Shantou Shipaotai Park & Xiaogongyuan Full-Day Cultural Tour

Shipaotai Park: A Living Fossil of Qing Dynasty Coastal Defense Built in 1874, this circular castle battery is constructed from granite and shell lime. It served as a filming location for the movie “The Storm.” Stroll along the battery’s passages, listen to a guide recount the defense history of the “Great Wall at Sea,” and touch the mottled walls to feel the century’s changes.

• Xiaogongyuan Arcade Buildings: A Time Machine of Nanyang Flavors This fan-shaped radial arcade complex is rare nationwide. The Baroque dome of Nansheng Department Store and the European-style arched windows of the General Post Office recreate the prosperity of “Little Shanghai” in the 1930s. Enjoy a free lunch on Zhenbang Road Food Street, and try the recommended hand-hammered fish balls (made with freshly hammered Mi yu, in a clear and sweet broth) and sugar-onion pancakes (crispy sugar strips + peanut crumbs).
• Cross-sea Ferry: 15 Minutes of Sea Views Take a boat across the inner bay, with panoramic views of the urban skyline on the north bank and the green hills of Queshi on the south bank. On a clear day, capture a photo of “One Bay, Two Shores” together, and feel the dynamism of the coastal city as the sea breeze blows.
• Dual Intangible Cultural Heritage Experiences Expo Center (when open): The 100,000㎡ venue exhibits treasures such as Chao embroidery and嵌瓷 (qian ci), with an immersive documentary decoding the origin of the Yingge Dance; Baihuajian Scenic Area (when closed): Ascend the Jiutian Xuannv Pavilion for a panoramic view of the coastline and the tranquil coexistence of religious architecture.
• Yingge Dance: A Live Explosion of Eastern Power Dancers wear Water Margin facial makeup, holding sticks to perform the “Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain” formation. With thunderous drumbeats and vigorous movements, capture the dynamic tension up close in what can be described as a “living textbook of intangible cultural heritage.”
• Queshi Scenic Area: A Three-Dimensional Gallery of Mountains and Sea The “Sea, Mountain, Stone, and Cave” are four unique scenic features: walk through Dream Valley to explore the cliff carvings, or take a cable car (at your own expense) to the top of Piaoran Pavilion for a 360° panoramic view of the Shantou Port’s blue waves intertwined with the city’s buildings.