Shantou is located in the eastern part of Guangdong Province in the Republic of China, at the southern end of the Han River Delta. It is one of the 11 megacities in China. It is an important port city in southern China, an open coastal city, the earliest open special economic zone in China, and an important component of the Haixi Economic Zone.

It is also the only city where the Tropic of Cancer intersects with the Chinese coastline. It is known as "the gateway to Lingdong, the key point of South China", "Beachside Zoulu, the hometown of delicious food".

Shantou is the "hometown of Chaozhou cuisine in China".

Chaoshan cuisine, Chaoshan snacks, and Chaoshan Gongfu tea are famous at home and abroad.

Chaoshan snacks, which can be found all over the streets and alleys of Shantou City, have unique flavors and various varieties. Nearly 70 varieties have been rated as "Chinese Famous Snacks".

Shantou City has held the Chaoshan Food Festival for ten times. In December 2003, it was awarded the title of "Hometown of Chinese Chaoshan Cuisine" by the China Cuisine Association.

You must try the top ten Chaozhou dishes in Shantou: braised shark's fin, raw lobster, baked abalone in soup, red braised sea cucumber, vegetarian dish, baked chicken with bean paste, eel with pickled cabbage, fried fruit pulp, baked crab with bean paste, pumpkin and taro puree.