Shantou

Understand

thumb|Shantou Prefecture in red, Guangdong in white The city came to prominence during the 19th century when it was established as one of the treaty ports for trading with the West. In the 1980s it was designated as one of China's Special Economic Zones with tax breaks and other government measures to encourage development. See List of Chinese provinces and regions for more detailed explanations.

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 if you look at it as an opportunity to talk to new people, it can 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 Teochew dialect, will almost always be happily received.

Get around

Shantou public buses can be highly variable and service frequency can depend on the whim of the operators, particularly during evening festival dates. Recorded announcements are made over the speaker system in Mandarin and Teochew, however the frequent use of the horn and general noise can make it difficult to understand.

On many services, one needs to notify the bus driver verbally if they would like to alight as the buzzers are inoperable.

Metered taxis exist, but rarely will the driver use the meter. The fare needs to be negotiated, preferably before the trip to avoid arguments later.

Traffic in Shantou, as is common in this part of China, is chaotic at best. Do not expect vehicles to stop at red lights, as motorcycles and bicycles regularly go through red lights without slowing down. Also, do not expect vehicles to go with traffic, as cars, motorcycles, and bicycles regularly go against the flow of traffic (e.g. going southbound in a northbound lane). Furthermore, do not expect only pedestrians on sidewalks, as cars, motorcycles, and bicycles regularly zip along the sidewalk as if it is just another lane on the road. Also, watch out for motorcyclists who do not even slow down at red lights, with one hand on the steering handle and the other with a cell phone, talking. However, with all this, there are fewer accidents that one may expect given this chaos, mainly because people do slow down if they see you.

There is self-service rented bike available in Shantou city cen…

Do

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). These places can help you learn about the local history and culture. Shopping. Shantou has several shopping areas like Shantou Market (汕头市场) and commercial streets where you can buy local specialties, crafts, and souvenirs. Visit overseas Chinese communities (参观华侨社区). Shantou is one of the important hometowns of overseas Chinese, and you can visit some overseas Chinese communities to learn about their history and cultural contributions. Learn about Chaozhou opera (潮剧). If you are interested in Chinese opera, you can watch Chaozhou opera performances or learn the basics of Chaozhou opera. Savor Chaoshan tea culture. The Chaoshan region is also known for its tea culture. You can taste local teas and learn about Chaoshan's tea traditions.

Eat

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. Jiahe Harbour View Hotel 嘉和海景酒店 By the waterfront near the fortress, has breakfast buffet, consisting of mostly Chinese food, for ¥48.

Sleep

Home Inn business hotels are a good choice for short and long term visitors. Rooms are new and clean and prices are around USD 30 per night.

Go next

Chaozhou Xiamen Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong