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Best Food in Shantou (2026)
Shantou is famous for its beef hot pot and hand-pulled beef balls, but the must-try is niu rou ke (牛肉粿), a stir-fried rice noodle dish with tender beef slices. Head to… 🍜 Signature Noodle Dish
Shantou is famous for its beef hot pot and hand-pulled beef balls, but the must-try is niu rou ke (牛肉粿), a stir-fried rice noodle dish with tender beef slices. Head to Lao Ma Gong (老妈宫) on Minquan Road for a classic bowl at around 20-30 RMB. The stall opens from 7 AM to 2 PM, so arrive early to avoid the lunch rush.
🥟 Dim Sum Paradise
For traditional Chaoshan dim sum, visit Jin Yuan Restaurant (金源酒家) at 168 Changping Road. Their shrimp dumplings (xia jiao) and chive dumplings (jiu cai jiao) are freshly steamed and cost 8-12 RMB per basket. The restaurant is open from 6:30 AM to 1 PM, and weekend mornings are especially busy.
🍢 Street Food Alley
Xia Gu Bu (下古埠) night market on Jinsha Road comes alive after 6 PM with dozens of stalls. Try the grilled oysters with garlic (12 RMB for 6) and the fried taro cake (yu tou gu, 5 RMB). Bring cash, as most vendors do not accept cards or mobile payments.
🍵 Tea and Snacks
Chaoshan gongfu tea is a ritual, and you can experience it at Cha Ren (茶人) teahouse at 45 Zhongshan Road. Pair your tea with lao po bing (老婆饼), a sweet pastry filled with winter melon, for 15 RMB per piece. The teahouse is open from 10 AM to 10 PM and offers free tea tastings.
🐟 Seafood Specialties
For fresh seafood, visit Nan Ao Island (南澳岛) and dine at Hai Xian Lou (海鲜楼) near the ferry terminal. Their steamed fish with ginger and scallions costs around 80 RMB per person. Take bus 105 from Shantou city center to the island, a 40-minute ride.
🍰 Sweet Treats
Don't leave without trying duck blood vermicelli (鸭血粉丝汤) at Lao Zi Hao (老字号) on Daxue Road, but for dessert, order dou hua (豆花) with ginger syrup at Fu Yuan (福园) at 12 Jiefang Road. A bowl costs 6 RMB and is served warm. The shop closes at 8 PM, so go early.
💰 Budget Tips
Most street food items cost between 5 and 20 RMB, while a sit-down meal at a mid-range restaurant runs 50-100 RMB per person. Avoid tourist-heavy areas near the train station for better prices. Carry small bills, as change for large notes can be scarce at stalls.
ngl the niu rou ke tip is spot on but if you're at Lao Ma Gong already grab a side of their chili oil too. it's house made and way spicier than the stuff you get at most places, just a tiny bit goes a long way. i've seen tourists dump a spoonful in and regret it instantly
also worth mentioning the oyster omelette (oh ah jian) at the Xia Gu Bu night market is underrated. the stall two rows back from the main entrance does it crispy on the edges with a sweet chili dip, 10 RMB for a decent portion. most people go straight for the grilled oysters but the omelette hits different after a long day of walking around
honestly this guide nails it but i gotta shout out the beef balls at Xiao Gui Niu Rou Huo on Guanghua Road. they hand-pull them fresh and the texture is way bouncier than the tourist spots near the train station. a bowl of beef ball soup is like 15 RMB and they open at 8 AM till midnight so great for a late snack
also the dou hua at Fu Yuan is solid but if you want it less sweet ask for half the ginger syrup. the lady running the shop will look at u funny but it's worth it if you're not into super sugary stuff
the guide's spot on about the seafood on Nan Ao island, but if you're taking bus 105 get off one stop early at the fish market instead of the ferry terminal. you can pick up live shrimp and have them steamed right there for like half the price of the restaurants, just look for the stalls with the red plastic stools out front.
3 Days in Shantou: Itinerary 2026
Base yourself near the Old Town area around Xiaogongyuan (Small Park) for easy access to historic sites and street food. Hotels like the Shantou International Hotel offer mid-ran… 🗺️ Where to Start
Base yourself near the Old Town area around Xiaogongyuan (Small Park) for easy access to historic sites and street food. Hotels like the Shantou International Hotel offer mid-range comfort within walking distance of key attractions. From there, you can reach most spots in 15-30 minutes by taxi or bus.
