Shantou

Shantou 汕头市 Prefecture-level city From top:Zhengguo Temple, Renmin Square, Queshi Bridge, Shantou overview. Location of Shantou City jurisdiction in Guangdong Shantou Location in China Coordinates: 23°21′N 116°40′E / 23.350°N 116.667°E / 23.350; 116.667Coordinates: 23°21′N 116°40′E / 23.350°N 116.667°E / 23.350; 116.667 Country People's Republic of China Province Guangdong Municipal seat Jinping District Government  • CPC Committee Secretary Li Feng (李锋)  • Mayor Cai Zongze (蔡宗泽) Area  • Prefecture-level city 2,248.39 km2 (868.11 sq mi)  • Metro 7,385.2 km2 (2,851.4 sq mi) Elevation 51 m (167 ft) Population  • Prefecture-level city 5,389,328  • Density 2,400/km2 (6,200/sq mi)  • Metro 11,535,677  • Metro density 1,600/km2 (4,000/sq mi)  • Major Nationalities Han Time zone China Standard (UTC+8) Postal Code 515000, 515041 Area code(s) 754 License Plate Prefix 粤D Website http://www.shantou.gov.cn/ Shantou "Shantou", as written in Chinese Simplified Chinese 汕头 Traditional Chinese 汕頭 Hokkien POJ Sòaⁿ-thâu Postal Map Swatow Literal meaning head or tip of the fishing sandbar Transcriptions Hakka Romanization Sân-thèu Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Shàntóu Min Hokkien POJ Sòaⁿ-thâu Teochew Peng'im Suan1 tao5 Wu Romanization sae去deu平 Cantonese Jyutping saan3 tau4 Yale Romanization Saantàuh

Shàntóu (Chinese: 汕头), also known as Swatow or Suátao, is a prefecture-level city on the eastern coast of Guangdong province, People's Republic of China, with a total population of 5,391,028 as of 2010 and an administrative area of 2,064 square kilometres (797 sq mi). Shantou has direct jurisdiction over six districts and one county, and the six urban districts of Shantou has a population of 5,330,764. With it and the surrounding cities of Jieyang and Chaozhou, the metropolitan region known as Chaoshan covers an area of 10,404 km² (4,017 sq mi), and had a permanent population of 13,937,897 at the end of 2010. It's built up area spread of 11 districts was home to 11,635,577 inhabitants at the 2010 census.^[1]

Shantou, a city significant in 19th-century Chinese history as one of the treaty ports established for Western trade and contact, was one of the original Special Economic Zones of the People's Republic of China established in the 1980s, but did not blossom in the manner that cities such as Shenzhen, Xiamen and Zhuhai did. However, it remains eastern Guangdong's economic centre, and is home to Shantou University, a member of the Project 211 group.

History

Shantou was a fishing village part of Tuojiang City (鮀江都), Jieyang District (揭陽縣) during the Song Dynasty. It came to be Xialing (廈嶺) during the Yuan Dynasty. In 1563, Shantou was a part of Chenghai District (澄海縣) in Chao Prefecture (Chaozhou). As early as 1574, Shantou had been called Shashan Ping (沙汕坪). In the seventeenth century, a cannon platform called Shashan Toupaotai (沙汕頭炮臺 sha shan tou pao tai) was made here, and the placename later was shortened to "Shantou". Locally it has been referred to as Kialat.

Connecting to Shantou across the Queshi Bridge is Queshi (礐石) which had been known by the local people through the 19th century as Kakchio. It was the main site for the American and British Consulates. Today the area is a scenic park but some of the structures are somewhat preserved from its earlier history. In 1860, Shantou became a trading port.^[2]

It became a city in 1919, and was separated from Chenghai in 1921. 1922 saw the devastating Swatow Typhoon, which killed 5,000 out of the 65,000 people then inhabiting the city.^[3] Some nearby villages were totally destroyed.^[4] Several ships near the coast were totally wrecked.^[5] Other ones were blown as far as two miles inland.^[4] The area around the city had around another 50,000 casualties.^[5] The total death toll was above 60,000,^[6] and may have been higher than 100,000.^[5]

