40,000 people gave it a 9.0—“Love Letter to Grandma” has impressive staying power.

Shantou Heping Road No. 77

The “Xian’nan Cinema” featured in the film was shot at a century-old shophouse with a verandah, located at No. 77 Haiping Road in Shantou.

The “qi” in qilou—literally “riding”—is ingeniously conceived: the second floor and above are cantilevered on columns, spanning the street like the outstretched forelegs of a galloping horse. The qilou on both sides stretch along the street, creating narrow, open‑air corridors on the ground level that provide pedestrians with shelter from the sun and rain while housing a diverse array of shops; the upper floors serve as living spaces, with the exterior reserved for vehicular traffic. This distinctive urban layout, which separates pedestrians from vehicles and integrates commerce with residential use, has endured to this day.

As summer evenings descend, street-side food stalls begin to set up their tables and chairs, and the open-air eateries come alive with the day’s most bustling scene. The calls of vendors, the laughter of diners, and the hum of passing traffic blend together, creating a vibrant “street‑level symphony” unique to Shantou.

Dongli Town, Chenghai District, Shantou

Many of the film’s vivid, everyday scenes were shot in Dongli Town, Chenghai District, Shantou.

The most poignant scene unfolds at the film’s conclusion: after learning the truth, the elderly Shurou rushes to Thailand and finally meets Nan Zhi, who had written her letters for half a lifetime—only to find that Nan Zhi can no longer recall her as “Sister Shurou.” The two stand there, holding hands, neither bursting with emotion nor shedding tears, save for a quietly tender exchange that tugs at the heart: “Did you receive the salted pork I sent you?” “I did—it was delicious.” “Good. Then I’ll send you more.” The very location where this scene was filmed is right next to the Qifeng Chen Ancestral Hall in Dongli Town, Chenghai.

In the film, iconic historic residences such as the Qifeng Chen Ancestral Hall and the Zhangcuocheng Old House make repeated appearances, their timeless charm exuding a soothing, refined elegance. The rustic red bricks harmonize with the serene, picturesque surroundings, while the vibrant vitality of flora and the unique character of the ancient architecture blend seamlessly. Immersed in this setting, one can’t help but feel as though their own gaze has merged with the cinematic lens.

Shantou City Overseas Chinese Batch of cultural relics Museum

Strictly speaking, the Qiaopi Museum is not a filming location for the movie; however, as the film’s central medium, qiaopi not only conveys the poignant emotions between the protagonists but also embodies the profound sense of family and country held by the Teochew ancestors who ventured to Nanyang.

In 2013, the Qiaopi archives were inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. With the film’s release, many viewers have developed a keen interest in qiaopi and the history behind them. When you visit Shantou, be sure to stop by the Qiaopi Museum—you’re bound to gain a deeper understanding of this chapter of history.

Netizen @Rurujiang’s little one checks in at the Shantou Qiaopi Museum.

Additionally, if you happen to visit Guangzhou on your trip to Chaoshan, be sure to stop by the Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Museum. The museum is currently hosting a special exhibition of props from the film “A Letter to My Grandmother,” offering visitors a more tangible sense of the heartfelt emotions captured in the movie.

Longhu Ancient Village, Chaozhou City

In the film, the grandson, Xiaowei, burdened by debt, secretly leaves home for Thailand to track down the legendary billionaire, Grandpa Zheng Musheng, tirelessly searching at the local Chaozhou Guildhall and other locales. Though the story is set in Thailand, the actual filming took place in Longhu Ancient Village, Chao’an District, Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province.

Longhu Ancient Village was first built during the Southern Song Dynasty. Within the village, the original “three streets and six lanes” layout remains intact, and more than a hundred ancestral halls and mansions span the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, earning it the reputation of a living compendium of Chaozhou’s ancient architectural art. This place is not only an inland hub on the Maritime Silk Road but also a spiritual landmark for overseas Chinese worldwide as they trace their roots. For visitors, it is a popular destination to experience Chaozhou’s intangible cultural heritage and its slow‑living lifestyle, offering a one‑stop immersion in the region’s distinctive cuisine, scenery, folk traditions, and time‑honored crafts.

Chaozhou Thai Buddhist Hall

In the film, after many twists and turns, Xiaowei finally tracks down Aunt Nan Zhi’s son at a temple in Thailand. Thus begins a heartwarming tale long buried for decades.

This scene was filmed at the Tai Fo Temple in Chaozhou. Situated on the eastern bank of the Han River and built with the mountains at its back, the temple boasts elegant architecture and is an independent pavilion constructed in a traditional style.

This garden‑style temple, modeled after the architecture of Thailand’s Marble Temple, exudes elegant simplicity and is surrounded by verdant trees. From its multi‑faceted, double‑eaved roof clad in fish‑scale tiles to the column capitals adorned with soaring finials that symbolize the auspicious union of dragon and phoenix, every element—whether it be the wall decorations or the ornate lintels above doors and windows—reflects a masterful reimagining of classical Thai artistry.

Yangqi Village and Xiqi Village, Jieyang City

The film was shot at multiple locations in Jieyang City. The banyan tree that opens the story, as well as the old house where the female lead, Ye Shurou, lives, were both filmed in Yangqi Village, Denggang Town, Rongcheng District.

