Nantou City
City in Guangdong, known for its tea culture
A Cantonese town known for markets, teahouses and nearby hills; tourists sample dim sum, visit local temples and use it as a base for short countryside walks.
Nantou at a Glance#
Costs: Budget traveler: $30-60 USD/day - inexpensive local food and accommodation; factories influence pricing.
Safety: Moderately safe with common-sense precautions - typical mid-sized Chinese city safety; petty theft possible in busy areas.
Best Time: October-April - autumn and winter are cooler and less humid than summer.
Nantou is an ancient walled town in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District, prized for its narrow lanes, historic architecture and preserved city walls. Visitors come to explore Nantou Ancient Town’s museums, temples and traditional Cantonese food tucked into the modern metropolis.
Getting around: Use Shenzhen Metro to Houhai or Window of the World, then take a short taxi or bus to Nantou Ancient Town; Didi and walking work well.
Infrastructure & convenience: Tourist-friendly but compact: boutique cafés and craft shops in the old town, reliable mobile payments (Alipay/WeChat), limited public toilets and uneven lane surfaces.
Local tips: Learn a few Cantonese or Mandarin phrases; respect ancestral halls and museum rules, watch for narrow staircases, and carry cash for tiny stalls.
Dining: Eat Cantonese specialties in Nantou: morning dim sum at teahouses, roast meats (siu yuk, char siu), claypot rice and seafood at family-run eateries.
Why Visit Nantou?#
Nantou’s ancient quarter offers a compact pocket of Guangdong history amid the region’s rapid growth, anchored by the Nantou Ancient Town area and its narrow streets. Temple fairs and family-run dim sum eateries highlight Cantonese culinary traditions, while nearby modern districts show why Shenzhen is a tech hub. Travelers come for the contrast between preserved heritage buildings and the city’s energetic, contemporary outskirts.
Who's Nantou For?#
Nantou (Shenzhen’s Nantou Old Town) has Cantonese eateries and seafood joints nearby in Nanshan and Shekou. Try local dim sum, market snacks and fresh seafood restaurants a short taxi from the old town core.
Good spot for remote workers who want cheaper rents near Shenzhen tech hubs. Fast broadband and plentiful coworking spaces in Nanshan and Shekou are within easy commuting distance.
Close to Nanshan’s tech parks and Shekou’s business districts; convenient for meetings and short stays. Plenty of mid-range hotels and quick links into central Shenzhen and the airport.
Charming narrow lanes of Nantou Old Town and quiet waterfront promenades nearby make for relaxed strolls. Small teahouses and historic streets create easy, low-cost date options away from the high-rises.
Best Things to Do in Nantou#
Plan Your Visit to Nantou#
Best Time to Visit Nantou#
Nantou is best visited in the cool, dry months from November through February when walking the historic streets and waterfront is most pleasant. Avoid May-October unless you’re ready for high heat, heavy monsoon rains and occasional typhoons.
November - February
12 - 20°C (54 - 68°F)
Dry, mild days and cooler nights make November-February the nicest time to explore Nantou’s old town and waterfront without heavy rain or oppressive heat.
March - April
18 - 26°C (64 - 79°F)
March-April brings warming weather, blossoming parks, and fewer crowds - expect sticky afternoons and occasional showers, but pleasant for cycling and wandering street markets.
May - October
25 - 33°C (77 - 91°F)
May-October is hot, humid and storm-prone - heavy rains and typhoons are possible, but festivals, lush landscapes, and lower accommodation rates reward prepared travelers.
