Shantou, referred to as "Shan", also known as 鮀城 (Tuócheng) and 鮀岛 (Tuódao), is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Guangdong Province, a sub-central city of Guangdong, a special economic zone, located in the east of Guangdong Province, adjacent to Chaozhou and Jieyang in the north, and the South China Sea in the south. As of the end of 2024, Shantou has a permanent population of 5.56 million.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
The city came to prominence during the 19th century when it was established as a treaty port for trading with the West. Foreign trade boomed aftermath, and migrants from Chaozhou and Shantou established their presence overseas. See List of Chinese provinces and regions for more detailed explanations In the 1980s parts of Shantou was designated as one of China's special economic zones with tax breaks and other incentives to encourage foreign investment.
Shantou public buses can be unpunctual, particularly during evening festivals. Recorded announcements are announced in Mandarin and Teochew, but noise may cover announcement. On many services, one needs to notify the bus driver if they would like to alight as the buzzers are inoperable. By bus, you can pay by: QR code payment: Support WeChat "Ride Code" mini program or Alipay "Travel" function. Cash: No change, you need to bring your own change. Shantou Pass Bus Card: Can be purchased and recharged at major convenience stores. Ride-hailing services are ubiquitous and cheap, and most rides inside the city won't cost you ¥10.
1 The old town (汕头老城) (in the western part of central Shantou). Most of the lovely historic buildings are so dilapidated that it seems like a European city that has been bombed, although the city has invested to keep the ground floor operating. They are slowly being torn down and replaced with ugly modern buildings, so see it while you can! The one section that is marked for preservation is the part that is next to the renovated post office and the Shantou Founding Museum (see below). 2 Shantou Museum (汕头博物馆 Shantou Bowuguan), Yuemei Road, Jinping District (金平区月眉路) (in a large building near the western side of Zhongshan Park; take bus no. 47), ☏ +86 754 88973980.
Taste seafood. Shantou is famous for its fresh and delicious seafood. Don't miss the opportunity to taste local seafood dishes at seafood markets or restaurants, such as Chaoshan-style beef hotpot (潮汕牛肉火锅) and Chaoshan-style claypot congee (潮汕式粘土锅粥). Visit seaside attractions. Shantou offers beautiful seaside scenery, including Seaside Park, Nan'ao Island (南澳岛), and Chenghai Jinshan (澄海金山). You can enjoy the sea views, beaches, and outdoor activities at these places. Explore cultural heritage. Shantou has many historical and cultural heritage sites, including Chaoshan Confucian Temple, Overseas Chinese Museum (华侨博物馆), and Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall (郑成功纪念馆).
There is lots of local food available which is also famous in China, including beef balls (牛肉丸), oyster omelette (蚝烙, Oh Lua in Teochew), seafood, etc. Lianhua Vegetarian Restaurant (莲花素食府 Lianhua Sushi Fu), Haibin Road, Dayang Group Building, west wing, ☏ +86 754 8530028, +86 754 8520098. Vegetarian chain restaurant also found in Chaozhou and Jieyang. Hotel Internationale restaurant, Jinsha Donglu near intersection with Dongxia Nanlu. On the 4th floor of International Hotel, this Chinese restaurant serves good dim sum and Hong Kong style dishes. Prices are also on par with those of Hong Kong.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Oct, Shantou typically sees ~31°C daytime highs and 11 rainy days.
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