Cities and regions／China
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Chikan

Chikan is a historic town beside the Tanjiang River, with commercial streets and qilou buildings featuring covered walkways. Its centre offers an urban perspective on Kaiping’s migration history.

Yinglong Lou
Photo by Yumeto Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
The place

What makes it special

  • Commercial streets and qilou buildings with covered walkways.
  • Historic centre with restorations, cultural programming and visitor spaces.
  • An urban counterpart to the rural villages and towers.
Chikan
Photo by N509FZ Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Qílóu arcades and riverside frontage in historic Chikan.
Photo by Stefan Fussan Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Travel atlas

Articles in Chikan

Guides to this place

1 article

Chikan

journal.travel Editorial

Guides to this place

1 related guides

A diaolou tower among low houses and fields in Zili, Kaiping.

Kaiping and the Diaolou That Transformed Guangdong’s Rural Landscape

Kaiping’s towers connect defensive architecture, migration and rural villages—without confusing the inscribed heritage with the tourist sites around them.

Read guide →
Information in context

Sources and references

This profile summarises our destination guides. Their research sources and the geographical reference are listed below.

Profile updated: 27/09/2026