Shantou has not abolished the special economic zone.

Shantou is a China Special Economic Zone approved by the State Council, a National Comprehensive Supporting Reform Pilot Zone (Overseas Chinese Pilot Zone), an important gateway to the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, a national comprehensive transportation hub, and a central city in the West Coast Economic Zone. One, it is a central city in eastern Guangdong and an important port city on the southeast coast. It is also a national forest city, China's most investment valuable tourism city, and a national e-commerce demonstration city. In 2021, the city's business environment ranked 36th in the country.

Shantou City, referred to as "Shantou", also known as _city, _island, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Guangdong Province, a provincial sub-central city, a megacity, and the capital of Chaozhou cuisine. It is located at the southern end of the Han River Delta. It borders Chaozhou to the north, Jieyang to the west, the South China Sea to the south, and faces Taiwan across the sea to the east. Hanjiang, Rongjiang, and Lianjiang rivers enter the sea. It is the only city in mainland China with an inner bay.

As of the end of 2021, the city has jurisdiction over 6 districts and 1 county, with a total area of ??2,199 square kilometers, a permanent population of 5.5304 million people, and a population density of 2,515 people/square kilometers, ranking 7th among cities in the country. In 2022, Shantou City will achieve a regional GDP of 301.744 billion yuan.