Nantou's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical (Dry Winter) - Humid Subtropical (Dry Winter) climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 11°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1806 mm/year), wettest in May.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very Good | 11° - 18° | 14° | 37 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 2.3 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 10.8h |
| February | Good | 12° - 18° | 15° | 57 mm | overcast | 76% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 high | 11.3h |
| March | Good | 15° - 21° | 18° | 86 mm | overcast | 76% | 2.3 m/s | 1.1 high | 11.9h |
| April | Good | 20° - 25° | 23° | 186 mm | overcast | 79% | 2.4 m/s | 1.4 high | 12.6h |
| May | Good | 23° - 29° | 26° | 291 mm | overcast | 83% | 2.3 m/s | 1.7 very high | 13.1h |
| June | Acceptable | 25° - 31° | 33° | 287 mm | overcast | 87% | 2.4 m/s | 1.9 very high | 13.4h |
| July | Acceptable | 26° - 32° | 37° | 262 mm | partly cloudy | 87% | 2.4 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 13.2h |
| August | Acceptable | 26° - 32° | 36° | 272 mm | partly cloudy | 86% | 2.1 m/s | 2.0 very high | 12.8h |
| September | Good | 24° - 31° | 32° | 167 mm | partly cloudy | 84% | 2.1 m/s | 1.7 very high | 12.2h |
| October | Excellent | 21° - 28° | 25° | 86 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 2.5 m/s | 1.4 high | 11.5h |
| November | Excellent | 16° - 24° | 20° | 40 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 high | 10.9h |
| December | Very Good | 12° - 20° | 16° | 35 mm | partly cloudy | 70% | 2.6 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 10.7h |
How to Get to Nantou#
Nantou is a town within Zhongshan city in Guangdong’s Pearl River Delta; most long-distance arrivals use regional hubs in Guangzhou or Shenzhen and continue by coach, taxi or intercity rail. Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) and Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX) are the primary airports to consider, with Guangzhou South the main high-speed rail hub for the area.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN): Guangzhou Baiyun is the nearest major international airport for Nantou (Zhongshan). Options into the city include airport shuttle coaches or intercity buses to Zhongshan (typical fare RMB 40-80, journey about 90-120 minutes depending on traffic) and taxis or Didi rides (roughly RMB 300-450, around 60-90 minutes). A common alternative is to take the metro or a short taxi to Guangzhou South Railway Station and continue by intercity bus or taxi to Zhongshan.
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (SZX): Shenzhen Bao’an is also commonly used. From SZX you can take a taxi or Didi to Zhongshan (RMB 300-500, usually 60-100 minutes depending on route and border-crossing congestion) or use intercity coach services from the airport area to Zhongshan (prices typically in the RMB 50-100 range, ~90-120 minutes). If you prefer to avoid long road journeys, connect to Shenzhen’s ferry/coach hubs and continue by sea or bus into Zhongshan’s terminals.
Train: The main high-speed rail hub for the region is Guangzhou South Railway Station (广州南站). From Guangzhou South you can reach Zhongshan by intercity rail or by taxi/intercity coach; intercity connections and car travel typically take around 40-90 minutes depending on service and traffic (prices vary by service class; intercity fares are commonly in the range of RMB 20-80). For long-distance rail arrivals, transfer at Guangzhou South is the usual route to Zhongshan.
Bus: Zhongshan has frequent intercity bus services from Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other Pearl River Delta cities; most coaches arrive at Zhongshan’s main coach stations (e.g., Zhongshan Bus Terminal / 中山客运站). Typical intercity fares are about RMB 20-70 and journey times to Guangzhou or Shenzhen are roughly 60-150 minutes depending on distance and traffic. Local buses within Zhongshan are very cheap and useful for short hops around Nantou (see local transport section).
How to Get Around Nantou#
Nantou (as part of Zhongshan) is easiest to navigate by a mix of taxi/Didi for flexibility and local buses or shared bikes for budget travel. For regional arrivals, use Guangzhou Baiyun or Shenzhen Bao’an and transfer by intercity coach, taxi or rail - once in Zhongshan, short trips and sightseeing are best done on foot or by bike.
- Intercity train / Rail (RMB 20-80) - Use Guangzhou South (广州南站) as the regional high-speed hub; from there you can take intercity services or a taxi/intercity coach to Zhongshan. Trains and intercity services are fastest for reaching the wider Pearl River Delta, then you transfer locally into Nantou. Check schedules in advance - services vary by day and season.
- Intercity & local bus (RMB 1-70) - Frequent intercity coaches connect Zhongshan with Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and other delta cities; they arrive at Zhongshan’s bus terminals. Local buses within Zhongshan are very cheap for short trips but can be slow in peak hours. Buy tickets at stations or use the local apps for schedules and routes.
- Taxi / Didi (RMB 10-500) - Taxis and Didi are the most convenient way to reach Nantou from Zhongshan city or nearby transport hubs. Fares are reasonable for short trips inside Zhongshan but intercity rides (from Guangzhou or Shenzhen airports) can be several hundred RMB and travel times depend heavily on traffic. Didi offers easy cashless payment and is widely used.