🏛️ Day 1: Old Town & Culture
Start your morning at the Shantou Museum (No. 6, Yuejin Road) to understand the city's history as a treaty port; admission is free. Then walk to the nearby Queshi Scenic Area (Queshi Bridge) for panoramic views of the harbor and the old European-style buildings. Spend the afternoon exploring the narrow lanes of the Old Town, where you'll find preserved shophouses and the iconic Nan'ao Island Ferry terminal.
🍜 Day 1 Evening: Food Street
Head to the famous Changping Road Food Street for dinner, where stalls serve authentic Chaoshan beef hotpot and oyster omelets. Try the renowned 'Shantou Beef Ball' at Laomao Beef Ball (No. 88 Changping Road), open until 10 PM. Budget around 50-80 CNY per person for a filling meal.
🌉 Day 2: Nan'ao Island
Take a 30-minute ferry from Shantou Ferry Terminal to Nan'ao Island (departures every hour from 7 AM to 5 PM, 20 CNY one way). Rent a bicycle or take the island bus to visit the Qing'ao Bay Beach and the historic Nan'ao Island Lighthouse. Return by late afternoon to avoid missing the last ferry at 6 PM.
🏞️ Day 2 Evening: Riverside Walk
After returning from Nan'ao, stroll along the Mei River promenade near the Shantou People's Square. The area lights up at dusk, and you can catch a free outdoor performance at the square's amphitheater on weekends. Grab a late snack at the nearby night market on Jinsha Road, open until midnight.
🛍️ Day 3: Shopping & Departure
Spend your final morning at the Shantou Wanda Plaza (No. 1 Changping Road) for modern shopping and a food court with local specialties. If you prefer traditional markets, visit the Xiaogongyuan Market for dried seafood and Chaoshan tea. Allow 1 hour to reach Shantou Chaoshan International Airport by taxi (about 80 CNY).
🚌 Getting Around
Public buses cost 2 CNY per ride and cover most tourist areas, but taxis are affordable at around 10-20 CNY for short trips within the city center. Ride-hailing apps like Didi are widely used and often faster than hailing a cab on the street. For day trips to Nan'ao Island, the ferry is the most scenic option.
💰 Local Prices
A budget traveler can manage on 200-300 CNY per day including meals, transport, and entry fees. Mid-range hotels cost 200-400 CNY per night, while street food meals are typically 15-30 CNY. Most attractions are free or under 50 CNY, making Shantou an affordable destination in 2026.
I've done this exact itinerary twice now and it holds up well. One thing I'd add is that the Queshi Scenic Area has a cable car that saves you a lot of walking up the hill, it's about 40 CNY round trip and the views from the top are better than anything you'll get on foot. The museum on Yuejin Road is worth a quick stop but don't budget more than 45 minutes there, the real history is in the old buildings scattered around the Old Town. For the night market on Jinsha Road, the grilled squid skewers from the second stall on the left are the best, the auntie running it has been there for over 20 years and her sauce is a family recipe.
This is a solid plan, I've done almost this exact route before. One thing the guide doesn't mention is that the food street on Changping Road gets very crowded by 7 PM, so if you go around 5:30 or 6 you'll get a seat without waiting and the stalls are just as fresh. I also prefer renting an electric scooter on Nan'ao Island over a bicycle because the hills near the lighthouse can be brutal in the afternoon heat, it costs about 50 CNY for a few hours. The dried seafood market at Xiaogongyuan is worth the morning trip alone, you can pick up some really good dried scallops for 30-40 CNY a bag that make great gifts.
The guide's right about the Xiaogongyuan market, but I'd add that the street food scene there in the morning is actually better than Changping Road for breakfast. There's this old lady who sets up a stall around 7 AM selling chao guo (fried rice rolls) with a spicy sauce that beats anything you'll get from the big restaurants. Also, if you're going to Nan'ao, bring cash because some of the smaller rental shops for scooters don't take WeChat Pay, learned that the hard way last year.