Discover Jiangmen

Jiangmen is the hometown of countless emigrants whose descendants have dispersed to more than a hundred countries. The city teems with cultural treasures, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Kaiping Diaolou and Villages. Within the Xinhui district and four counties of Jiangmen, there are more than 3,000 diaolou (watchtowers).

33 Market Street

Located in the old town of Jiangmen, 33 Market Street, with a history of more than 600 years, was once the most prosperous area in Jiangmen and is the city’s origin. The number 33 in its name is inspired by the 33 stone steps in the street itself. While the street is now lined with modern shops, older buildings with verandas prominently stand out, bearing witness to the ever-changing development of Jiangmen.

A stroll along 33 Market Street is an immersive experience of its unassuming yet quaint style at every turn. The stone-paved roads, moss-stained walls, European street lamps and the signage encapsulating the street’s history all serve as reminders of the rich cultural background of the place, transporting you to the West Gate area in its grandeur during the 80s and 90s.

Chaan Temple
Located in the suburbs of Jiangmen, the long-standing Chaan Temple (which means a Buddhist temple of tea) dates back to the Tang Dynasty. As the legend goes, the temple got its name from Yi Xing, a renowned Buddhist monk and Chinese astronomer, who secluded himself there and planted tea during the Tang Dynasty.

Designed as a two-hall courtyard, Chaan Temple is characterised by an exquisite architectural structure with a gable roof, a single eave and clay tiles; it’s also adorned with coloured glass at its edge, which heightened its visual appeal. The temple is built on a hillside, surrounded by greenery and winding paths, forming a picturesque elegant, awe-inspiring garden scenery.

Inside the temple is also a water well hailed as Longxi’s the best source of water.The water from the well, sweet and refreshing, is ideal for making tea.

Today, the temple has already expanded to become the larger-scale Chaan Park, a relaxing destination where visitors would find peace in practising Buddhist teachings, pondering about the past, and, simply appreciating the beauty of the park.

Chikan Ancient Town in Jiangmen

Dating back to the Qing Dynasty, Chikan Ancient Town was established when overseas Chinese brought back what they knew about foreign architecture to build houses in Jiangmen. The result was a special town with buildings demonstrating Western architectural characteristics. There are also houses with verandas that reflect a Southeast Asian style. All buildings maintain a perfectly harmonious relationship with their surrounding natural landscape.

Tixi Road is particularly famous in the town, as the 300-metre-long road has more than 600 well-preserved buildings adorned with verandas, exuding an unmistakable 1920s style. This timeless glamour has made it a sought-after filming location, earning it the reputation as a movie street and a European-style town.

Jiangmen Wuyi Museum of Overseas Chinese

Wuyi means the five county-level regions in Jiangmen city. The Wuyi Museum of Overseas Chinese is dedicated to displaying the history and culture of overseas Chinese living in Jiangmen. The museum has three exhibition halls, namely Taishan Community Hall, Enping Community Hall and Heshan Community Hall, presenting the touching stories of how overseas Chinese from Wuyi worked tirelessly to develop their businesses abroad and give back to their hometown.

The museum boasts a remarkable collection of over 39,000 pieces of cultural relics depicting the history of overseas Chinese from various perspectives, which is made possible through advanced audio, lighting and digital technologies. This creates an interactive and dynamic environment where visitors can feel a deeper connection with the exhibits on display.

The museum’s most valuable relics include a book of accounts mailed back to Jiangmen by overseas Chinese during the late years of the Qing Dynasty, the earliest passports of overseas Chinese, and the railway construction plan laid out by Dr. Sun Yat-sen.

Kaiping Diaolou Cultural Tourism Zone

The history of diaolou, which means fortified multi-storey watchtowers in villages, originated 400 years ago in Kaiping. Most were built in the first three decades of the 20th century. Today, about 1,800 diaolous remain standing, among which 20 have been selected as world cultural heritage sites.

Given the low-lying terrain of Kaiping, the early watchtowers were used not only for anti-flooding but also for defence against burglars. Later, many overseas Chinese provided financial assistance from abroad for the construction of watchtowers, bolstering the evolution of diaolou into structures that served both residential and defence purposes. With their living abroad experiences, the overseas Chinese drew inspiration from Western architectural features when they helped build the diaolous. This resulted in a unique landscape in Kaiping where the natural environment is harmoniously blended with the exotic styles.

