Shantou Travel Guide

• Shantou Overview
• Get in and around
• Shantou Weather
• What to see?
• What to eat?
• Where to stay?
• Shantou Shopping
• Shantou Nightlife
• Shantou Miscellaneous

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Shantou Overview

City introduction:

Shantou is located in the southeastern part of Guangdong Province of China. It is one of the most important port cities in South China and one of the five special economic zones of China. Shantou is also a famous overseas Chinese district. It has been the import and export port and distributing center for the commodities, which come from Fujian Province, east Guangdong Province and southeast Guangxi Province all through the ages. Now, it also becomes a critical import and export port of Jingjiu Railway in the south. People always regard Shantou as the door of east Guangdong and the communication center of South China.

The city covers a total area of 2064 square kilometers with a population of 4,490,000. Its coastline is 298.1 kilometers long. The metropolitan area of Shantou is 310 square kilometers with the urban population of 1,170,000.

Shantou Port is one of the 20 hinge ports of China. This port has freight exchanges with more than 210 ports in 47 countries all around the world. Guangmeishan Railway connects to the national railway network and Shantou becomes a critical sea gate of Jingjiu Railway. Shenshan Highway is 286 kilometers long and it is only 4-hour drive from Shantou to Hong Kong. Shantou Airport has 44 flight courses home and abroad.

The main prospections in Shantou are:

1. Cultural landscape of the sea, just like Qing’ao Bay, Beishan Bay and Longhu Beach. Shantou is the only city whose coastline intersects with the Tropic of Cancer.

2. Cultural landscape of overseas Chinese. There is the former residence of Mr. Chen Cihong, who was praised as "No. 1 Returned Overseas Chinese Residence of Lingnan"; there is the former residence of Mr. Zheng Xin who was the only overseas Chinese King; there is Shantou University which was built with the donation of 2 billion HKD of Mr. Li Jiacheng and the buildings in this university are the best among Chinese universities; there is an overseas Chinese park whose themes are the people of overseas Chinese district at modern times and etc.

3. Cultural landscape of folk customs. The distinct features of its folk customs are resulted from its special location, multiple cultures and splendid history. Folk customs like “Laoyesheng”, “Shigu” and “Ying Laoye” are representative Chaoshan activities. Besides, Chao opera, Chaozhou music, Chaozhou embroidery, Ying song and dance and Wugong Dance enjoy a high prestige in the world for their local characteristics.

4. Cultural landscape of commerce. Small Park in Shantou is a typical architecture of Lingnan style combining the merits of the east and the west. This park is also a symbol of Shantou’s history of being the commercial port for hundreds of years.

5. Cultural landscape of religions. Lingshan Temple and Dafeng Scenic Spot are both religional spots of thousands of years.

6. Cultural landscape of leisure. In Shantou, there are Queshi Scenic and Historic Interest Area, Zhongxin Golf Seashore Holiday Village, Qing’ao Bay Tourist Resort, Lotus Mountain Hotspring Resort and Nan’ao Fishing Village.

Shantou has direct jurisdiction over six districts and one county. They are Jinping District, Longhu District, Haojiang District, Chenghai District, Chaoyang District, Chaonan District and Nan’ao County. The municipal government of Shantou is stationed on Haibin Road of Shantou City.
City Code: 0754
Post Code: 515000
Hotline for tourists' complaints in Shantou: 0754-8297616