Shantou is a prefecture-level city located on the eastern coast of Guangdong province. It borders the Hanjiang River Delta to the south, Chaozhou to the north, Jieyang to the west, and the South China Sea to the east.

Shantou covers a land area of 2,199 square kilometers, with direct jurisdiction over six districts and one county. The total population of Shantou reached 5.80 million, according to an official census in 2024.

The Symbolic Tower of the Tropic of Cancer is located in the western suburb of Shantou city in Guangdong province. [Photo/shantou.gov.cn]

As a historic trading port and one of China's original special economic zones, Shantou is a key economic city in eastern Guangdong. In 2025, its GDP reached 302.383 billion yuan ($42.2 billion).

It has a humid subtropical climate with an annual average temperature of 18-22 degrees Celsius, receiving 1,300 to 1,800 mm of annual rainfall.

The city has been honored as the "Hometown of Delicious Food" owing to its rich cultural cuisine. Shantou has also won numerous national titles including a National Top City for Tourism and one of the Top 100 Chinese Cities for Investment.

Official website: https://english.shantou.gov.cn/