In the 1930s, as a transport hub and a merchandise distribution centre in Southeast China, Shantou Port's cargo throughput ranked third in the country. A brief account of a visit to the city in English during this period is the English accountant Max Relton's A Man in the East: A Journey through French Indo-China (Michael Joseph Ltd., London, 1939). On June 21, 1939, Japanese troops invaded Shantou.^[7] Japanese force occupied Shantou until 1945.^[8]

With higher-level administrative authority, Shantou governed Chaozhou City and Jieyang City from 1983 to 1989.^[9]

Geography

Shantou
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     34     18 11     67     18 12     100     20 14     173     24 18     214     27 22     287     30 25     227     32 26     259     32 26     141     30 24     52     28 21     41     24 16     38     20 12 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: CMA [10]
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.3     64 51     2.6     64 53     3.9     69 57     6.8     76 65     8.4     81 71     11     86 76     8.9     89 78     10     89 78     5.6     86 75     2     82 69     1.6     75 61     1.5     68 54 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches

Shantou is located in eastern Guangdong with latitude spanning 23°02′33″ – 23°38′50″ N and longitude 116°14′40″ – 117°19′35″ E; the Tropic of Cancer passes through the northern part of the city, and along it there is a monument, in fact the easternmost in mainland China, at 23°26′33″N 116°35′20″E / 23.44240°N 116.58885°E / 23.44240; 116.58885.^[11] The highest peak in the city's administration is Mount Dajian (大尖山) on Nan'ao Island, at 587 m (1,926 ft); the highest peak on the geographic mainland is Mount Lianhua (莲花山), at 562 m (1,844 ft) in Chenghai District. The city is located at the mouths of the Han, Rong (榕江), and Lian Rivers.

Climate

Shantou has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with short, mild to warm winters, and long, hot, humid summers. Winter begins sunny and dry but becomes progressively wetter and cloudier. Spring is generally overcast, while summer brings the heaviest rains of the year though is much sunnier; there are 8.2 days annually with 50 mm (1.97 in) of rainfall. Autumn is sunny and dry. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from 13.8 °C (56.8 °F) in January to 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) in July, and the annual mean is 21.53 °C (70.8 °F). The annual rainfall is around 1,630 mm (64 in), about 60% of which occurs from May to August. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 28% in March to 58% in July and October, the city receives 1,979 hours of bright sunshine annually.

Climate data for Shantou (1971–2000)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	17.9 (64.2)	17.9 (64.2)	20.3 (68.5)	24.3 (75.7)	27.4 (81.3)	29.9 (85.8)	31.8 (89.2)	31.5 (88.7)	30.2 (86.4)	27.7 (81.9)	23.9 (75)	19.9 (67.8)	25.2 (77.4)
Average low °C (°F)	10.7 (51.3)	11.5 (52.7)	14.1 (57.4)	18.2 (64.8)	21.8 (71.2)	24.5 (76.1)	25.6 (78.1)	25.5 (77.9)	24.0 (75.2)	20.5 (68.9)	16.0 (60.8)	12.0 (53.6)	18.7 (65.7)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	33.6 (1.323)	66.8 (2.63)	99.5 (3.917)	172.9 (6.807)	213.5 (8.406)	286.9 (11.295)	227.2 (8.945)	258.5 (10.177)	140.8 (5.543)	52.3 (2.059)	41.3 (1.626)	38.1 (1.5)	1,631.4 (64.228)
Avg. rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm)	7.2	10.8	12.7	13.3	15.3	17.1	13.4	13.7	9.9	5.2	4.8	5.2	128.6
Average relative humidity (%)	78	80	82	82	85	86	83	83	81	77	76	75	80.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours	143.2	96.0	101.7	112.8	134.7	170.9	239.7	218.6	200.7	207.6	181.2	171.5	1,978.6
Percent possible sunshine	43	30	28	30	33	42	58	55	55	58	55	52	44.9
Source: China Meteorological Administration [10]

Administration

Shantou is a prefecture-level city. It has direct jurisdiction over six districts and one county.

