Sorry Shantou, this time I chose Shanwei, just want to be honest! Fewer people, beautiful scenery, and saves money
Coming back from Shanwei with leftover Haifeng millet, I completely gave up the original Shantou trip! It’s not that Shantou is bad, but Shanwei’s hidden gems are just too amazing—empty beaches, seafood for 10 yuan to fill you up, ancient villages without commercialization, 3 days with 300 yuan per person to have a blast. The waves at Honghai Bay are 10 times quieter than Shantou’s. This choice really paid off~ This heartfelt guide will help you unlock Shanwei’s treasure spots, stop crowding Shantou!
1️⃣ Transportation tips: High-speed rail + electric scooter, 20 yuan to tour the whole city🚄
• From out of town: Take the high-speed train directly to "Shanwei Station," don’t take the “black cars” at the entrance! They say “30 yuan to Honghai Bay,” but actually take a detour and charge 50 yuan. Take bus 101 then transfer to the Honghai Bay special line (2 yuan + 8 yuan, 1 hour direct); Shanwei city is small, shared bikes cost 2 yuan/30 minutes, very flexible for touring the old town and Kuishan Park, half the price of taxis~
• City transportation: Rent a “licensed electric scooter” at Honghai Bay or Jinxiang Beach (30 yuan/day, 60 yuan cheaper than chartering a car), you can stop anytime to take photos of the sea view; key tip: don’t join the “Shantou + Shanwei one-day tour” (299 yuan/person), which forces you into seafood shopping spots and skips all the hidden gems; to get to Haifeng ancient village, take bus Haifeng 1 (3 yuan/person, 1 hour direct, 40 yuan cheaper than black cars)~
2️⃣ Must-visit 5 hidden spots: Much quieter than Shantou🌿
• Honghai Bay · Zhelang Peninsula hidden tidal flats (not the main beach): open all day, free. Honghai Bay Tourist Area Don’t crowd the main Honghai Bay beach! The hidden tidal flats are so empty you can have them all to yourself. In January, the sea is so blue it looks filtered🌊, you can pick shells and catch little crabs (tools provided for free, borrowed from guesthouses), fishing boats dot the distance, 10 times quieter than Shantou’s beaches.
I went at 10 am, sat on the rocks soaking up the sun, no one blocking the shot, took photos of “tidal flats + sunset,” no need to edit on my phone; I even got free hot ginger tea from fishermen and listened to their fishing stories~
• Jinxiang Beach · Rocky cliff area (not the main scenic spot): Jinxiang Silver Beach open all day, free. Don’t crowd the main Jinxiang Beach scenic area! The rocky cliff area is quiet, in January waves crash on the rocks🌊, perfect for photos of “cliffs + waves + blue sea.” At 5 pm, the sunlight slants and the rocks glow golden, creating a full atmosphere.
I went at 4 pm, only a few photography enthusiasts, crouched on the rocks shooting “slow-motion waves,” got tons of likes on social media; note: wear non-slip shoes, don’t get close to the edge at high tide~
• Haifeng · Chishi Ancient Village back alley (not the main street): Haifeng · Shanwei open all day, free. Don’t crowd the main street of the ancient village! The back alley is Shanwei’s “authentic hidden gem,” cobblestone roads covered with vines🏡, in January red lanterns hang on old house walls, you can watch villagers make Haifeng millet (free to watch) and learn to make “vegetable tea” (20 yuan per portion of ingredients, grandma teaches how to cook).
