3 Days 4 Nights Exploring Jiangmen
Experience 3 days and 4 nights in Jiangmen Chikan Ancient Town for 6000 RMB! Vintage slow living + food overload, this is Guangdong’s hidden gem!
Still squeezing into crowded, trendy cities?
Try something different—
This century-old overseas Chinese hometown ancient town hidden in the heart of the Pearl River Delta, forgotten by time,
No overdevelopment, no sky-high tickets,
But with arcade streets, Nanyang-style charm, cozy coffee shops, movie filming locations…
Most importantly—it’s so delicious you won’t want to go home!
It’s: Jiangmen · Chikan Ancient Town.
Quieter than Zhouzhuang, more authentic than Wuzhen, and more down-to-earth than Dali.
Today’s in-depth 3 days 4 nights itinerary under 6000 RMB per person
will unlock a “vintage + artistic + lively” triple treasure travel destination for you!
✅【Itinerary Overview】
-Time: 3 days 4 nights (recommended weekend + annual leave combo)
-Budget: about 5800 RMB/person (including transport, accommodation, meals, experiences)
-Suitable for: couples, besties, family trips, photography lovers, nostalgia fans
-Keywords: Arcade exploration | Movie pilgrimage | Dim sum feast | Coffee roaming | Epic night views
🌟 Day 1: Arrive in Kaiping → Stroll Chikan Old Street, savor the first wave of happiness
📍Transport:
High-speed train direct from Guangzhou/Shenzhen to [Kaiping South Station], about 1.5 hours
Train fare: Guangzhou South → Kaiping South ¥99 / Shenzhen North → Kaiping South ¥128
-Take a taxi from the station to the entrance of Chikan Ancient Town Scenic Area, about 20 minutes, around ¥50
💰Day’s expenses: about ¥350 (transport + dinner)
🏨Accommodation recommendation:
✅ Chikan Overseas Chinese Ancient Town · Kaiyuanli Hotel (Boutique guesthouse)
-Prime location, right next to the main street entrance
-Room type: Vintage Republic of China style suite from ¥780/night
-Includes double breakfast, free Hanfu experience, butler service
🍜Must-try dinner list:
Huang’s Traditional Claypot Rice—wood-fired slow-cooked, crispy crust, rich cured meat flavor! ¥48
Chikan Tofu Puffs—crispy outside, tender inside, dipped in chili sauce for a soul-touching bite ¥12/portion
Chen’s Beef Brisket Noodles—broth simmered for 6 hours, hand-pulled noodles with great texture ¥28
🌃Night tour bonus:
Lights on at 8 PM sharp! The entire arcade street transforms into a “Thousand Lantern Corridor,”
European columns + red lanterns + river reflections, every shot looks like a still from the movie “Youth.”
Recommended to rent a Republic of China student outfit or qipao for a vintage photo shoot (rental ¥60/set)
🌟 Day 2: Deep exploration day|From Diaolou to coffee shops, max out slow living
☕Morning: Coffee wake-up + arcade exploration
-Breakfast at the hotel with Cantonese dim sum buffet (shrimp dumplings, rice rolls, sticky rice chicken all you can eat)
-Stroll along Tixi Road—1 km long century-old arcade cluster, full of Nanyang style
Must-visit spots:
Situsi Library Old Site (built in 1925, full of scholarly atmosphere)
Guan Clan Grand Theatre (once a Cantonese opera venue, now hosting exhibitions)
Heart of a Child Sculpture—photo hotspot, with the blue waters of Tan River behind
📸Hidden activity:
Download the “Chikan AR Guide” mini program, scan to trigger old photo comparison animations,
Instantly travel back to the bustling 1920s market, super fun!
Brunch recommendation:
➡️ Coffee shop under the arcade (hidden in a renovated old house on the second floor of the arcade)
-Recommended: Chenpi Latte ¥28 + Taro Mud Alkaline Water Bun ¥18
-Window seat overlooks the entire old street, perfect for social media posts!
🚗Afternoon: World Heritage check-in—Zili Village Diaolou cluster
-Take a taxi to [Zili Village] (30 minutes from the ancient town, ¥80 round trip)
-Entrance fee ¥78 (including guide), filming location of “Let the Bullets Fly”!
-Highlights: Mingshi Lou, Yunhuan Lou, stunning blend of Chinese and Western architecture
-Experience riding an ox cart around the village ¥30, full countryside vibe
🍲Dinner back to local flavor:
➡️ Kaiping Home-style Cuisine · Ajuan Private Kitchen (locals’ secret)
Must order: stuffed tofu, preserved vegetable pork belly, bamboo tube steamed chicken, salted fish eggplant pot
About ¥65 per person, portions so big you’ll want to pack two boxes
🌙Evening relaxation:
Walk along the river in the ancient town, listen to street performers singing Cantonese songs,
Or have a cup of chenpi pu’er tea on the guesthouse terrace and stargaze.
🌟 Day 3: Cultural immersion + prepare for departure
🎨Morning: Hands-on experience · Be a “Qiaoxiang” (overseas Chinese hometown) local for a day
Choose one:
Intangible cultural heritage craft class: learn to make Kaiping gray sculpture or write a “Letter home from Southeast Asia”
Location: Chikan Cultural Center, ¥98/person, includes a commemorative envelope
Cantonese opera face painting experience: wear your painted mask for photos, super fun!
🛒Souvenir shopping list:
-Chenpi Cake ¥35/box (direct from Xinhui core production area)
-Kaiping Fermented Tofu ¥12/bottle (perfect with congee)
-Diaolou cultural creative bookmarks ¥15/set
👉Recommended shops: Qiaoxiang Memory Museum, Chikan Supply and Marketing Retro Store
🚄Afternoon departure:
Check out, store luggage, browse your favorite shops one last time
-Take a taxi to Kaiping South Station, end a perfect trip
💰【Total Expense Breakdown】(per person)
Item Cost
------ ------
Round-trip high-speed train ticket (from Guangzhou/Shenzhen) ¥230
Local taxi/transport ¥150
Accommodation (3 nights, mid-to-high-end guesthouse) ¥2340
Meals (6 main meals + snacks + coffee) ¥800
Attraction tickets (Zili Village + experience class) ¥256
Hanfu/photography/entertainment ¥120
Souvenir shopping ¥300
Emergency reserve ¥300
Total About ¥5796
✅ Well controlled, easily done within 6000 RMB!
🎯【Blogger’s Tips】
Best season: October to April next year, pleasant climate, avoid rainy season
Outfit suggestions: vintage style, solid color long dresses, qipao, beret, photo success guaranteed
Avoid crowds: weekday mornings have the fewest people, perfect for quiet photos
Family-friendly: kids can join craft classes, ride ox carts, feed small animals
5. Signal tip: Good 5G coverage in the ancient town, no pressure for live streaming or vlogs
📌Conclusion:
Chikan is not a fast-paced trendy hotspot,
It’s a “living museum” that requires you to slow down and feel with your heart.
Here,
A bowl of beef brisket noodles carries the craftsmanship of three generations,
An old arcade hides a century of wandering and returning.
Spend 6000 RMB, you won’t get luxury cars or watches,
But you will gain three days of undisturbed time,
And a gentle encounter with hometown, memory, and beauty.
If you’re tired of the same old trips,
Come to Chikan—
Here there’s no noise, only peaceful time and a mouthful of warm human life.