For these 10 photo spots, I specifically took my child on a trip to Shantou

Shantou is not only about Kung Fu tea and Old House Alley; it also has a harbor, the sound of tides, and a deep-rooted nostalgia. In this city, you can not only taste the freshest seafood but also immerse yourself in the tea fragrance drifting through the arcade shadows, exploring the unique scenery of half the city’s fireworks and half the city’s freshness. For these 10 photo spots, I specifically took my child on a trip to Shantou.

📸 Photo spots:

1️⃣ N23 Star House (Auditorium) China Overseas Golden Coast Cultural Tourism Town
I took the photo at noon, so the auditorium was quite clean overall, with no shadows. The sea on the left side is where the sunrise is, so it should be great to shoot the sunrise early in the morning.

2️⃣ Square Ferry Shantou Square Ferry
A joy for 1 yuan! It hasn’t changed for decades! The only difference is a vintage little shop added at the bow on the second floor. There is a hidden photo spot: place your phone close to the display board on the left side of the shop to create a mirror effect on the screen. Remember to adjust for symmetry. I tried countless times with a camera for better photo quality but couldn’t get this effect; only a phone works. The creative fridge magnets and ferry LEGO here are even cheaper than at Xiaogongyuan.

3️⃣ Shantou Guoxia Marriott Hotel 27th Floor Lobby Shantou Guoxia Marriott Hotel
The hotel lobby has very large floor-to-ceiling windows with an excellent view. Having afternoon tea and taking photos here is fantastic. I recommend coming in the afternoon because the light is too strong in the morning, making it hard to get good shots.

4️⃣ Shantou Xiaogongyuan - Sun Yat-sen Memorial Pavilion Shantou Xiaogongyuan
It’s quite sunny and crowded during the day. I went to shoot after dinner; after 8 PM, there were still quite a few people, but it was much better compared to daytime. If you’re not in a hurry, you can come a bit later.

5️⃣ Shantou Longguang Sheraton Hotel Shantou Longguang Sheraton Hotel
The restaurant on the first floor of the hotel has a very large old calendar wall at the entrance, decorated in a very retro style with strong Chaoshan characteristics. The red shell peach pillows are very interesting, but the lighting is dim, so it’s best to bring a reflector.

6️⃣ Eleven Art Village "Madman’s Shop" Madman’s Shop Youth Hostel (Shantou High-Speed Rail Station Branch)
There are three Madman’s Shop locations here, all adjacent: a coffee shop, a guesthouse, and a youth hostel. The photo was taken at the youth hostel, all very distinctive, but I like the design of the hostel courtyard the most.

7️⃣ Nanao Island Changshanwei Lighthouse Changshanwei Lighthouse
The red lighthouse is very eye-catching. It’s the only large reef park on the island and the best place to watch the sunset.

8️⃣ Zhannan Pavilion Zhannan Pavilion
Located by the roadside, there is a small hill you need to climb to see this spot. You can enjoy the beautiful sea and sky scenery. When I went, there was no grass left; otherwise, the green ground would look even better.

9️⃣ Huazhu · Madman’s Shop Madman’s Shop · Coffee Guesthouse (Nanao Island Qing’ao Bay Branch)
Owned by the same person as Eleven Art Village, the guesthouse is halfway up the mountain in a very remote location. On foggy nights, it really feels like Alice in Wonderland.

🔟 China Overseas Golden Coast Water Park China Overseas Golden Coast Water Park
Right next to N23 Star House. On good weather days, it’s recommended to shoot in the evening. It’s very photogenic and fun, with fewer people and no sun during the night session.