I went at noon, sat at the alley entrance eating 8 yuan per portion of Haifeng millet, with tender skin and fresh filling, half the price of Shantou snacks, and no need to queue~
• Shanwei · Side walkway beside Fengshan Ancestral Temple (not the main temple): 8:00-17:30, ticket 15 yuan (10 yuan online). Fengshan Ancestral Temple Tourist Area Don’t crowd the main hall of Fengshan Ancestral Temple! The side walkway is quiet, in January you can shoot “ancestral temple + panoramic view of Shanwei Harbor”🌅, fishing boats returning in the distance, incense smoke curling, much quieter than Shantou’s temples. I went at 2 pm, sat on a bench by the walkway, watched locals pray, enjoyed a coconut (10 yuan each) in the sea breeze, so relaxing I didn’t want to leave~
• Haifeng · Peng Pai Former Residence hidden exhibition hall (not the main exhibition): 9:00-17:00, free. Don’t just see the main exhibition at Peng Pai’s former residence! The hidden exhibition hall is quiet, warm light in January shines on old photos✨, you can learn about Shanwei’s revolutionary history and visit the “folk museum” for free (see Haifeng traditional costumes and farming tools). I went at 11 am, followed a free guide to hear stories, no noisy tour groups, more meaningful than Shantou’s trendy spots~
3️⃣ Stay at 2 treasure accommodations: half the price of Shantou hotels🏡
• Guesthouse beside Honghai Bay (address: No. 12, Zhelang Peninsula, Honghai Bay, urban area): 150-250 yuan/night. 5-minute walk to tidal flats🌊, rooms have air conditioning (January Shanwei 15-22℃, wear a light jacket), family rooms with small desks, owner cooks seafood porridge + Haifeng millet breakfast (free refills), free beach chairs and sand digging tools, watch stars on the balcony at night, fall asleep to the sound of waves~
• Haifeng ancient village guesthouse (address: No. 8, back alley, Chishi Ancient Village, Haifeng County): 120-180 yuan/night. 3-minute walk to the ancient village🏡, rooms have electric blankets + thick quilts, owner can help buy seafood (20% cheaper than scenic spots), processing fee 10 yuan per portion, enjoy steamed fish and stir-fried clams at night, more authentic and cheaper than Shantou’s trendy restaurants~
4️⃣ Must-eat 10 yuan filling foods: better value than Shantou🌶️
• Haifeng ancient village · Grandma’s Haifeng millet: 8 yuan per portion, chewy skin, filling of fresh shrimp and pork, delicious dipped in chili sauce, locals queue in the morning~
• Honghai Bay · Uncle Li’s vegetable tea: 10 yuan per bowl, rich ingredients (dried shrimp, lean meat, vegetables), fresh and not greasy soup, warms your stomach on cold days~
• Shanwei old town · Zhang’s stir-fried thin shell clams: 15 yuan per portion, fresh clams, well-seasoned, perfect with beer, half the price of Shantou seafood~
• Avoid: don’t eat at “scenic spot trendy seafood stalls” (100 yuan per person, short weight and quantity); buy dried seafood at “old town market,” squid dried 50 yuan per jin, 30 yuan cheaper than scenic spots~
5️⃣ Photo spots + outfit tips: 100% photogenic📸
• Honghai Bay hidden tidal flats: 10 am, wear a white dress👗, stand by the tidal flats for “back view + blue sea” shots, use “fresh mode” on your phone, very fairy-like~
• Jinxiang Beach rocky cliffs: 5 pm, wear a red jacket + jeans, crouch on rocks for “sunset + waves” shots, use “vintage mode” on your phone, full atmosphere~
• Haifeng Chishi ancient village: 12 noon, wear beige sweater + skirt, stand at old house door for “side profile + red lantern” shots, use “portrait mode” on your phone, very artistic~
6️⃣ Travel tips: avoid pitfalls and practical❗️
• Prepare: bring a light jacket + long sleeves (January Shanwei is warm but cool in mornings and evenings), comfortable walking shoes (needed for ancient village and beach), sunscreen (strong UV even in winter); bring a small bag to collect shells~
• Avoid: don’t buy “high-priced souvenirs at scenic spots” (choose shell souvenirs from small shops in old town, half the price); don’t trust “low-price seafood lures,” pick stalls crowded with locals for best value~
• Pro tip: Honghai Bay is least crowded in the morning, you can enjoy the tidal flats alone; add chili to Haifeng vegetable tea for better flavor, tell them in advance if you can’t eat spicy~
7️⃣ 3-day leisurely itinerary: slow and unhurried🗓️
• Day 1: Shanwei Station → Honghai Bay → stay near Honghai Bay
Arrive in Shanwei in the morning, visit Honghai Bay hidden tidal flats; lunch stir-fried thin shell clams; afternoon shoot tidal flat sunset; stay at Honghai Bay guesthouse at night~
• Day 2: Jinxiang Beach → Haifeng Chishi Ancient Village → stay in ancient village
Go to Jinxiang Beach at 9 am to shoot rocks; lunch Haifeng millet; afternoon tour ancient village and learn to make vegetable tea; stay at ancient village guesthouse at night~
• Day 3: Fengshan Ancestral Temple → old town buy specialties → return trip
Visit Fengshan Ancestral Temple at 10 am; lunch vegetable tea; afternoon buy dried seafood; take high-speed train back in the evening, 3 days cost about 300 yuan per person~
My true feelings💛
Giving up Shantou for Shanwei, no regrets at all! Fewer people, beautiful scenery, affordable prices, authentic food, no influencer price hikes, every place full of real local life. Quieter and better value than Shantou, this is how travel should be~
Save this guide! When you go to eastern Guangdong, don’t just know Shantou, go to Shanwei blindly, remember to like and save it, or you’ll lose it while scrolling!🌊