Clickto Listen

Banyan tree is not rare to see in south China, but this is a special one – it's also known as the recruiting tree. Legend has it that General Zheng Chenggong of late Ming Dynasty used to recruit his soldiers under this tree to fight against invaders and pirates. And how to qualify for his army? This big rock!  You've got to be able to lift it up. Well, I guess I'm not qualified to be his soldier then.

Fishing is the main income for Nan'ao people. All of the fishing boats here are painted red at one end, a symbol of safety. Women usually don't go out on a long-haul fishing trip, instead they would stay at home and pray for the safety of their men in temples worshipping Mazu, the Goddess of Sea.

The fishing trip can be arranged through travel agencies on the island.

Chaoshan people have a tradition of playing a vital importance on education. After achieving success overseas, they'd come back and build high-quality educational institutions. For example, Shantou University.

Founded in early 1980s with the generous assistance of Li Kaisheng Foundation, Shantou University has grown into a modern institution of higher learning.

The main campus is designed by Herzog and De Meuron, the Swiss architects behind the bird-nest stadium of 2008 Beijing Olympics. 

The school makes it a mission to train students of integrity, uprightness, and critical thinking skills.

Shantou has a long history of foreign trade since opening port, so there is a strong western influence in the design of its old town. Strolling in the lanes around Xiao Gongyuan, the center of old downtown, you will find many surprising details.

Actually everything here, the dark doorway, broken window, mossy walls, look full of stories, and can go directly into a Wong Kaiwei movie.

When it comes to the art of Chaoshan traditional architecture, check out Chen Cihong former Residence in Chenghai County northeast to Shantou downtown.

Like many Chaoshanese who hit it rich overseas, Mr. Cheng Cihong spent a fortune building mega-houses back in hometown.

The whole complex covers a sprawling 25,000 square meters, and consists of altogether 506 rooms.

It is said that it would take one person a full day's time just to open all the windows in the complex and close all of them.

And the windows rarely repeat in designs.

The house is almost like a theme park of Chaoshan culture, you can almost find everything here, for example, the interesting puppet show!

The Chen Residence is a celebration of almost all decorations of chaoshan architecture and quite a few western elements. After eighty some years, the tiles still look brand new. And all the ceramic tiles in the whole complex were imported from Spain and Italy!

It is said nearly a hundred different glazed tiles were adopted in the massive compound.

Close to the Chen residence, I find an eatery, and locals say it's very good. Well. It's time for me to say goodbye to you and enjoy some delicious Chao-shan snack now.  I believe they will be served with a cup of Kungfu Tea. (Photo: baidu.com)

(CRIENGLISH.com)

What Else in Guangdong Province:
"Pearl Sea" - The City of Zhuhai

Back to "CRI Travel"             More Audio Tours at "Multimedia"