi Sea, stretching 2,500 meters. At night, its dazzling lights resemble a giant dragon lying across the water.

Lotus Peak is named for its rocks, which split open like lotus petals. The "Lotus Peak Sea View" is one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Chaoshan.

Shantou offers not only delicious food but also fresh seafood, nostalgic flavors, and, most importantly, warm hospitality.

Here, contentment is the norm. It doesn’t matter how much you earn—what matters is being together as a family. Whether there’s an occasion or not, sharing tea and visiting friends and relatives is a way of life.

So, the best way to enjoy your time here is to slow down, savor Gongfu tea, and leisurely explore the local cuisine. Let the flavors tantalize your taste buds, whet your appetite, and satisfy your stomach.