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Shantou

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Shantou is a large, busy city on the eastern coast of Guangdong, China.

Shantou East Coast CBD
Shantou East Coast CBD

It sits near the mouths of the Han, Rong, and Lian Rivers. The city is located northeast of Hong Kong. It is a very crowded place with many people living close together. The city itself has over 5.5 million people. However, the built-up area is much larger. This area includes nearby places like Chaozhou and Jieyang. It holds over 12.5 million people in total. This makes it the fifth largest built-up area in mainland China.

The weather in Shantou follows a monsoon pattern. This means the seasons change in a specific way. The summers are long, hot, and very humid. Most of the yearly rain falls between May and August. The winters are mild and often sunny or dry. In the spring, the sky is usually cloudy and overcast. In the autumn, the weather becomes sunny and dry again. The city gets about 1,979 hours of bright sunshine every year. This helps the local plants and people plan their days.

Shantou has a very long and interesting history. Long ago, during the Song dynasty, it was just a small fishing village. By the seventeenth century, a cannon platform called Shashantou Cannon was built there. This name eventually became the city's name. In 1860, the city became a treaty port for trade with Western countries. It faced a very hard time in 1922 when a huge typhoon hit. The storm killed many people and destroyed many ships. Later, Japanese troops occupied the city from 1939 until 1945. The People's Liberation Army finally captured it in 1949.

Today, Shantou is a major center for making things. Many people work in factories making clothes, plastic, and canned goods. The city is a world leader in making toys. In fact, it exports 400 million U.S. dollars worth of toys every year.

Shantou Station 2019 06
Shantou Station 2019 06

The city also has a large Free Trade Zone. This zone helps with international trade and finance. People use many ways to travel around. They use buses, ferries, taxis, and high-speed trains.

D7142 departs from Shantou Railway Station
D7142 departs from Shantou Railway Station

The city is also an important spot for internet cables under the sea.

Life in Shantou has a very special feeling. Many people speak a language called Teochew. This language connects the people to others in Thailand, Cambodia, and Singapore.

Queshi Bridge - panoramio
Queshi Bridge - panoramio

People here also have a wonderful tradition of drinking tea. They drink more tea than almost anyone else in China! They spend about 700 million yuan on tea each year. The city is also a place for learning.

Shantou University Entrance Gate
Shantou University Entrance Gate

Shantou University is a well-known school located there. You can also see beautiful places like St. Joseph's Cathedral.

Shantou Joseph Church
Shantou Joseph Church
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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Shantou Joseph Church.jpg
Shantou Joseph Church.jpg
File:Queshi Bridge - panoramio.jpg
Queshi Bridge - panoramio.jpg
File:Shantou East Coast CBD.jpg
Shantou East Coast CBD.jpg
File:Shantou Station 2019 06.jpg
Shantou Station 2019 06.jpg
File:D7142 departs from Shantou Railway Station.jpg
D7142 departs from Shantou Railway Station.jpg
File:Shantou University Entrance Gate.jpg
Shantou University Entrance Gate.jpg
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