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Shantou (simplified Chinese: 汕头; traditional Chinese: 汕頭; pinyin: Shàntóu; POJ: Sòaⁿ-thâu; also historically known as Swátōw or Suátao) is a city of 4,971,000 permanent inhabitants (as at end 2006) in coastal Eastern Guangdong, China, occupying an area of 2,064 km2. With it and the immediately surrounding cities of Jieyang and Chaozhou, the metropolitan region – known as Chaoshan – covers an area of 10,404 km2, and had a permanent population of 13,139,800 at the end of 2006. Shantou, 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 of the People's Republic of China established in the 1980s, but failed to blossom like other cities such as Shenzhen, Xiamen and Zhuhai. However, it remains as Eastern Guangdong's economic centre, and is home to Shantou University, a member of the “Project 211” group.
[edit] History The historic quarter of Shantou, which features both Western and Chinese architecture Shantou was a fishing village part of Tuojiang City (鮀江都), Jieyang District (揭陽縣) during the Song Dynasty. It came to be Xialing (廈嶺) during the Yuan Dynasty. In 1563, Shantou was a part of Chenghai District (澄海縣) in Chao Prefecture (Chaozhou). As early as 1574, Shantou had been called Shashan Ping (沙汕坪). In the seventeenth century, a cannon platform called Shashan Toupaotai (沙汕頭炮臺 sha shan tou pao tai) was made here, and the placename later was shortened to "Shantou". Locally it has been referred to as Kialat. Connecting to Shantou across the Queshi Bridge is Queshi (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.[1] In the 1930s, as a transport hub and a merchandise distribution centre in Southeast China, Shantou Port's cargo throughput ranked third in the country. With higher-level administrative authority, Shantou governed Chaozhou City and Jieyang City from 1983 to 1989. [edit] AdministrationShantou is a prefecture-level city. It has direct jurisdiction over six districts and one county.
As of 2003, the district of Haojiang was established out of Hepu and Dahao which had been merged together, and the district of Jinping Shengping and Jinyuan; Waisha and Xinxi Town, part of former Chenghai City, was merged into Longhu District; Chenghai City became Chenghai District; Chaoyang City was divided and became Chaoyang and Chaonan District respectively. [edit] Economy Shantou's economy is medium by the Guangdong standard. Manufacturing accounts for a large and increasing share of employment. Canning, garments, lithography, plastic, and toys are some of the principal products. Toy manufacturing is the city's leading export industry, with 400 million U.S. dollars worth of exports each year. Guiyu, a populous town in Chaoyang District (潮陽區), is the biggest electronic waste site on earth[2]. Health-environmental issues incurred have concerned international organisations such as Greenpeace. In 2000, the biggest tax fraud in China's history was uncovered, estimated worthy of 32.3 billion yuan. [edit] DemographicsShantou is one of the most densely populated regions in China. Former Chaoyang City was China's most populous county-level administrative region, with 2.4 million inhabitants. Most residents are ethnically Teochew. There are also Hakka, popularly known as Half-Hakka (半山客), living mainly in Chaoyang District (潮陽區) and Chaonan District (潮南區), although they speak Teochew on a daily basis and practise Teochew culture. Thanks to the Mandarin-medium education system, most people, especially the younger generations, can speak the national dialect fluently. Governmental statistics show that 2.16 million overseas Chinese have roots in Shantou, with significant populations of Teochew people residing in Thailand and Cambodia. This is demonstrated by the unusually high number of international direct flights between Bangkok and Shantou. In addition, there are at least two Teochew-speaking air hostesses on board each China Southern flight between Shantou and Bangkok.[3] The Teochew presence, furthermore, is evident in Singapore and Malaysia; Johor Bahru, a coastal city situated at the latter's southernmost tip, is known as 'Little Swatow'. [edit] Culture and lifestyleShantou people share the same culture with other Teochew. The tea-drinking tradition widely practised in town is a classic instance. According to China Daily,[4] Shantou people "drink more tea than anyone else in China, in total 700 million yuan (US$87.5 million) each year". [edit] Infrastructure[edit] Industrial zones[edit] HealthThe public hospitals in the Shantou metropolitan area are operated by the Government of Shantou. Management of these hospitals and other specialist health facilities are coordinated by Shantou Board of Health. [edit] Utilities Shantou's electricity is provided entirely by China Southern Power Grid, postal service operated by China Post, and terrestrial and mobile telecommunications services are controlled by China Telecom. Shantou, is one of the two SMW3 beach-landing points in China, the other being Shanghai. [edit] TransportThe private car has matured as a transport option for Shantou residents. However, more still travel by autobikes. Public transportation is provided by bus, ferry and taxi. The Shantou Waisha Airport (外砂机场) is 13 kilometres away from the city centre and was constructed in 1956. Nearly 2 million people utilise the airport each year. Taxi is the usual way to travel between the airport and the city proper. The taxi fare is around 20–30 RMB. The new Jieyang Chaoshan airport, located in Jiedong County (揭东县) which borders Shantou to the southeast, will be completed in 2011. It is to replace the former by then, providing better services to Chaoshan residents. [edit] Tourism
[edit] EducationEducation is overseen provincewide by the Guangdong Education Bureau. [edit] Primary and secondaryPublic primary and secondary schools provide education free. A list of known schools:
 [edit] Colleges and universities
[edit] Twin towns — sister citiesShantou is twinned with the following cities: [5]
Friendly exchanges with the following cities:
[edit] Prominent peopleMany famous Chinese come from Shantou or their ancestral home is Shantou. [edit] Entertainers
[edit] Entrepreneurs
[edit] Film director
[edit] Literary figure[edit] Royal[edit] See also[edit] References
[edit] External links
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