A special cultural event featuring food, dance, and music will be held on May 1 in Dongxi Village, Longhu District (龙湖区外砂街道东溪村), Shantou. Running from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., the event is free to the public and offers residents and visitors an immersive cultural experience of Chaoshan during the holiday.
Explore the "Village of Studies"
From 9 a.m., visitors can step into Dongxi Village and explore this centuries-old "Village of Studies." The village is home to 24 historic study halls and 36 traditional mansions. Mingxin Study Hall (明新书斋), Tingying Study Hall (听莺书斋), and many others are scattered throughout the village, creating a timeless setting for the day's festivities.
Enjoy Chaoshan folk performances
Starting from 3 p.m., performances including Yingge Dance, Buma Dance, a Chaoshan-style Qipao show, and Tai Chi kung fu fan dance will be performed in succession, bringing energy and excitement to the crowd.
Taste Chaoshan cuisine
From 6 p.m. to 7:40 p.m., the beef hotpot and handmade beef ball experience zone will be open. Visitors can watch the full process—from precise meat cutting to repeated hand pounding—that showcases Chaoshan cuisine's pursuit of freshness and craftsmanship. Tastings are available on site.
Enjoy Chaoshan music
Starting from 8 p.m., the Classic Chaoshan Music Concert will begin, featuring Chaozhou gong and drum ensembles, Chaoyang flute suites, Chaoshan opera melodies, Chinese string ensemble music, and suona performances. The lively program promises an unforgettable night of music.
A heritage market will also open that day inside historic buildings such as Fancuocheng (番厝埕) and the former residence of Wang Jingren (王景仁故居). More than ten intangible cultural heritage crafts will be showcased, including seal carving, Chaoshan embroidery, inside-bottle painting, and paper cutting. Visitors can also make Red Peach Cake (stuffed dumpling with soft sticky glutinous rice flour skin) by hand and enjoy Kung Fu tea, experiencing the art of everyday life in Chaoshan culture.
Author: Liu Yue
Photo: Nanfang Plus
Revised by Huang Qini
