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Shantou
Travel in Guangdong

        
Shantou (shàn tóu 汕头) is a city of 4,971,000 permanent inhabitants (as at end 2006) in coastal eastern Guangdong Province (guǎng dōng shěng 广东省), occupying an area of 2,064 sq. km. With its immediately surrounding cities of Jieyang (jiē yáng 揭阳) and Chaozhou (cháo zhōu 潮州), the metropolitan region - known as Chaoshan (cháo shàn 潮汕) - covers an area of 10,404 sq.km. and had a permanent population of 13,139,800 at the end of 2006.

Shantou (shàn tóu 汕头), a city significant in 19th-century Chinese history as one of the treaty ports established for Western trade and contact, was one of the original Special Economic Zones (jīng jì tè qū 经济特区)of the People's Republic of China established in the 1980s, but failed to blossom like other cities such as Shenzhen (shēn zhèn 深圳), Xiamen (xià mén 厦门) and Zhuhai (zhū hǎi 珠海). However, it remains as East Guangdong's economic centre, and is home to one of Guangdong's most prestigious uinversities, Shantou University (shàn tóu dà xué 汕头大学).

Overseas visitors are not common in the rural areas around Shantou, and those of non Chinese ethnicity will definitely be an attraction to residents. Those unaccustomed to this may feel intimidated. However, this is a very friendly type of attention, and unless you really dislike interaction with people you don't know, this will almost certainly be a highlight of your trip. Do not be surprised if people want their picture taken with you, or if they yell to friends and family to come look at you as well. Any sort of communication you attempt to make, especially in the local Teo-Chew dialect, will almost always be happily received.

 

History
Shantou was a fishing village part of Tuojiang City (tuó jiāng dū 沱江都), Jieyang District (jié yáng xiàn 揭阳县) during the Song Dynasty (sòng cháo 宋朝). It came to be Xialing (xià lǐng 夏岭) during the Yuan Dynasty (yuán cháo 元朝). In 1563, Shantou was a part of Chenghai District (chéng hǎi xiàn 澄海县) in Chao Prefecture (cháo zhōu 潮州). As early as 1574, Shantou had been called Shashan Ping (shā shàn píng 沙汕坪). In the seventeenth century, a cannon platform called Shashan Toupaotai (shā shàn tóu pào tái  沙汕头炮台) was made here, and the placename later was shortened to "Shantou".

Connecting to Shantou across the Queshi Bridge is Queshi (quē shí 礐石) which had been known by the local people through the 19th century as Kakchio. It was the main site for the American and British Consulates. Today the area is a scenic park but some of the structures are somewhat preserved from its earlier history.

It became a city in 1919, and was separated from Chenghai in 1921. 1922 saw the devastating Swatow Typhoon, which killed 50,000 out of the 65,000 people then inhabiting the city.

In the 1930s, Shantou Port was a transport hub and merchandise distribution centre for Southeast China; its cargo throughput ranked third in the nation.

As a high-level city, Shantou administered Chaozhou City and Jieyang City from 1983 to 1989.

Tourism

  • The Former Residence of Chen Ci Hong (chéng cí hóng gù jū 陈慈黉故居)
  • Nan'ao Island (nán ào dǎo 南澳岛): rated as Guangdong's most beautiful island by China's National Geographic magazine
  • Palace-Temple of Old Mother (lǎo mā gōng 老妈宫): dedicated to the goddess Matsu (mā zǔ 妈祖)
  • Temple of Emperor Guan (guān dì miào 关帝庙): dedicated to Guan Yu (guān yǔ 关羽) 
  • Tropic of Cancer Symbol Tower (běi huí guī xiàn biāo zhì tǎ 北回归线标志塔): The Tropic of Cancer slips through Centipede Mountain, which is 20 kilometers away from the City.

Transportation
By plane
The airport which serves Shantou is Shantou Waisha Airport, which has domestic connections with most of the major Chinese cities. It also serves international flights to Hong Kong and Bangkok.

By Bus or Auto
Zhuhai (8 hours, 160 RMB), Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Xiamen (4 hours, 100 RMB). There is fairly new highway that is on par with U.S or European expressways running between Shenzhen and Shantou (and beyond). However, food and gas stops are limited so make sure your gas tank is full if you opt to pass a fueling station. Note that restrooms are far below Western standards as well, particularly if you are female.
Some Hong Kong residents prefer to drive these highways in groups of 3-4 cars, as robberies sometimes take place along the road .

Budget
The hotel directly opposite the bus station is of acceptable standard. Rooms are clean and have TV, air conditioning and bathtub. 158 RMB per night.

Delicious Food

            

             










 
Purchasing Online
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