Chaoshan Memory: Exploring Houmen Fishing Port and Old Town

March 14, 2026

Chaoshan Memory: Exploring Houmen Fishing Port and Old Town

The Inlaid Ceramic Figures on the Temple Roof: The Valiant Guard of Guan Gong and Qin Qiong.

After a hearty seafood meal, we continued our deep dive into the Houmen Comprehensive Market. The adjacent fishing port behind it was a major highlight of the trip. Returning fishing boats were unloading their full catches here. As I walked towards the pier, I happened upon two local fishermen preparing crushed ice for preservation; one was scooping the ice from a machine, while the other pulled a small cart full of crushed ice towards the dock.

Arriving at the pier, I was met with the sight of numerous boats back in the harbor, their crews busy unloading cargo. A white Schnauzer, following its owner, inspected the fresh catch beside the busy fishermen.

Leaving the fishing port, we strolled along Houmen's main street. The old houses lining the road, especially those bearing the marks of history and emanating the style of 1980s renovations, instantly transported me back to my childhood and captured my attention.

Next, we ventured down a deep alleyway. In front of a beef brisket noodle shop, I quickly snapped a photo of students hurrying to school: two female students cycling past my lens.

Continuing our exploration deeper into the alley, we noticed that nearly every household displayed door gods, and we could also see window decorations unique to the Chaoshan region.

The biggest surprise of the trip was a City God Temple (Chenghuang Miao) at the end of the alley. Golden characters bearing blessings adorned the wall outside the temple entrance. Inside, the temple displayed "Lu Hua" (stove flowers)—traditional folk art for worshipping deities in Chaoshan—along with red lotus lanterns.

The roof decoration of the City God Temple was breathtaking, featuring incredibly detailed and highly distinctive architectural artistry. Embedded in the roof were exquisite traditional Chinese inlaid ceramic figures. Upon identification, one was Guan Gong, and the other appeared to be Qin Qiong. These figures possessed valiant expressions, vibrant colors, and a strong sense of three-dimensionality.