Kaiping

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Popular Best Things to Do in Kaiping [2025]

"If you're in Kaiping, why not stop by Chikan Ancient Town on your way?"

"Sure! I've been collecting for half a year!"

I heard there are over 600 century-old arcades here. It's known as a "stunning gallery of Chinese and Western architectural art." The Nanyang-style buildings along the street transport you back half a century. Strolling through it feels like stepping into a living scroll of history.

&quot;If you&#39;re in Kaiping, why not stop by Chikan Ancient Town on your way?&quot;

&quot;Sure! I&#39;ve been collecting for half a year!&quot;

I heard there are over 600 century-old arcades here. It&#39;s known as a &quot;stunning gallery of Chinese and Western architectural art.&quot; The Nanyang-style buildings along the street transport you back half a century. Strolling through it feels like stepping into a living scroll of history.

This time, I arrived at the Guangdong Overseas Chinese International Tourism Resort in Chikan near evening, and the parking lot was already full. Tickets purchased on Ctrip were slightly cheaper than in person. The area was quite crowded. Walking into the scenic area, I saw a large inscription hanging from a tower: &quot;Chikan is full of drama.&quot; In the evening, there was a lot of activity, and you could follow the towers around to explore. Those interested can learn about the local Lingnan culture.

Chikan boasts China&#39;s largest and best-preserved collection of arcades, a symbol of a hometown of overseas Chinese. Its 3-kilometer arcade street blends Baroque, Nanyang, and Chinese styles, earning it the title of &quot;China&#39;s Fifth Greatest Ancient Town.&quot; Architectural details like the Situ Family Library and the Guanzu Wharf Ruins tell stories of a century of overseas Chinese history, perfect for photo opportunities and cultural exploration.


Nearby Kaiping Diaolou (Zili Village, Liyuan Garden, etc.) offer connections to the surrounding area, allowing visitors to experience the architectural aesthetics of this &quot;fusion of Chinese and Western&quot; heritage, a World Cultural Heritage site. Combined ticket discounts are available.

2. Immersive Experiences


Performances: Summer and holiday events feature live-action performances such as &quot;Homeward Bound&quot; and &quot;Fire Show,&quot; incorporating intangible cultural heritage performances like iron flower making and fire dragon dancing. The nighttime light show and the situational drama &quot;Nanyang Past&quot; are particularly captivating.



Special Activities: Retro costumes, dangdang car parades, and Tanjiang River rowboat rides allow visitors to embody characters from the Republican era and travel back in time.

#Creator Bounty Program Among all the scenic spots in Chikan Ancient Town, Kaiping, Jiangmen, taking a &quot;Dangdang car&quot; to travel around the ancient town is definitely one of the must-do items.
After all, the ticket price is not cheap, so you must &quot;sit&quot; to get the best value for money:
First, you must choose the morning time period. At this time, the large group of people have not entered the park yet, and the road is almost empty. The driving route will pass through most of the scenic spots, and you can enjoy the scenery and familiarize yourself with the environment.
Secondly, you must buy seats on the upper level, the view will be much better (although it will be slightly more expensive).
In addition, the appearance of each Dangdang car in Chikan Ancient Town is different. The most beautiful one is the one with two big golden bells 🔔 hanging on the front of the car. It will be particularly beautiful to take a group photo.
You will pass a lifting bridge on the way, and the bridge deck will open and close up and down. When the Dangdang car arrives at the bridge head, the two ends of the bridge deck slowly descend, and you can pass after it is leveled, and then slowly rise again. At this time, you must go to the front of the car to see the whole process clearly.
A travel experience full of memories!

The most beautiful place in Chikan Overseas Chinese Ancient Town is definitely the &quot;Big Red Bow Square&quot;.
The big red bow is particularly colorful. Standing in front of it, any photo you take is a blockbuster. After the lights are on at night, it is more beautiful than during the day. The yellow cathedral next to it is also very impressive. The large lawn in the middle is set against a Frozen-like background, which is comfortable to look at. The Santa Claus leaning on the window with a cane should still be there now, but it may be taken away in a few days.
After walking a few steps, there is also a big red &quot;heart 💗&quot; background wall, which is also a good place to check in.
Many people only play in the arcade street area. In fact, Chikan Ancient Town is divided into several areas with different themes. This &quot;Big Red Bow Square&quot; alone is worth half the ticket price.

We took the tram and passed through the Republic of China arcades. The Nanyang style at sunset was breathtakingly beautiful. The photos we took were like movie blockbusters. The sisters rushed to the Peace Square and were surrounded by pigeons.

The scenery in the scenic area is intoxicating, and it has a long history and culture, which is worth exploring. The vegetation in the scenic area is rich and diverse, colorful, and pleasing to the eye! &#39;

Chikan Ancient Town has a beautiful environment and is a great place for taking photos. There are a lot of performances every day. The natural scenery will make people linger.

There are several Diaolou scenic spots in Kaiping. In comparison, Liyuan is the most beautiful.
Of course, many people think that Chikan Ancient Town is the most beautiful, but the two are not the same concept and cannot be compared.
First of all, the overall planning of Liyuan is the most reasonable, scientific, systematic and modern. There are residential areas, garden areas, canal water systems, defense and security systems, etc. And a large number of advanced foreign materials, technologies, architectural design styles and other modern means have been introduced and adopted, including flush toilets, enamel bathtubs, water pumps, sewage and garbage treatment, etc. It can be said that more than a hundred years ago, this may be the place with the highest quality of life in China.
At the same time, it also retains Chinese characteristics very well. There are many colored sculptures and paintings, carved murals, furniture made of rare wood, etc., which are of great historical value. Among them, there is a &quot;Chaozhou Gilded Camphor Wood Carving Painting&quot; that is still shining and timeless.
The buildings are mainly villas, which are much more beautiful than the simple Diaolou like a turret. The dome-shaped large flower house in the garden is more magnificent than many European nobles&#39; homes.
Moreover, the management and descendants of Liyuan have devoted a lot of effort to the protection and development of Liyuan. The maintenance work is excellent. People who know the history of more than 100 years will understand its preciousness. Of course, there is no distinction without comparison. Several other Diaolou groups in Kaiping also have their own stories and legends, which are worth visiting one by one. After all, in the vast Guangdong Province, only the &quot;Kaiping Diaolou&quot; has been rated as the &quot;World Cultural Heritage List&quot;.

Kaiping Diaolou is a shining pearl of Lingnan architecture, which is amazing. Its unique combination of Chinese and Western styles not only retains the simplicity and elegance of Chinese style, but also integrates the gorgeous atmosphere of Western style. It has various shapes and stands tall, showing the thickness and vicissitudes of history. Walking among them, it seems to travel back to the past years, and you can deeply feel the wisdom and tenacity of our ancestors in resisting foreign enemies. The surrounding rural scenery is beautiful, which complements the Diaolou, and is a rare cultural treasure. It is worth tourists to savor its unique charm.

Popular Best Things to Do in Kaiping [2025]

Chikan Ancient Town

Kaiping Diaolou

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