Yangqi Village was founded in the late Southern Song Dynasty and boasts a history of more than eight centuries. Nestled against the mountains and by the water, this ancient village is steeped in cultural heritage, with babbling streams, gnarled old trees, gray bricks and dark tiles, and winding lanes that lead to secluded depths—making it an ideal retreat for unwinding and savoring the tranquil pleasures of rural life.

Netizen @ShiMouRen checked in at Yangqi Village after watching the movie.

In the film, there’s also a time‑worn stone bridge spanning the river, which appears repeatedly as a key setting. It serves as both the silent witness to Mushi and Shuru’s love at first sight and subtly foreshadows “the letter that was never delivered” in the story. The bridge was filmed in Denggang Town as well, though at Xiqi Village.

Xiqi Village boasts picturesque landscapes and a simple, unspoiled way of life, earning it the elegant nickname “the veranda of Xiqi noodles, the backyard of Zoutang.” This stone arch bridge was once a popular online sensation known as the “Ox‑Leading Bridge.” Occasionally, one can see a farmer leading an ox across it, their figures set against the verdant hills and clear waters, creating a scene as breathtakingly beautiful as a masterpiece.

Netizen @QiuLanYaZhi checked in at Xiqi Village after watching the movie.

Jieyang, Mianhu, Jiefang Road

In the film, after arriving in Thailand, Mushi stays at an inn run by Nan Zhi. At first, the two are at odds, but over time they grow into close friends. Later, as fate takes many twists and turns, the inn is burned down, and the resilient Nan Zhi sets up a stall selling rice‑free cakes to make ends meet. Both the inn and the rice‑free cake stall serve as pivotal settings, bearing witness to the friendship between Mushi and Nan Zhi—and to the deep bonds of loyalty cherished by the Chaoshan people.

The scenes of the rice‑free rice cake stall and the inn’s main entrance were all filmed on Jiefang Road in Mianhu, Jiexi, with Iron‑Forging Street serving as the central filming location.

The Iron‑Forging Workshop Complex, located on the north side of Jiefang Road in Mianhu Town, Jiexi County, is a protected cultural relic site of Guangdong Province, stretching 142 meters in length. It still largely preserves the character of a commercial street from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The sheer number, scale, and degree of preservation of this concentrated cluster of iron‑forging workshops are exceedingly rare among towns and cities in Guangdong Province.

Netizen @LiuYifei checked in on Jiefang Road after watching the movie.

Chaoshan Cuisine

Anyone who has seen “Letter to My Grandma” will surely never forget the rice cakes featured in the film—both a source of livelihood for the Nan Zhi family and a poignant symbol of the deep nostalgia felt by overseas Teochew people, as well as a microcosm of the resilience and hard work with which countless Teochew women bravely confront adversity.

Another Teochew delicacy that appears in the film is the olive, an image that runs throughout: from the opening scene, when the grandmother is coaxed away by her grandson to pick olives, to later, after hearing a letter decades overdue, checking in the kitchen to see whether the olive‑pickled dish has cooled; and finally, at the film’s end, when Shurou arrives in Thailand and feeds olives to Nan Zhi, who can no longer recall much of anything. It’s as if all the twists and turns, the hardships, the joys, and the hopes of these two grandmothers’ lives have, washed clean by the passage of time, been distilled into a single olive—bitter at first, then sweet.

The director once said in an interview: “I deeply admire the women of my grandmother’s generation. When faced with hardship, they don’t dwell endlessly in their emotions; instead, they quickly make peace with themselves and turn their attention to the concrete details of daily life—picking olives, washing them, and cooking. This kind of ‘concreteness’ is their wisdom for survival.”

Of course, the cuisine of Chaoshan is much more than just rice‑free cakes and olives. Here, the culinary delights are so abundant that many people even make a special trip to Chaoshan just for a “food‑focused getaway.” So while you’re snapping photos at the movie’s iconic filming locations, don’t forget to treat your taste buds, too.

Clay-pot congee, beef hot pot, rice noodle rolls, braised goose, sashimi, sweet soups, licorice fruit… this dazzling array of Chaozhou‑Shantou delicacies is sure to leave everyone speechless after just one bite.

Image from netizen @Wait, Let the Phone Eat First

“As the boat glides into the night, a bright moon rises over the river, as if sharing this moment with you. Across ten thousand miles of rivers and seas, my heart holds you—and suddenly, distance seems but a fleeting thought.”

“On the night of the Qixi Festival, you returned in splendor, still as youthful as ever. Waking from my dream and walking to the village gate, I heard the gentle murmur of the stream and realized how late it was. Thinking of your peace and well‑being, even a good dream is enough to make me content.”

“Though Siam lies far away, our hearts remain close; though our bodies may be apart, may peace and safety reign—then shall we truly be reunited.”

In “A Love Letter to My Grandmother,” all the longing and heartfelt affection are captured in letters like these—remittance slips sent by overseas Chinese.

If, after watching the film, you too are moved by its poignant yet brief love and its profound bonds of loyalty, then seize the chance to visit Chaoshan: explore the old‑town arcades, savor the coastal scenery, and discover the charming, heritage‑rich villages. Amidst every mountain and stream, every street and alleyway, you’ll come to understand the cultural essence of this overseas Chinese hometown and feel the warm, heartfelt spirit of Chaoshan.

Source: CCTV News, China Central Television

Preview: Rongyu People Special Screening of “A Letter to My Grandmother”