Wanting to visit my childhood hometown

Yes, you are right about that. The present Jieyang used to be named Kityang.
There is no ferry service for passengers but for goods freight from Shantou to Jieyang. From Shantou to Jieyang, there are trains available, and the travel time is about 1 hour. The buses are also available in the Shantou General Bus Station. The bus schedule is dense, you can also catch a bus easily upon arrival.

The present municipal police station is located at Xiaocui Road, and it is near to the shore of the river. Do you refer to that area? If yes, Near the police station, there are some hotels for your reference.

Quanzi Yishu Hotel, located at the intersection of Huangqishan Avenue and Xinyang Road.
Rrongjiang Hotel, located at Huangqishan Avenue.
Zhongtian Cuture Hotel, located at West of Liahua Avenue.
Victoria Holiday Business Hotel, located at Huangqishan Avenue.

Thank you Helen, for the informative and kindly rapid reply to my questions. The house itself was a large concrete two-story house with a veranda around three sides, inside a walled compound, right on the riverbank itself, from which we could watch the passing sampans, junks, and launches - as well as observe the dragon boat races. I believe we may have had a small landing along the wall, suitable for sampans. There was also, at the time, a ferry landing just near what was probably the "downstream" wall of the compound - from which the fleeing Nationalist troops departed as they ran.

I have ordered a bilingual city map, which should assist me. I would appreciate links to any photo websites which might show views across the river toward the other bank and the hills beyond - I should be able to work out lines of bearing from those hills which would lead back to the area. I shall also try using Google Earth for this purpose.

Of course, any OF the river bank which might show the house would be even better (if it even still exists and has not been knocked down for luxury riverfront apartments)(smile).

Again, thank you for any help in this matter.

Stan (a.k.a. "Bok Su Dan", son of "Bok Wei Seng" (Braisted, William) and "Vui Do Lien" (Hill, Doreen)

Oh, according to your description, I suppose that your old dwellings should be located at the area between the Changlang Park and Huaqiao Park on the shore. You can use Google Earth to see the street view. Have a try.
Sorry I don't have a link with pictures about that area.