Meijia Courtyard

Meijia Courtyard, also known as Tingjiangxu Overseas Chinese Building Complex, was established in 1931 by a group of overseas Chinese and their families who had returned to Jiangmen. The courtyard was named after the Chinese character for mei due to the prevalence of it as a surname.

Spanning across about 80 acres, Meijia Courtyard encompasses 108 buildings with verandas. The spaces between these verandas are dedicated to vendors selling a variety of goods. When building their own courtyard, the owners would reference the overseas architecture they knew about, resulting in a building complex which combined Western styles and traditional Chinese features. This innovation set off a new trend during that period.

Meticulously planned and arranged, the buildings in this unique complex also demonstrate a wide range of appearances, reflecting each family’s overseas experiences and aesthetics. This design feature holds significant architectural and cultural values. A well-preserved building complex representing overseas Chinese, Meijia Courtyard has served as the filming location for many movies revolving around the stories of overseas Chinese.

Roast Goose Street in Gujing Town (Tiancheng Street)

Inside Gujing Town in Xinhui District of Jiangmen, there is a street lined with restaurants serving up the best, internationally renowned Chinese roast geese. The dish has a history of over 700 years, dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty. Legend goes that a royal chef, forced to flee from war, discovered his new home in Gujing. With his royal recipe and exceptional roasting skills, he invented a new dish that soon became the town’s culinary pride — Gujing Roast Goose.

Today, you’ll find more than 20 roast goose restaurants welcoming you on Tiancheng Street, the enticing aroma of their roast geese filling the air. The soul of Gujing Roast Goose resides in the art of sauce preparation, and each restaurant has its own special recipe, which is closely safeguarded secrets to maintain its uniqueness. Famed for its crispy skin, tender meat and flavourful sauces, the Gujing Roast Goose was rightfully recognised as an intangible cultural heritage of Jiangmen in 2009. If you’re after an authentically local and savoury experience, a visit to Tiancheng Street is an absolute must on your itinerary.

Spring of Guifeng Cultural Temple Fair and Pancun Lantern Show

Organised from the first day to the third day in the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the Spring of Guifeng Cultural Temple Fair is dedicated to promoting local culture. Every year, a wide range of Lingnan-style activities, such as lion dances, are organised as part of its opening ceremony to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The temple fair is divided into various areas, where you can enjoy various performances, including singing, dancing and Lingnan-style crosstalk. The festive, joyful and boisterous atmosphere is the most attractive part of the temple fair as a Chinese New Year event.

Coinciding with the fair is the Pancun Lantern Show, a parade featuring gigantic lanterns that can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty. Inscribed on the list of China National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008, the parade is held every year on the 13th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Villagers would play gongs and drums, light up lanterns and set off firecrackers, praying for peace and a good harvest. During the parade, the procession is led by ceremonial umbrellas and colourful flags, creating a lively atmosphere. Villagers following them would carry their offerings as they participate in the festivities. Safeguarded by the symbolic presence of dancing lions and dragons, three giant lanterns will travel through 41 villages, culminating in the finale of the grand celebration.

Taishan Caoping Village

Situated at the centre of Shuibu Town in Taishan, Jiangmen, Caoping Village came into being over 600 years ago during the Ming Dynasty. The name ‘Caoping’, which means ‘lawn’ in Chinese, was given because the area where the village has spread out was originally a lawn.

Currently, there are 90 private residences in the village, all in traditional Cantonese style. There are also three ancestral halls built in the Qing Dynasty or during the early years of the Republic of China. Thanks to revitalisation, these old buildings now radiate a new glamour that makes them immensely popular among visitors today. A favourite place to go for many Internet influencers, the village represents an intriguing fusion of the past and present. While retaining the traditional local style, the village features additions of creative elements, such as murals depicting the everyday life in the village and comic-style signage. The village’s marketplace, also a famous street for food, is a must-go as you’ll find a wide range of traditional snacks, such as homemade waffles and authentic thick rice noodles.

Reprinted from the website of the Hong Kong Tourism Board，click here.