Major city · China
Chaozhou潮州
Give Chaozhou 2 nights: one full day for the old town on foot, one for Guangji Bridge and Kaiyuan Temple. Skip it if you only want beaches.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- Oct–Dec, Mar–Apr
- avoid Jun–Aug (heavy rain and typhoon season), Lunar New Year crowds
- Airport
- SWA
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
Chaozhou is the cultural core of the Chaoshan region in eastern Guangdong, on the Han River. The walled old town is compact and walkable, and the food — Teochew beef hotpot, braised goose, oyster omelette — is the main reason to come. Two nights covers it; three lets you add Fenghuang Mountain or a Shantou day trip.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Chaozhou, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyChaozhou is a low-crime city and the old town is fine on foot at night.
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSWA Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport (About 40–60 min by road to Chaozhou old town; no airport of its own.).
- Getting aroundWalk the old town — it is compact and the lanes are the point.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or tea in a café¥15–35 (≈ US$3–5)
- Street or quick mealNoodle soup or rice porridge¥10–25 (≈ US$2–4)
- Beerdraught / can at a convenience store¥15–30 (≈ US$3–5)¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi ride3.1 mi taxi ride¥20–30 (≈ US$3–5)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week¥50–150 (≈ US$7–25)
- Budget bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per roomCN¥150 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per roomCN¥300 (≈ US$45)
- High-end bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per roomCN¥600 (≈ US$85)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥250 (≈ US$35) · Mid CN¥450 (≈ US$65) · High CN¥900 (≈ US$130)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SWA Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport (About 40–60 min by road to Chaozhou old town; no airport of its own.)
Weather and climate
Chaozhou: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
20°C68°F
11°C52°F
8 rd
Feb
20°C68°F
12°C54°F
10 rd
Mar
22°C72°F
15°C59°F
13 rd
Apr
26°C79°F
19°C66°F
14 rd
May
30°C86°F
23°C73°F
17 rd
Jun
32°C90°F
25°C77°F
19 rd
Jul
34°C93°F
26°C79°F
17 rd
Aug
33°C91°F
26°C79°F
17 rd
Sep
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
12 rd
Oct
30°C86°F
21°C70°F
6 rd
Nov
26°C79°F
17°C63°F
6 rd
Dec
22°C72°F
13°C55°F
6 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk the old town — it is compact and the lanes are the point. Taxis for longer hops run about ¥20–30. City buses exist but are slow and signed in Chinese; use a ride-hailing app instead.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Shantou
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus from the China Travel Services station, or taxi from Chaoshan Road
Buses run regularly for about ¥18–19; taxis take 45–60 min and may pick up other passengers.
Jieyang
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
High-speed rail to Chaoshan station, then local transport
Mostly useful as the airport city; the sights are thin.
Door to door: About 2.5 h
High-speed train from Chaoshan station
Trains run roughly every 15 min during the day and take about 1.5 h; add 45 min by bus to reach Chaoshan station.
Door to door: About 4 h
High-speed train from Chaoshan station
About 3 h on the train plus the transfer to the station.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Old town (Xiangqiao district)
Walk to Guangji Bridge, Kaiyuan Temple and the food streets; book ahead on holidays.
Near Chaozhou Avenue / People's Square
Modern hotels, cheaper rooms, 10–15 min by taxi to the old town.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥200–350 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥350–650 (≈ US$50–95) excl. bed
- High
- ¥650 (≈ US$95)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, mid-range hotel1 × 2 nights × CN¥300 | CN¥600 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × CN¥450 | CN¥1,800 |
| Chaoshan station to Chaozhou city centre, city bus2 × CN¥5 · check | CN¥10 |
| Guangji Bridge crossing2 × CN¥20 · check | CN¥40 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × CN¥100 | CN¥200 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CN¥265 |
| Trip total≈ CN¥729 per person per day, bed included | CN¥2,915≈ US$450 |
2026 estimate in yuan; flights and rail tickets excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea in a café | ¥15–35 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Noodle soup or rice porridge | ¥10–25 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Teochew beef hotpot, per person | ¥60–120 (≈ US$9–17) |
| Braised goose plate | ¥30–60 (≈ US$5–9) |
| Beer: draught / can at a convenience store | ¥15–30 (≈ US$3–5) / ¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2) |
| 5 km taxi ride | ¥20–30 (≈ US$3–5) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ¥50–150 (≈ US$7–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Chaozhou Railway Station in the centre no longer handles passenger trains — arrive at Chaoshan station instead.
- Guangji Bridge charges about ¥20 (≈ US$3) to cross and is free for visitors over 60 (one way).
- The Lighthouse of Buddha was closed for renovation as of July 2026: check before walking up.
- Summer brings heavy rain and typhoons; check the forecast before booking June–August.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 120
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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Chaozhou潮州
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire119
- Ambulance120
Embassy
No embassies in Chaozhou; most countries have consulates-general in Guangzhou. The US consulate-general is in Guangzhou (check the address).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Chaoshan station → Chaozhou city centre, city bus: about ¥5 (≈ under US$1), 45 min (check)
- Shantou → Chaozhou, bus: about ¥18–19 (≈ US$3)
- Guangji Bridge crossing: about ¥20 (≈ US$3), free for visitors over 60 (check)
Say or show
- 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xiè xie)
- 多少钱？ — How much is it? (duō shao qián)
- 可以刷卡吗？ — Can I pay by card? (kě yǐ shuā kǎ ma)
- 洗手间在哪里？ — Where is the toilet? (xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ)
- 不要辣 — Not spicy, please (bú yào là)
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Chaozhou. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Dec, Mar–Apr · avoid Jun–Aug (heavy rain and typhoon season), Lunar New Year crowds · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SWA: last bus and train times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Guangji Bridge and the east gate, Kaiyuan Temple and the food lanes, West Lake, People's Square.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Guangji Bridge, Kaiyuan Temple, Chaozhou Museum, Yi Garden) and eat pages with last orders.
- Typhoon and heavy-rain fixtures so gates A–D can go green.