Jiangmen in a Day: Historical Marvels of Kaiping Diaolou & Chikan Ancient Town

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by Olivia

March 29, 2024 · 1 min read

Jiangmen 1 Day Itinerary

Embark on a one-day adventure in Jiangmen, where history and architecture intertwine. Begin your journey at the awe-inspiring Kaiping Diaolou, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its unique fusion of Chinese and Western architectural styles. These multi-storied defensive village houses were built in the early 20th century and served as a statement of both affluence and fortitude. Spend your morning marveling at these historical towers and immerse yourself in the stories they hold. In the afternoon, stroll through the nostalgic lanes of Chikan Ancient Town. This well-preserved town offers a glimpse into the past with its Qilou buildings and serene river views. As you wander, you'll feel as if you've stepped back in time, with each corner revealing more about the town's rich cultural heritage. This compact itinerary is designed to give you a profound appreciation of Jiangmen's unique blend of history and culture, all within the span of a single day.

Top 6 Hotels in Jiangmen
TOP 1
MANLEY HOTEL TAISHAN
MANLEY HOTEL TAISHAN
hotelStar
4/5
194 reviews
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TOP 2
Nirvana Hotel & Resort
Nirvana Hotel & Resort
hotelStar
3/5
320 reviews
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TOP 3
Paco  Hotel (Jiangmen Xinhui Times)
Paco Hotel (Jiangmen Xinhui Times)
hotelStar
4/5
594 reviews
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Popeye Holiday Inn
Popeye Holiday Inn
hotelStar
3/5
356 reviews
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Flower Season Hotel
Flower Season Hotel
hotelStar
4/5
45 reviews
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Rezen Heyi Hotel (Heshan Square)
Rezen Heyi Hotel (Heshan Square)
hotelStar
4/5
751 reviews
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Itinerary at a Glance
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Day 1: Unveiling Jiangmen's Historical Marvels

1

Kaiping Diaolou

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Begin your Jiangmen journey with the architectural wonders of Kaiping Diaolou, nestled within the Tangkou Liyuan Tourist Area. These multi-storied defensive village houses, resembling castles, are a unique blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles and have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend your day exploring these historical towers that once served as a refuge against bandits and floods, and now stand as a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the Kaiping people.

Attraction Info

  • Tangkou Liyuan Tourist Area, Kaiping City, Jiangmen City
  • Suggested tour duration: 1 day
  • Open from 9:00am-5:45pm

Recommended Nearby Restaurants

立福园酒楼
立福园酒楼
3.7/5 · 3 reviews
2.7 km from attraction
QIAO XIANG REN GU MA GANG E
QIAO XIANG REN GU MA GANG E
4/5 · 4 reviews
3.2 km from attraction
家咖
家咖
4.5/5 · 2 reviews
0.1 km from attraction
鹿园酒家
鹿园酒家
/5 · 0 reviews
2.6 km from attraction
DE JI FAN DIAN
DE JI FAN DIAN
4/5 · 5 reviews
3.2 km from attraction
花田溪
花田溪
4/5 · 2 reviews
1.3 km from attraction
12 min,6.77 km
2

Chikan Ancient Town

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Continue your historical escapade to Chikan Ancient Town, a place where time seems to have stood still. Immerse yourself in the charm of this quaint town for the remainder of your day, wandering through streets lined with well-preserved Qilou buildings—a fascinating fusion of Chinese and Western colonial architecture. Chikan's cinematic backdrop has made it a favorite location for film and television, allowing you to walk through living history and perhaps catch a glimpse of a production in action.

Attraction Info

  • Chikan Ancient Town, Kaiping City, Jiangmen City
  • Suggested tour duration: 1-2 days
  • Open from 9:00am-10:00pm

Recommended Nearby Restaurants

波仕堂(塘口店)
波仕堂(塘口店)
/5 · 0 reviews
3.4 km from attraction
赤坎古镇美堂酒店·羡意厅
赤坎古镇美堂酒店·羡意厅
/5 · 0 reviews
1.0 km from attraction
成利隆餐馆
成利隆餐馆
/5 · 0 reviews
1.3 km from attraction
锡万煲仔饭
锡万煲仔饭
4.3/5 · 4 reviews
1.4 km from attraction
QIAO XIANG REN GU MA GANG E
QIAO XIANG REN GU MA GANG E
4/5 · 4 reviews
2.2 km from attraction
立福园酒楼
立福园酒楼
3.7/5 · 3 reviews
3.2 km from attraction

