Shantou
Eastern Guangdong treaty port and special economic zone.
Shantou, alternately romanized as Swatow and sometimes known as Santow, is a prefecture-level city on the eastern coast of Guangdong, China. It was significant in 19th-century Chinese history as one of the treaty ports established for Western trade and contact, and later became one of the original special economic zones of China established in the 1980s, though it did not blossom like Shenzhen, Xiamen, or Zhuhai.
- Climate type
- Monsoon-influenced humid subtropical (Köppen Cwa)
Lore & Background
In the 1930s, Shantou Port's cargo throughput ranked third in the country as a transport hub and merchandise distribution centre. The Communist People's Liberation Army captured Shantou on 24 October 1949. dollars annually. Guiyu town is the biggest electronic waste site on earth, raising health-environmental concerns.
Reader's Guide
Shantou's significance lies in its dual role as a 19th-century treaty port and a 1980s special economic zone, though it did not achieve the rapid growth of other such zones. The city is a cultural hub for the Teochew people, with 2.16 million overseas Chinese having roots in Shantou, particularly in Thailand and Cambodia. Shantou's climate is humid subtropical, and its location at the mouths of the Han, Rong, and Lian Rivers has shaped its development.
Did You Know?
- Shantou was originally a fishing village during the Song dynasty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shantou?
Shantou (also rendered as Swatow or Santow) is a prefecture-level city on the eastern Guangdong coastline that functions as the economic anchor of eastern Guangdong. Its built-up metropolitan area is home to more than 12 million people.
Why didn't Shantou grow into a boomtown like Shenzhen or Xiamen?
Although it was included in the first wave of special economic zones in the 1980s, Shantou never captured the same level of foreign investment and industrial momentum as its SEZ counterparts. It has nonetheless retained its position as the commercial and financial center of eastern Guangdong.
More in Cities Of China 1-18
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