Map						Name	Simplified Chinese	Hanyu Pinyin	Population (2010 census)	Area (km2)	Density (/km2)
Jinping Longhu Haojiang Chaoyang Chaonan Chenghai Nan'ao County						Jinping District	金平区	Jīnpíng Qū	810,606	109	7,437
						Longhu District	龙湖区	Lónghú Qū	536,102	104	5,155
						Haojiang District	濠江区	Háojiāng Qū	267,597	135	1,982
						Chaoyang District	潮阳区	Cháoyáng Qū	1,626,641	668	2,435
						Chaonan District	潮南区	Cháonán Qū	1,290,922	596	2,166
						Chenghai District	澄海区	Chénghǎi Qū	798,896	345	2,315
						Nan'ao County	南澳县	Nán'ào Xiàn	60,264	108	558

As of 2003, the district of Haojiang was established out of Hepu and Dahao which had been merged, and the district of Jinping Shengping and Jinyuan; Waisha and Xinxi Town, part of former Chenghai City, was merged into Longhu District; Chenghai City became Chenghai District; Chaoyang City was divided and became Chaoyang and Chaonan District respectively.

Economy

Shantou's economy is medium by Guangdong standards. Manufacturing accounts for a large and increasing share of employment. Canning, garments, lithography, plastic, and toys are some of the principal products. Toy manufacturing is the city's leading export industry, with 400 million U.S. dollars worth of exports each year.

Guiyu, a populous town in Chaoyang District, is the biggest electronic waste site on earth.^[12] Health-environmental issues incurred have concerned international organisations such as Greenpeace.

In 2000, the biggest tax fraud in the history of the People's Republic of China was uncovered, estimated worthy of 32.3 billion yuan.

Development zone

With an area of 2.34 km² (0.90 sq mi), Shantou Free Trade Zone lies at the south part of Shantou city. It was ratified by the State Council of the People's Republic of China and founded in January 1993, it formally came into use on December of the same year after its supervision installations are checked and accepted by the General Customs. It has been comprehensively developing export processing, storage, international trade, finance and information industry. Its goal is to establish a modernized international zone that is open to the overseas by drawing experience from international free trade zone.^[13]

Demographics

Shantou is one of the most densely populated regions in China. Former Chaoyang City was China's most populous county-level administrative region, with 2.4 million inhabitants.

Most residents are linguistically Teochew. There are also Hakka, popularly known as Half-Hakka (半山客), living mainly in Chaoyang District (潮陽區) and Chaonan District (潮南區), although they speak Teochew on a daily basis and practise Teochew culture. Thanks to the Mandarin-medium education system, most people, especially the younger generations, can speak Mandarin fluently. Thanks to Cantonese-language TV and labor migrations to the Pearl River Delta, Cantonese is widely spoken as a second or third language by the younger generations.

Governmental statistics show that 2.16 million overseas Chinese have roots in Shantou, with significant populations of Teochew people residing in Thailand and Cambodia. This is demonstrated by the unusually high number of international direct flights between Bangkok and Shantou. In addition, there are at least two Teochew-speaking air hostesses on board each China Southern flight between Shantou and Bangkok.^[14] The Teochew presence, furthermore, is evident in Singapore and Malaysia; Johor Bahru, a coastal city situated at the latter's southernmost tip, is known as 'Little Swatow'.

Culture and lifestyle

Shantou people share the same culture with other Teochew. The tea-drinking tradition widely practised in town is a classic instance. According to China Daily,^[15] Shantou people "drink more tea than anyone else in China, in total 700 million yuan (US$87.5 million) each year".

• Teochew culture

Religions

Most population in Shantou is non religious or partakes to traditional folk religions, Buddhism, Taoist rites, worship of gods and ancestors. About 2% of the population (100,000) belongs to organised religions, with 40,000 are Protestants, 20,000 are Catholics and 500 are Muslims.^[16] St. Joseph's Cathedral of Shantou is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shantou.

Infrastructure

Health

The public hospitals in the Shantou metropolitan area are operated by the Government of Shantou. Management of these hospitals and other specialist health facilities are coordinated by Shantou Board of Health.

Utilities

Shantou's electricity is provided entirely by China Southern Power Grid, postal service operated by China Post.

Telecommunications

Shantou is one of the most important international telecommunications ports in China. Four international submarine communications cables land at Shantou submarine cable landing station, including APCN 2, China-US Cable Network, SMW3 and South-East Asia Japan Cable System (SJC).^[17]

China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile provide fixed lines, broadband internet access and mobile telecommunications services there.

Transport

Urban transport

The private car has matured as a transport option for Shantou residents. However, more still travel by autobikes. Public transportation is provided by bus, ferry and taxi.

Air

Shantou previously had its own civil airport, Shantou Waisha Airport. It was formerly the main airport serving the Shantou until nearby Jieyang Chaoshan Airport was opened on 15 December 2011. Shantou Waisha Airport became a military airbase since then and all civilian flights were transferred to the newly built airport in Jieyang.^[18] Taxi is the usual way to travel between the airport and the city proper. The taxi fare is around 60 RMB.

Railways

There are 3 railway stations which serve Shantou: Chaoshan Railway Station and Chaoyang Railway Station which lie on the Xiamen-Shenzhen Railway line, and Shantou Railway Station which lies on the Guangzhou–Meizhou–Shantou Railway.

Tourism attractions

• Shipaotai Park (Chinese: 石炮台公园; pinyin: Shí pàotái gōngyuán)
• Chen Cihong's Former Residence (Chinese: 陈慈黉故居; pinyin: Chén Cíhóng gùjū)
• Nan'ao Island (南澳島 Nanao Dao): rated as Guangdong's most beautiful island by China's National Geographic magazine
• Palace-Temple of Old Mother (老媽宮 Laoma Gong): dedicated to the goddess Matsu
• Temple of Emperor Guan (關帝廟 Guandi Miao): dedicated to Guan Yu
• Tropic of Cancer Symbol Tower (北回归线标志塔 Beihuiguixian Biaozhita): The Tropic of Cancer slips through Centipede Mountain, which is 20 kilometers away from the city proper.
• Cultural Revolution Museum (文革博物馆 Wenge Bowuguan): The country's only museum dedicated to the Cultural Revolution.

Media

In 1912 Swatow had four newspapers, all in Chinese. They were Han Chao Pao, Ming Chuan (People's Rights), Ta Fung Pao (The Typhoon), and Ta Tung Pao (Eastern Times).^[19]

Education

Education is overseen provincewide by the Guangdong Education Bureau.

Primary and secondary

Public primary and secondary schools provide education free.

A list of known schools:

• Shantou Jinshan Middle School
• Shantou Number One Middle School
• Shantou Experimental School
• Shantou Number four Middle School
• Shantou Number ten Middle School
• Shantou Number two Middle School
• Shantou Number three Middle School
• Dahua number one primary school

Colleges and universities

• South China University of Technology Shantou College
• Shantou Polytechnic
• Shantou Radio and TV University
• Shantou University

Twin towns — sister cities

Shantou is twinned with the following cities: ^[20]

Country	City	County/District/Province/Region/State	Date
Japan	Kishiwada	Osaka Prefecture	June 2, 1990[21]
Canada	Saint John	New Brunswick	February 28, 1997[22]
Vietnam	Can Tho	N/A	August 1, 2005[23]

Friendly exchanges:

Country	City	County/District/Province/Region/State	Date
South Korea	Pyongtaek	Gyeonggi-do	March 25, 2003[24]
Australia	Fairfield	New South Wales	April 26, 2005[25]
United States	Orlando	Florida	August 8, 2007[26]
United States	Los Angeles	California	December 25, 2001[27]

Prominent people

Many famous Chinese come from Shantou or their ancestral home is Shantou.