Where to Stay Tonight

4.8/5751 Reviews
4.8/5Outstanding751 Reviews
Kaiping
|0.19km from city center
5/542 Reviews
5/5Perfect42 Reviews
Kaiping
|0.87km from city center
4.9/5165 Reviews
4.9/5Perfect165 Reviews
Kaiping
|0.89km from city center
4.9/510 Reviews
4.9/5Perfect10 Reviews
Kaiping
|0.94km from city center

Top Things to Do in Jiangmen-2024

TOP 1
Chikan Ancient Town
Chikan Ancient Town
4.4/5 · 699 review
Highlights:
Chikan is an ancient town with a long history in Kaiping. It is named after it was built on the "terracotta highland". The town is surrounded by rivers and ancient trees. For hundreds of years, the quaint architectural style and folk customs have hardly changed. The arcade is built along the water, showing a unique scene of the hometown of overseas Chinese. Because most of them have not been repaired by future generations, they imprint the vicissitudes of history and present the original ecological charm. There are also several watchtowers on Zhonghua West Road, Deye Road and Dixi Road in the town, bringing together the wisdom of the people of the past and the military concept of "protecting the home and defending the country". Tofu corners and claypot rice are the delicacies here, so don't forget to try them when you visit.
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TOP 2
Kaiping Diaolou
Kaiping Diaolou
4.4/5 · 1,718 review
taCommentInfo-imageBased on 146 review
Highlights:
The Kaiping Diaolou is a series of small fortresses and defensive towers located throughout Jiangmen's Kaiping. This is the famous hometown of countless overseas Chinese scattered around the world. Mixing Chinese and western architectural styles, these towers are distributed across the landscape. Many of them can be entered and some can even be climbed. This is a very worthwhile place to visit. Numerous scenes from the movie "Let the Bullets Fly" were filmed here. Three of the primary attractions in the area include the Li Garden, the Majianglong Ancient Village and Zili Village. The Li Garden is a garden villa, which was built early in the 20th century while Majianglong Ancient Village and Zili Village are two of the primary locations to see Diaolou fortresses.
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TOP 3
Chuandao Tourist Resort
Chuandao Tourist Resort
4.4/5 · 409 review
Highlights:
Chuandao Tourist Resort has a rich assortment of scenes, regardless of whether it is coconut wind, or social relics, can be found here. The picturesque spot is for the most part made out of Shangchuan Island and Xiachuan Island. The two islands are situated on the undulating South China Sea, isolated by 6 ocean miles and confronting each other. Shangchuan Island is an excellent mountain with heavenly view and social scenes, for example, the Le Chuan Giant Buddha and the Catholic Church. Shimojima Island has more unadulterated island landscape, wonderful inlets, and angling towns and rice fields have included a delightful peaceful scene.
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TOP 4
Xiachuan Island Wangfuzhou Tourist Area
Xiachuan Island Wangfuzhou Tourist Area
4.4/5 · 2,243 review
Highlights:
Xiachuan Island Wangfuzhou Tourist Area features pristine coastal scenery, ideal for beach-side strolls, watching sunrises and enjoying the gorgeous sunsets. Kilometers of coconut trees line the beach, swaying in the sea breeze, greeting travelers as they meander down the coast. Visitors can also climb the ascending stones to get a view of the “Seven Stars and Moon”, a group of small islands off the coast. This is a great place to taste local and tasty seafood.
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TOP 5
Chimelong Safari Park
Chimelong Safari Park
4.7/5 · 57,356 review
taCommentInfo-imageBased on 1,393 review
Highlights:
Chimelong Safari Park is part of the Chimelong Tourist Resort. Located in Guangzhou's Panyu, it is China's first and Guangzhou's only "AAAAA" grade scenic area. It is also the filming location of the famous reality show “Dad, Where Are We Going”. The park spans over 2000 acres of land including a large section of undisrupted Southeast China subtropical rainforest making it the largest eco-zoo in China. The park contains many wild animals from all over the world, of which many are rare species. It is a great place for family trips, there are plenty of animal performances in the park, and there is also a park zone designed specifically for children. It's a lot of fun!
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* All user reviews in this article have been translated by machine.

* The information above is subject to change at any time. For the latest information, please check the websites of hotels and attractions.

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Jiangmen 1 Day Itinerary