The heart of Chaoshan cuisine — silky beef hotpot, briny oysters and gongfu tea — plus a faded seaside foreign concession and ferries to Nan'ao Island.
Shantou is the gateway to Chaoshan, a culturally distinct corner of Guangdong with its own dialect, cuisine and clan traditions. The food alone is worth the trip.
The city itself has a charming 1930s arcade (骑楼) old town, a seaside promenade, and a bridge to Nan'ao — a relaxed island of beaches and wind farms.
Here are the highlights worth your time in Shantou.
A grid of 1930s arcade streets and a restored central roundabout.
Free to strollA bridge-linked island with beaches, a wind farm and seafood.
Free; bridge toll ¥96/carA hilltop park across the strait with sea views and a cable car.
¥20A notable campus developed with Hong Kong philanthropic support.
Grounds freeTea, porcelain and overseas-Chao heritage exhibits.
FreeShantou has its own kitchen — here are the dishes to try.
Paper-thin local beef dipped seconds in clear broth — the Chaoshan signature.
Grilled or raw oysters from Nan'ao, sweet and plump.
Mini-pot oolong ritual served everywhere — accept the small cups.
Springy beef balls over flat rice noodles.
Mung-bean cakes and taro desserts.
Evening street-food crawls among the arcades.
Seafront walk lit at night.
Late-night tea and snacks rather than clubs.
Shantou Waisha (SWA) has domestic flights; high-speed rail reaches Guangzhou ~3h.
Shantou Station on the Xiamen–Shenzhen line.
Frequent coaches to Chaozhou and Jieyang.
Cheap and easy.
To Nan'ao Island by bridge (bus/taxi).
Where you stay shapes the trip. Three good bases:
Central, walkable to the old city.
Newer hotels and malls.
Island B&Bs for a beach night.
Foodies, Chaoshan diaspora, and travellers en route to Chaozhou and the coast.
The best windows are Oct–Dec, Mar–May — comfortable weather and fewer extremes than summer or deep winter.
Plan 3–4 days for the core sights, or 5–6 if you want a relaxed pace with day trips. The high-speed rail network makes adding a nearby city easy.
Shantou Waisha (SWA) has domestic flights; high-speed rail reaches Guangzhou ~3h.
Beef Hotpot — Paper-thin local beef dipped seconds in clear broth — the Chaoshan signature. Don't miss the local night-market and tea-house scene.
Yes. China's cities are generally very safe, with low petty-crime rates and English signage growing in tourist areas. Carry your passport, use official apps (Alipay / WeChat Pay / DiDi) and you'll get around smoothly.
Written by the cncity.cc Editorial Team · Last updated: · Facts checked against official sources (Aug 2026).
