Archway Street

Archway Street

Archway Street is located in the old town area of Chaozhou. The street retains numerous arcade-style buildings, and features 22 memorial archways that recount the great achievements of many historical figures from Chaozhou. Each archway has its own story, full of intrigue. Of course, the many local Chaozhou delicacies on the street are also not to be missed.

It is said that the earliest archway on the street was the "Zhushi" Archway, built in the 12th year of the Zhengde era during the Ming Dynasty (1517). Historically, there were as many as 39 archways here, but many were damaged over time due to various reasons. Today, 22 have been restored, standing majestically across the street, exuding a timeless charm. Most of the archways were erected to honor individuals such as successful imperial examination candidates, top scholars, and high-ranking officials, recording their outstanding accomplishments and highlighting the region’s exceptional talent.

In 2006, the Chaozhou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government extensively collected images of ancient archways, historical documents, and surviving architectural components. After three years of work and an investment of approximately 140 million yuan, they carried out the restoration of Archway Street in full accordance with the principle of “restoring the old as it was.” The restored Archway Street in Chaozhou is 1,948 meters long (including 1,742 meters along Taiping Road and 206 meters along Dongmen Street), featuring 23 ancient archways. Most of these archways are full-stone structures with three bays, three floors, and four pillars. They are exquisitely crafted, classic and elegant, majestic, and grand in scale. Both the front and back of the archways feature inscribed plaques and couplets, while the third floors are adorned with carvings of birds, animals, figures, and flowers—all lifelike and varied in posture. The inscriptions and couplets on the archway lintels were all penned by master calligraphers. Each archway carries a wealth of historical and cultural information, as well as unforgettable historical stories. The street is lined with shops, including many longstanding Chaozhou brand stores and locally distinctive retailers. With these multiple features, Archway Street has been hailed as the “No. 1 Archway Street under Heaven,” serving as a historical and cultural landmark that showcases the cultural essence, historical appearance, and artistic characteristics of the ancient Chaozhou city, while also invigorating the economic vitality of the old town area.

Aside from exploring the historic sites, the food along the street is equally enticing. Chaozhou hand-made beef balls, taro paste cakes, and duck gizzard skewers are all highly distinctive. The “Three Treasures of Chaozhou”—Buddha’s Hand Preserved Tangerine, Wampee Bean Paste, and Old Medicinal Orange—are excellent choices for souvenirs.

Stroll through this historic old street, savor the stories behind the archways, and enjoy the endless delights of Chaozhou cuisine.

Address: Archway Street, Xiangqiao District, Chaozhou City

Type: Historic Architecture & Characteristic Streetscape

Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

Opening Hours: Open all day

Ticket Information: No admission fee.

Xiangqiao Subdistrict: Xiangqiao Subdistrict is located in the central area of the ancient city of Chaozhou, Guangdong Province. It is named after the “Xiangzi Bridge” within its jurisdiction, and its office is situated at No. 26 Liuyaxiang, Taiping Road. Xiangqiao Subdistrict borders the Riverside Promenade to the east, meets Shangxiping Road of Xihu Subdistrict to the west, extends to Dongping Street to the south, and reaches Shangshuimen Street to the north. The subdistrict administers five community neighborhood committees: Kaiyuan, Yi’an, Changli, Taichang, and Fenshi, covering a total area of 0.63 square kilometers, with a current population of 28,405. Within the jurisdiction, there are Kaiyuan Middle School, Changli Road Primary School, Yi’an Road Primary School, and Zhengrong Kindergarten, with a total of over 5,000 students.

　Xiangqiao Street…… More detailed information on Xiangqiao Subdistrict ++