- Ferry / Water taxi (RMB 30-150) - There are ferry links around the Pearl River Delta that can provide pleasant and sometimes faster connections between waterfront hubs in the region. If you plan to travel by sea (for example, between Zhuhai, Shenzhen and nearby ports) check current operators and timetables - prices are typically in the tens of RMB and durations vary from ~30 minutes to over an hour.
- Shared bike / E-bike (RMB 0.5-3 per 30 min) - Shared bikes and e-bikes (operators such as Meituan/HelloBike and others) are common for short trips and exploring Nantou Old Town. They’re inexpensive, convenient for last-mile travel and let you navigate narrow streets that taxis can’t. Watch for parking rules and local bike lanes.
- Walking - Nantou’s old-town area and immediate neighbourhoods are compact and pleasant on foot - walking is often the fastest way to explore narrow lanes, markets and heritage sites. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for heat in summer.
Where to Stay in Nantou#
Nantou town / Shenzhen area - $20-60/night
Nantou (Guangdong) has modest guesthouses and economy hotels. Rooms are simple, often aimed at business travellers or short-stay visitors, with basic local dining nearby.
Nantou / Nanshan area - $40-100/night
Mid-range business hotels in the broader district serve both visitors and commuters. Expect clean rooms, breakfast and straightforward transport into the city.
Shenzhen central (Nanshan/Shekou) - $120+/night
Luxury options are generally found in central Shenzhen. Larger hotels offer full services, upscale dining and easy access to transport hubs for exploring Guangdong.
Nantou / near transit - $30-90/night
Stay in accessible parts of Shenzhen or the Nantou area close to transit. Expect helpful front desk staff and clean, no-frills rooms for quick visits.
Nantou / Shenzhen suburbs - $50-120/night
Families typically choose apartments or mid-range hotels with larger rooms near shopping and parks. Public transport makes day trips around the Pearl River Delta feasible.
Shenzhen business districts - $50-140/night
Look for business hotels in Shenzhen with reliable high‑speed internet and quiet workspaces; Nantou itself has fewer co‑working options.
Where to Eat in Nantou#
Nantou (Guangdong area) is rooted in Cantonese food culture: dim sum, seafood restaurants and teahouse snacks are the norm. You’ll find small shops serving steamed dumplings, congee and fresh seafood prepared the Guangdong way. For broader international dining, larger nearby cities offer everything from Western steakhouses to pan-Asian restaurants - but if you want authentic local flavors, stick to the old-town teahouses and market stalls for the best experience.
Nantou’s culinary identity is classic Cantonese - dim sum, seafood and teahouse snacks.
- Nantou Old Town stalls - Cantonese dim sum and street snacks.
- Teahouses near the old city - Traditional Chinese teas and light bites.
- Local seafood restaurants - Fresh Guangdong-style seafood dishes.
While local Cantonese dominates, larger nearby cities offer broad international dining options.
- Shenzhen / Guangzhou day-trip options - Extensive international restaurants within an hour.
- Hotel restaurants in Nantou district - Reliable Western and pan-Asian menus.
- Local cafés near transport hubs - Coffee, sandwiches and light international fare.
Vegetarian diners will find Buddhist-style restaurants and market stalls serving vegetable-focused Cantonese dishes.
- Buddhist vegetarian restaurants - Temple-style vegetable set meals and mock meats.
- Local vegetable stalls at markets - Fresh produce and ready-to-eat greens.
- Teahouse light fare - Steamed buns and vegetable dim sum options.
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Nantou’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Shopping in Nantou#
Nantou (Nantou Ancient Town in Guangdong/Shenzhen) is a historic old town where narrow lanes hide traditional shops, tea houses and small craft stalls. It’s a good place to browse antique-style wares, local snacks and templeside souvenirs; major electronics and fashion shopping are best done elsewhere in Shenzhen. Take cash for small vendors and expect haggling only at antique stalls.
Best Bets
- Nantou Ancient Town (Nantou Old City) - Historic streets with tea houses, small craft shops and snacks.
- Nantou Old Street market - Local stalls selling food, souvenirs and daily essentials.
- Antique and curio shops - Small dealers offering vintage-style trinkets and curios.
- Huaqiangbei electronics district - World-class electronics shopping a subway ride away.
- Futian & Luohu malls (Shenzhen) - Large malls for fashion, tech and duty-free goods.
- Temple-area souvenir stalls - Souvenirs, snacks and religious goods near historic temples.
