Paifang Street
Chao Zhou, Guangdong
Chaozhou's main historic street, lined with 22 restored stone memorial archways and traditional shophouses, following a town layout more than 1,600 years old.
Why visit Paifang Street?
The archways (paifang) were historically built to honour notable local figures — walking the street end to end is effectively a walk through who Chaozhou considered important across centuries.
How to experience it
Go in the early evening, when the street lights come on and the day-trip crowds from Guangzhou and Shenzhen have mostly left.
Tip
Side alleys off the main street have some of the best small food stalls — don't stick only to the main strip.