Real and ungentrified

Shantou is a port side city in the province of Guangdong. Being one of the many treaty ports opened during the Qing dynasty, it was a center of international trading. As such, the area now houses signs of this historic presence. The historic part of Shantou is not as touristy as one might expect; many of the historic buildings in the center are lightly restored, but nothing is really remade to look fake and overly gentrified. In fact, many of them lie abandoned and in ruins. For me, I find this adds character to the overall area, as there's a sense of authenticity among these buildings that tell stories of their past. There's a small park in the area, which serves as the main focal point of the area. You can't leave the Old town without venturing a bit further to sample the famous Shantou beef balls. Many of the restaurants make them on site and you'll see them beating the beef, resulting in a very chewy textured beef ball that you can't get enough of! Overall, Shantou is a historic city with many buildings with character. You'll get lost wandering the old streets that are lined with buildings that have seen better days! Don't leave the city without grabbing a bowl (or two or three) of its famous beef balls! #explore #travel #food #shantou #china