Shantou

Shantou is a port city in eastern Guangdong that spreads across seven administrative districts around the Han River delta near the South China Sea. The urban landscape combines modern harbor areas with older residential neighborhoods along the riverbanks and coastal sections.

A small fishing settlement transformed into an international port after the Treaty of Tientsin in 1860. The opening to foreign trade brought immigrant merchants and the growth of new urban quarters along the waterfront.

Residents speak the local Chaoshan dialect, a branch of the Min language group that differs greatly from Cantonese. This linguistic identity connects people here with communities in Thailand, Cambodia and other parts of Southeast Asia.

The city can be reached through Jieyang Chaoshan Airport about 40 km (25 miles) outside or via two railway stations with high-speed connections. Local buses and taxis link the different districts, while ferries run to nearby islands and coastal points.

The Tropic of Cancer runs through the city and is marked by a monument where visitors can see this geographic line. At the solstices, the midday sun here casts no shadow from vertical objects.

Location: Guangdong

Elevation above the sea: 51 m

Website: https://shantou.gov.cn

GPS coordinates: 23.35389,116.68222

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:02