Entrepreneurs

• Mainland China
  • Huang Guangyu (1969–), chairman of Gome Group and once the richest person in Mainland China
  • Ma Huateng (1971–), Founder of Tencent Computer System Co., Ltd and creator of QQ
• Hong Kong
  • Li Ka-shing (1928–; Chaozhou), tycoon
  • Lim Por-yen (1914–2005), media tycoon, banker and charitarian
• Thailand
  • Low Kiok Chiang (1843–1911), founder of Khiam Hoa Heng entreprises (1872-1950s)
• Singapore
  • Tang Choon Keng (1901–2000), founder of Tangs
• Malaysia
  • Teh Liang Teik (1923–2011), chairman of Malayan Flour Mills

Entertainment

• Hong Kong born
  • Emil Chau (1960–) actor and singer
  • Kwong Wah (1962–), actor and singer
  • Canti Lau (1964–) actor and singer
  • Sammi Cheng (1972–) actress and singer
• Mainland China
  • Cai Chusheng (1906–1968), famous director, and the film "Yu Guang Qu" (渔光曲) directed by him received the first international film prize in China's history

Other

• Nuon Chea (1926–), politician
• Adele M. Fielde (1839–1916), missionary and author
• Qin Mu (1919–1992), writer
• Watchman Nee (1903–1972), theologian, and opponent of prosperity theology
• Tan Howe Liang (1933–), Singaporean weightlifting Olympian
• Xu Shilin (1998–), Chinese tennis player, Junior Olympic gold medallist

See also

• Chaoshan
• Chaozhou
• Teochew people

References

• Miscellaneous series, Issues 7-11. United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, 1912.

Notes

Further reading

• Herbert Allen Giles (1877). From Swatow to Canton: (overland). SHANGHAI : PRINTED AT THE "CELESTIAL EMPIRE" OFFICE: Trübner

LONDON : Trübner & CO. SHANGHAI : KELLY & WALSH. p. 74. Retrieved 10 February 2012. (Harvard University)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shantou.

• (Chinese) Official government website
• Website of Shantou Government
• Shantou Daily
• Guangdong Statistical Yearbook

Guangdong topics Guangzhou (capital) General History Politics Economy Geography Cities Metropolitan areas Chaoshan Pearl River Delta Leizhou Peninsula Regions Pearl River Delta Yuexi Yuebei Yuedong East River West River Nanling Mountains Pratas Islands Education Guangzhou Education Shenzhen Education Shenzhen University Huizhou University Guangdong Institute of Education Guangzhou University Culture Lingnan culture Music Guangdong music (genre) Cantonese opera Teochew people Hakka people Hailufeng dialect Cuisine Cantonese cuisine White boiled shrimp Cantonese fried rice Chinese steamed eggs Beef chow fun Chow mein Char siu Roasted suckling pig Bird's nest soup Seafood birdsnest Visitor attractions Danxia Mountain Seven Star Crags Dinghu Mountain Xinfengjiang Reservoir Zhongshan Park Guangdong Provincial Museum Category Commons

