Many people come to Jiangmen to see the overseas Chinese arcade buildings, heading straight to 📍Chikan Ancient Town or 📍Meijia Courtyard for their first stop. While they look great after renovation, they are packed with shops and tourists, making it hard to find a quiet atmosphere. But just in the suburbs of Taishan, there is a little-known old market—📍Yuanshan Xu. Built in 1929, it has stood for nearly a century without large-scale renovations. Its 58 Nanyang-style arcade buildings remain in their original state, making it the best-preserved rural overseas Chinese market in Taishan.
A stark contrast in time and place: when 📍Chikan Ancient Town is packed with crowds on holidays, 📍Yuanshan Xu is so quiet in the early morning that you can only hear the wind. It was once a bustling market, filled with merchants and noisy on market days. Later, residents gradually moved overseas to make a living, and it was slowly forgotten by the world, becoming an "abandoned market." Precisely because of this, it hasn't been commercialized. The gray-sculpted archways, mottled walls, and square-shaped streets all retain the original appearance of the Nanyang overseas Chinese market. It is also a filming location for "The Knockout" (Mang Village) and "12 Hours of Fury," giving it a natural cinematic atmosphere.
If you are planning a one-day trip to Taishan, save this time-saving route that avoids backtracking. Skip the time spent searching for guides and avoiding tourist traps; you can hit all the highlights in half a day.
👉 Stop 1: 📍Yuanshan Xu Arcade Buildings
The entire market has a rare square layout, with four old streets crisscrossing: Yuanshan Road, Zixia Road, Yushu Road, and Xihua Road. Two- to three-story arcade buildings are connected, with Roman columns, carved parapets, and Nanyang-style balconies visible everywhere.
📸 Tips:
· The morning light is soft, perfect for capturing the depth of the arcade buildings; the midday light is too harsh and can flatten the mottled texture
· Don't just stay at the entrance; walk deeper inside, as the old market ruins in the center have the strongest atmosphere
⚠️ Avoid tourist traps: These are pristine old buildings with a lot of weeds, so watch your step. Do not climb on dangerous structures; help protect the historic buildings.
👉 Stop 2: 📍Changfan School
A few minutes' walk from the arcade buildings, this old schoolhouse blends Chinese and Western styles, featuring red walls and Ionic columns. It belongs to the same overseas Chinese market system. There are very few tourists, making it perfect for quiet, vintage portrait photography. Most tourists miss this hidden gem.
👉 Stop 3: 📍Taicheng Historic District
If you have enough time, stop by after visiting the old market. The rows of arcade streets are full of local life, offering a completely different contrast to the desolate, weathered feel of 📍Yuanshan Xu.
🍽️ | Food recommendations along the route (arranged by proximity)
✅ Taishan Eel Rice: A must-try dish in Taishan. The rice is fragrant, the eel is tender, and local farm restaurants serve the authentic version
✅ Five-Flavor Goose: A classic Taishan dish with a savory and sweet blend and firm meat
✅ Local Fresh Oysters: Close to the river and sea, the oysters are plump and delicious whether steamed or baked
✅ Mountain Spring Tofu Pudding and Sesame Paste: Available at street-side shops, these are refreshing, light, and offer great value
📌 Helpful travel checklist, ready to use
✅ Admission: Free throughout, no reservation required. Saves you the ticket money compared to renovated ancient towns
✅ Transportation: Driving is the most convenient. It takes about 2 hours from Guangzhou. Alternatively, take the high-speed train to Taishan Station, then take a 10-minute taxi ride. Public transport is complicated, so driving is preferred to save a lot of transfer time
✅ Duration: 1.5–2 hours is enough to explore Yuanshan Xu. No need to set aside a whole day; it's perfect for combining with nearby 📍Naqin Peninsula and 📍Kangqiao Hot Spring
✅ Season: Autumn and winter are the most comfortable, as it's not muggy. If visiting during the rainy season, wear non-slip shoes, as the ground in the market can be slippery
✅ Summary:
· 📍Chikan Ancient Town: There are no trendy shops, cruise boats, or performances here, but it wins on being pristine and quiet
· 📍Meijia Courtyard: There are only one-tenth as many tourists, so you don't have to queue for photo spots
Many tourists fall into the trap of spending all their time at popular overseas Chinese markets, only to see cookie-cutter renovated arcade buildings. Those in the know, however, save their early mornings for 📍Yuanshan Xu. There is no noisy hawking here, only silent buildings left behind by a century of overseas Chinese history. The aesthetic brought back by Nanyang overseas Chinese is perfectly preserved in this old market.
If you like quiet, pristine scenery full of stories and are tired of trendy ancient towns filled with shops, 📍Yuanshan Xu is definitely the hidden ace of the Jiangmen overseas Chinese route.
💬 Conclusion: Do you prefer the bustling, renovated 📍Chikan Ancient Town, or a pristine, abandoned old market like 📍Yuanshan Xu?