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View Plans & PricingArea: 2,248 km²
Population: ~5.5 million (2020)
Shantou means "fishing sandbar" in Chinese. It is one of the original Special Economic Zones in eastern Guangdong and a major port city in the Chaoshan region.
7.0/10 — Residents enjoy a balanced lifestyle with modern amenities and cultural richness.
Shantou Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport (SWA) serves the city. Shantou Railway Station connects to Guangzhou and Xiamen on the Xiamen–Shenzhen railway. Buses and taxis serve the city.
Shantou University and Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology are the main institutions.
Shantou lies on the South China Sea coast with a subtropical monsoon climate. It has coastline, islands, and is an important port city.
Visit Nan'ao Island, Shantou Old Town, Queshi Scenic Area, and the Chaoshan Historical Culture Center.
Day 1: Shantou Old Town and Queshi Scenic Area.
Day 2: Day trip to Nan'ao Island.
Shantou is famous for Chaoshan cuisine: beef hot pot, oyster omelette, fish balls, Teochew congee, and all kinds of snacks.
Buy Chaoshan pickles, tea, dried seafood, and Teochew pastries. Main shopping is on Xiaopark Road and Longhu District.
Local Vibe: Shantou is the proud capital of Chaoshan culture, famous for brined goose, kung fu tea, and a fierce business spirit. Locals speak Teochew, a dialect that sounds like singing, and are known for being sharp traders and even sharper food critics. The city is loud, humid, and delicious.
Fun Facts:
• Shantou was one of the first special economic zones in China and is a major port on the South China Sea.
• Chaoshan cuisine, especially beef hot pot and marinated goose, is famous across China and Southeast Asia.
• Shantou people are one of the main overseas Chinese groups, with large communities in Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Shantou locals speak their own flavor of Mandarin. Try these phrases to earn a smile:
汝好 (lú hó) — Hello — Teochew dialect.
食未 (tsia? bue?) — Have you eaten? — Teochew.
多谢 (to? tsia?) — Thank you.
• Chen Ci-Hong — A famous Shantou-born philanthropist who funded schools and hospitals across Southeast Asia.
• Qin Mu — A celebrated modern essayist and writer from Shantou.
• Chaoshan Business Pioneers — Countless Shantou merchants built trading empires across Southeast Asia and beyond.
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