county-level divisions of Guangdong Province Guangzhou (capital) Sub-provincial cities Guangzhou Baiyun District Conghua District Haizhu District Huadu District Huangpu District Liwan District Nansha District Panyu District Tianhe District Yuexiu District Zengcheng District Nansha/Yuegang'ao Free-Trade Zone* Shenzhen Bao'an District Futian District Longgang District Luohu District Nanshan District Yantian District Dapeng New District* Guangming New District* Longhua New District* Pingshan New District* Qianhai/Yuegang'ao Free-Trade Zone* Prefecture-level cities Zhuhai Doumen District Jinwan District Xiangzhou District Hengqin/Yuegang'ao Free-Trade Zone* Zhuhai Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone* Wanshan Marine Development Experimental Zone* Gaolan Port Economic Zone* Shantou Chaonan District Chaoyang District Chenghai District Haojiang District Jinping District Longhu District Nan'ao County Shaoguan Qujiang District Wujiang District Zhenjiang District Lechang City Nanxiong City Renhua County Shixing County Wengyuan County Xinfeng County Ruyuan Autonomous County Foshan Chancheng District Gaoming District Nanhai District Sanshui District Shunde District Jiangmen Jianghai District Pengjiang District Xinhui District Enping City Heshan City Kaiping City Taishan City Zhanjiang Chikan District Mazhang District Potou District Xiashan District Leizhou City Lianjiang City Wuchuan City Suixi County Xuwen County Zhanjiang Economic and Technological Development Zone* Fenyong Economic Zone* Donghai Island Economic Development Zone* Maoming Maonan District Dianbai District Gaozhou City Huazhou City Xinyi City Zhaoqing Dinghu District Duanzhou District Gaoyao City Sihui City Deqing County Fengkai County Guangning County Huaiji County Zhaoqing Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone* Huizhou Huicheng District Huiyang District Boluo County Huidong County Longmen County Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone* Zhongkai Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone* Meizhou Meijiang District Meixian District Xingning City Dabu County Fengshun County Jiaoling County Pingyuan County Wuhua County Shanwei Chengqu Lufeng City Haifeng County Luhe County Honghai Bay Economic Development Experimental Zone* Shanwei Overseas Chinese Management Area* Heyuan Yuancheng District Heping County Lianping County Longchuan County Dongyuan County Zijin County Heyuan Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone* Yangjiang Jiangcheng District Yangdong District Yangchun City Yangxi County Gangqiao Industrial District* Yangjiang High-tech Industrial Development Zone* Hailing Island Economic Development Experimental Zone* Qingyuan Qingcheng District Qingxin District Lianzhou City Yingde City Fogang County Yangshan County Liannan Autonomous County Lianshan Autonomous County Dongguan Dongguan Subdistricts Dongcheng Guancheng Nancheng Wanjiang Towns Chang'an Changping Chashan Dalang Dalingshan Daojiao Dongkeng Fenggang Gaobu Hengli Hongmei Houjie Huangjiang Humen Liaobu Machong Qiaotou Qingxi Qishi Shatian Shijie Shilong Shipai Tangxia Wangniudun Xiegang Zhangmutou Zhongtang Zhongshan Zhongshan Subdistricts Dongqu Nanqu Shiqiqu Xiqu Wuguishan Torch Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone Towns Banfu Dachong Dongfeng Dongsheng Fusha Gangkou Guzhen Henglan Huangpu Nanlang Nantou Minzong Sanjiao Sanxiang Shaxi Shenwan Tanzhou Xiaolan New Area Cuiheng New Area Chaozhou Xiangqiao District Chao'an District Raoping County Fengxi District* Jieyang Rongcheng District Jiedong District Puning City Huilai County Jiexi County Dongshan District* Jieyang Airport Economic Area* Puning Overseas Chinese Management Area* Dananshan Overseas Chinese Management Area* Yunfu Yuncheng District Yun'an District Luoding City Xinxing County Yunan County * Not a formal administrative subdivision

