Diaspora Heritage and Ecological Wonders: Taishan Meijia Courtyard & Xinhui Bird Paradise
Romanesque Arcades of "Let the Bullets Fly" and the 400-Year-Old Banyan Tree Maze
Revered as China's primary diaspora hometown, Jiangmen offers incredible contrasts. From the Romanesque arcade plaza of Meijia Courtyard to the ecological miracle of a single 400-year-old banyan tree housing thousands of birds.
Jiangmen, a UNESCO World Heritage city famed for its Kaiping Diaolou, holds equally mesmerizing treasures in its Taishan and Xinhui districts. Following in the footsteps of classic cinema and literature, we dive deep into the heart of China's most prominent overseas Chinese hometown.
Meijia Courtyard: The Cinematic "Goose Town"
Located in Taishan's Duanfen Town, Meijia Courtyard (Tingjiang Market) is one of the most spectacularly preserved diaspora architectural complexes in China. Built in 1931, it features 108 two-to-three-story Qilou (arcade houses) arranged in a massive rectangular plaza. The facades boast Roman vaults and Greek columns, while the interiors retain traditional grey brick Lingnan structures. Famous as the primary filming location for the blockbuster movie Let the Bullets Fly, walking through the bustling courtyard today—past vendors sun-drying tangerine peels and salted fish—feels like stepping back into a vibrant 1930s trading port.
Birds' Paradise: A Forest from a Single Tree
Driving back to Xinhui District, nature lovers must visit Birds' Paradise. What started as a single water banyan tree on a mud mound over 400 years ago has continuously dropped aerial roots into the water, expanding into a magnificent island-covering forest. Taking a wooden boat ride through this aquatic arboreal maze at dawn or dusk reveals thousands of egrets and herons taking flight—an awe-inspiring ecological spectacle immortalized by literary giant Ba Jin in 1933.
Taste of Xinhui: Aged Tangerine Peels & Eel Rice
Complete your journey at the nearby Xinhui Chenpi Village. Set within a striking bamboo-woven architectural space, the air is thick with the sweet aroma of aged tangerine peels (Chenpi), which are prized in traditional medicine and cuisine. Try the Chenpi-infused red bean soup or pork ribs. For dinner, the iconic Taishan Yellow Eel Rice—baked in a clay pot with shredded eel, aged peel, and ginger—is an absolute culinary must.
High-Speed Rail connects Hong Kong West Kowloon directly to Jiangmen Station (~2 hrs). Since sights are spread out, renting a car or hiring a driver is highly recommended. The drive from Xinhui to Taishan takes about 1 hour.
The best time for bird-watching at Birds' Paradise is early morning or late afternoon during flock transitions. Meijia Courtyard is free to enter and offers incredible photographic opportunities.