The Chaoshan dialect film Dear You (《给阿嬷的情书》) is now on show. Centered on Qiaopi (overseas Chinese remittance letters), it unfolds a sixty-year-long story of Chaoshan intertwined with family affection, integrity, and devotion to hometown and motherland.
Located on the eastern coast of Guangdong, Chaoshan consists of Shantou, Chaozhou and Jieyang, serving as a distinctive cultural region with coastal scenery, ancient folk customs and profound overseas Chinese heritage. Every frame captured is a sincere love letter to this area. Let's set off on a Chaoshan journey together with the film Dear You.
1. Shantou
No.77 Haiping Road (海平路77号)
A core landmark of the arcade complex at Xiaogongyuan, also known as the Shantou Small Park. It appears as the cinema in the film, recreating the warm scene of Chaoshan locals watching movies and reminiscing about their hometown in the old days.
Chen Cihong Former Residence, Qianmei Village, Longdu Town (隆都镇前美村·陈慈黉故居)
Known as "the Top Overseas Chinese Mansion in Lingnan", it features grand architecture. It serves as the residence of the character in the film, where traditional Chaoshan folk houses blend harmoniously with quiet village lanes.
Tangxi Village, Dongli Town, Chenghai District (澄海东里镇塘西村)
A showcase of Chaoshan overseas Chinese culture and home to multiple key filming sites of the movie. It includes Qifeng Chen Ancestral Hall (起凤陈公祠), Zhemou Guangju Study (哲谋广居书斋), Chunhui Pavilion of Xiangrong Villa (向荣别墅春晖亭), and the ancient mansion of Zhangcuocheng (张厝埕老宅). The old dwellings are serene, surrounded by lush plants and tranquil scenery.
2. Chaozhou
Longhu Ancient Village (龙湖古寨)
Most of the Southeast Asian-style street scenes in the film are shot here. Built in the Southern Song Dynasty, it still retains the original layout. It is an inland hub of the Maritime Silk Road and a spiritual landmark for Chaoshan people to trace their ancestral roots.
West Lake Park (西湖公园)
A beloved leisure destination with serene lake-and-mountain scenery and timeless Lingnan charm.
3. Jieyang
Yangqi Village, Rongcheng District (榕城洋淇村)
The shooting location of the ancient banyan tree and Shurou's house at the beginning of the film. Nestled between mountains and rivers, Yangqi Village boasts profound cultural heritage with a history of more than 800 years.
Xiqi Village, Rongcheng District (榕城西淇村)
This is the original location of the scene in the film. The classic stone slab bridge linking both river banks tells the life journeys and hardships of the characters.
Xima Road, Rongcheng District (榕城西马路)
The Siam-style inns and Chinatown are shot here. The arcades preserve intact traces of old business brands, alongside numerous traditional folk houses and ancestral halls from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Mianhu Town, Jiexi County (揭西棉湖)
The workshop cluster on Datie Street is a core shooting site and listed as the fourth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.
4. Trace history through Qiaopi
Qiaopi Museum, Shantou (汕头市侨批文物馆)
China's first professional Qiaopi museum, housing nearly 100,000 original Qiaopi relics, ranks first nationwide in the size of its collection.
Qinghui Building Qiaopi Culture Museum, Chaozhou (潮州清晖楼侨批文化馆)
It preserves over 2,000 original Qiaopi documents and offers research & study courses for inheriting Qiaopi culture and rubbing techniques.
Exhibition of Props from Dear You, Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Museum
(百年侨批 光影同行——《给阿嬷的情书》电影道具专题展, 广州华侨博物馆)
It presents the touching years of Chaoshan overseas Chinese striving overseas and their families waiting faithfully in their hometown.
Dates: April 24-May 31, 2026
Venue: Temporary Exhibition Hall, 1F
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Photo | Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province
