Jiangmen

Jiangmen is usually quite hot, so bring water and take sun protection measures when exploring outdoors.

Jiangmen is one of Guangdong’s most representative hometowns of overseas Chinese. Here, you can visit old streets featured in *The Knockout*, as well as UNESCO-listed diaolou and scenic islands. With its generally relaxed pace, Jiangmen is well suited to a three-day, two-night weekend trip.

• Thirty-Three Ruins Street: A filming location for *The Knockout*, this neighborhood preserves century-old arcades and stone stairways, creating a strong retro atmosphere. Admission is free.

• Zili Village Diaolou Cluster, Kaiping: A UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, with diaolou standing amid rice paddies and blending Chinese and Western architectural styles. It was also a filming location for *Let the Bullets Fly*. Tickets cost about CNY 75.

• Chikan Overseas Chinese Ancient Town: More than 600 arcaded buildings line the Tan River. You can tour the area by tram, and there are light shows at night. Tickets cost about CNY 150.

• Xinhui Bird Paradise: The inspiration for a scene in a text by Ba Jin, this site features banyan trees growing into a forest on the water. Take a boat to see wetland birds. Tickets cost about CNY 20.

• Qimingli: A creative and cultural district transformed from a century-old village founded by overseas Chinese. Gray brick and tile buildings are complemented by colorful Nanyang-style stained glass. Admission is free.

Three-Day, Two-Night Itinerary

• Day 1: The Everyday Atmosphere of Pengjiang Old Town
  • Morning: Start at Thirty-Three Ruins Street and visit the former site of Qiangsheng PHS, the Thirty-Three Steps, and then Xuji Noodle Shop for pig’s feet noodles. Walk along the streets and take in the retro scenes from *The Knockout*.

• Afternoon: Take a stroll through Qimingli, passing Time Lane and the Flower Wall. You can then visit the original Heytea Jiangbianli store for limited-edition drinks, or head to the Overseas Chinese Museum of the Hometown of Overseas Chinese in China to learn about the history of the region’s overseas Chinese communities.

• Evening: Take a riverside walk through the Changdi Historic District. For dinner, try Lele-style cured-meat clay-pot rice or Hetang fish cakes, then sample sweet soups at Binjiang Night Market.

• Day 2: Kaiping Heritage Sites and Ancient-Town Night Views
  • Morning: Drive yourself or hire a car to the Zili Village Diaolou Cluster in Kaiping. The light over the rice fields is soft in the early morning, and you can climb a diaolou for views of the surrounding countryside.

• Afternoon: Visit Li Garden to see the blend of Chinese and Western architectural elements in a private garden built by overseas Chinese. Then head to Tangkou Market and try local farmhouse eel rice.

• Evening: Enter Chikan Overseas Chinese Ancient Town and take a tram through the arcade-lined streets. At dusk, watch the lighting ceremony and the traditional iron-flower performance.

• Day 3: Xinhui’s Nature and Culture
  • Morning: Head to Bird Paradise and take a boat through the banyan trees growing on the water, while observing birds in the vast wetland.

• Noon: Visit Guxing Town for heritage-listed Guxing roast goose. The goose is roasted over a lychee-wood fire, giving it crisp skin and tender meat. It is even more refreshing with sour-plum sauce.
  • Afternoon: Visit the Liang Qichao Former Residence Memorial Museum to learn about related modern Chinese history. Then head to Xinhui Chenpi Village to sample aged tangerine peel and buy souvenirs.

Jiangmen’s Must-Try Foods

Jiangmen is known as the “hometown of world-famous chefs,” and the cuisine of the Wuyi area is worth a special trip.

• Guxing roast goose: A heritage food from Xinhui, smoked and roasted over lychee wood. It has crisp skin and abundant juices, while sour-plum sauce helps cut through the richness.
• Taishan eel rice: The rice absorbs the eel’s flavorful oils, and the crispy, fragrant layer that forms at the bottom of the pot is another highlight.

• Hetang fish cakes: Fish is pounded into a smooth paste and pan-fried. The cakes are golden on the outside, tender inside, and pleasantly springy.

• Enping rice noodles: These long rice noodles are smooth and chewy. Served in hot broth with various toppings, they are a common local staple.

• Gulao fish-skin dumplings: Fish filling is wrapped in thin dough, creating a fresh, savory, springy texture that differs from the pan-fried texture of Hetang fish cakes.

Accommodation and Transportation Tips

• Where to stay:
  • For exploring the city: Stay near Wanda or Huiyuecheng, or choose accommodation around Thirty-Three Ruins Street. These areas are convenient for getting around and offer plenty of dining options. You can find a comfortable place for CNY 200 or more.

• For ancient-town night views: To experience Chikan Ancient Town more fully, consider staying at a guesthouse or hotel inside the town. These often include admission tickets and make nighttime visits more convenient.

• For a hot-spring break: If you plan to enjoy hot springs, stay around Gudou Hot Spring Town. It is a good place to rest after traveling between cities.

• Getting around:
  • Getting there: From Guangzhou South Railway Station, high-speed trains take about 30 minutes to Jiangmen Station or Jiangmen East Station. Shenzhen is about one hour away by direct train.
  • Getting around the city: City attractions such as Thirty-Three Ruins Street and Qimingli are suitable for walking, riding an electric scooter, or taking a taxi. For attractions in other districts, such as Kaiping and Taishan, driving or hiring a car is more convenient. Since the attractions are far apart, relying entirely on public transportation is not recommended.

Practical Tips

• Sun and mosquito protection: Jiangmen has strong ultraviolet rays, so use sun protection when visiting the diaolou and Bird Paradise. Bird Paradise also has many mosquitoes, so bring insect repellent.
• Booking tickets: It is advisable to buy tickets in advance for paid attractions such as Chikan Ancient Town and Zili Village. Some indoor theater performances also require separate seat reservations.
• Travel off-peak: The Kaiping diaolou scenic area is extensive, so entering around 9 a.m. is recommended to avoid the midday sun and peak crowds. The arcades on Thirty-Three Ruins Street have especially good light at around 4 p.m.
• About Heytea: The opening arrangements at the original Heytea Jiangbianli store may change, so confirm that it is open before visiting.