After exploring Jieyang Ancient City, don’t rush to leave! The arcade ancient street in Mianhu, Jiexi, hides the most authentic local flavors, while Deanli in Hongyang, Puning, is known as the "Living Fossil of Chaoshan Residential Architecture." One in the east, one in the west—spend your morning enjoying the old town’s lively atmosphere and your afternoon exploring a Qing Dynasty noble mansion. Driving yourself is the most convenient way to travel the whole route.
One-Day Itinerary Overview
· Morning (about 2-3 hours): Jiexi County, Mianhu Town, Jiefang Road Pedestrian Street
· Afternoon (about 2-3 hours): Puning City, Hongyang Town, Deanli
🏛️ First Stop|Jiexi Mianhu Jiefang Road: The Arcade Old Street Frozen in Time
Mianhu is an ancient town in eastern Guangdong with a history of over a thousand years. Jiefang Road Pedestrian Street stretches over 500 meters, lined with arcades, bright red lanterns hanging high, and shop signs retaining the style of the Republic of China era. It is praised as a "thousand-year-old town favored by time." After renovations in 2023, the street reopened, featuring traditional handicraft shops, book bars, and creative boutiques—a perfect blend of nostalgia and trendiness.
Morning Highlights:
· Stroll and Photograph the Arcades: Century-old arcades stand staggered, with red lanterns enhancing the nostalgic vibe. Dress in vintage style for photos that capture the feel of a Republic-era film.
· Appreciate Intangible Cultural Heritage Skills: The street’s heritage exhibition halls showcase local treasures like Liu Cuo Golden Lion, Qian Keng Wood Carving, and Fengjiang Bamboo Weaving.
· Weekend Cultural Performances: On weekends, lion dances, Yingge folk songs, and Chaoshan opera are regularly performed, offering a time-travel experience into the town’s cultural roots.
· Walk to the Rong River: At the end of Jiefang Road is the bank of the Rong River. Though the old boat dock no longer serves its original purpose, it makes an excellent photo backdrop.
🏛️ Second Stop|Puning Hongyang Deanli: The “Encyclopedia” of Chaoshan Architecture
In the afternoon, drive about an hour to Hongyang Town, Puning City. Deanli is a family residential complex built by Fang Yao, a late Qing Dynasty Guangdong naval commander, and his brothers. Construction began in the 10th year of the Tongzhi reign (1871) and took 20 years to complete. Covering 63,000 square meters with 773 existing rooms, it is the largest, best-preserved, and longest-standing mansion-style architectural complex in the Chaoshan region, known as the "Pearl of Chaoshan Ancient Architecture."
Deanli’s “Three Village Layout”:
· Old Village (Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix): Faces east, centered on the Fang family ancestral hall "Yanyi Hall," flanked by 100 residences symbolizing the hundred birds paying homage. This layout is unique in the Chaoshan area.
· Middle and New Villages (Four-Horse Carriage): Two typical "four-horse carriage" structures reflecting traditional Chaoshan clan concepts, orderly and grand.
· Architectural styles include large ancestral halls, three-hall corridors, five-room passages, four-point gold, downhill tigers, single-legged lions, and other typical Chaoshan residential styles, featured in the curriculum of the School of Architecture at South China University of Technology.
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