Metropolitan cities of China Major Metropolitan regions Jingjinji (JJJ) Pearl River Delta (PRD) Yangtze River Delta (YRD) Major Cities National Central Cities Beijinga Chongqinga Guangzhoub2 Shanghaia2 Tianjina2 Hong Kong (SAR) Special Administrative Regions Hong Kong* Macau Regional Central Cities Chengdub Nanjingb Shenyangb Shenzhenc1 Wuhanb Xi'anb Sub-provincial cities Changchunb Chengdu Dalianc2 Guangzhou Hangzhoub Harbinb Jinanb Nanjing Ningboc2 Qingdaoc2 Shenyang Shenzhen Wuhan Xiamenc1 Xi'an Provincial capitals (Prefecture-level) Changsha Fuzhou2 Guiyang Haikou Hefei Kunming Lanzhou Nanchang Shijiazhuang Taiyuan Xining Zhengzhou Taibei5 Autonomous regional capitals Hohhot Lhasa Nanning Ürümqi Yinchuan Comparatively large cities Anshan Baotou Benxi Datong Fushun Handan Huainan Jilin Luoyang Suzhou Tangshan Qiqihar Wuxi Xuzhou Zibo Prefecture-level cities by Province Hebei Shijiazhuang* Tangshan* Qinhuangdao2 Handan* Xingtai Baoding Zhangjiakou Chengde Cangzhou Langfang Hengshui Shanxi Taiyuan* Datong* Yangquan Changzhi Jincheng Shuozhou Jinzhong Yuncheng Xinzhou Linfen Lüliang Inner Mongolia Hohhot* Baotou* Wuhai Chifeng Tongliao Ordos Hulunbuir Bayannur Ulanqab Liaoning Shenyang* Dalian* Anshan* Fushun* Benxi* Dandong Jinzhou Yingkou Fuxin Liaoyang Panjin Tieling Chaoyang Huludao Jilin Changchun* Jilin Siping Liaoyuan Tonghua Baishan Songyuan Baicheng Heilongjiang Harbin* Qiqihar* Jixi Hegang Shuangyashan Daqing Yīchun Jiamusi Qitaihe Mudanjiang Heihe Suihua Jiangsu Nanjing* Wuxi* Xuzhou* Changzhou Suzhou* Nantong Lianyungang2 Huai'an Yancheng Yangzhou Zhenjiang Tàizhou Suqian Zhejiang Hangzhou* Ningbo* Wenzhou2 Jiaxing Huzhou Shaoxing Jinhua Quzhou Zhoushan Tāizhou Lìshui Anhui Hefei* Wuhu Bengbu Huainan* Ma'anshan Huaibei Tongling Anqing Huangshan Chuzhou Fùyang Sùzhou Lu'an Bozhou Chizhou Xuancheng Fujian Fúzhou* Xiamen* Putian Sanming Quanzhou Zhangzhou Nanping Longyan Ningde Jiangxi Nanchang* Jingdezhen Píngxiang Jiujiang Xinyu Yingtan Ganzhou Jí'ān Yíchun Fǔzhou Shangrao Shandong Jinan* Qingdao* Zibo* Zaozhuang Dongying Yantai2 Weifang Jĭning Tai'an Weihai Rizhao Laiwu Linyi Dezhou Liaocheng Binzhou Heze Henan Zhengzhou* Kaifeng Luoyang* Pingdingshan Anyang Hebi Xinxiang Jiaozuo Puyang Xuchang Luohe Sanmenxia Nanyang Shangqiu Xinyang Zhoukou Zhumadian Hubei Wuhan* Huangshi Shiyan Yichang Xiangyang Ezhou Jingmen Xiaogan Jinzhou Huanggang Xianning Suizhou Hunan Changsha* Zhuzhou Xiangtan Hengyang Shaoyang Yueyang Changde Zhangjiajie Yiyang Chenzhou Yongzhou Huaihua Loudi Guangdong Guangzhou* Shaoguan Shenzhen* Zhuhai1 Shantou1 Foshan Jiangmen Zhanjiang2 Maoming Zhaoqing Huizhou Meizhou Shanwei Heyuan Yangjiang Qingyuan Dongguan Zhongshan Chaozhou Jieyang Yunfu Guangxi Nanning* Liuzhou Guilin Wuzhou Beihai2 Fangchenggang Qinzhou Guigang Yùlin Baise Hezhou Hechi Laibin Chongzuo Hainan1 Haikou* Sanya Danzhou Sansha4 Sichuan Chengdu* Zigong Panzhihua Luzhou Deyang Mianyang Guangyuan Suining Neijiang Leshan Nanchong Meishan Yibin Guang'an Dazhou Ya'an Bazhong Ziyang Guizhou Guiyang* Liupanshui Zunyi Anshun Bijie Tongren Yunnan Kunming* Qujing Yuxi Baoshan Zhaotong Lìjiang Pu'er Lincang Tibet Lhasa* Xigazê Qamdo Nyingchi Shaanxi Xi'an* Tongchuan Baoji Xianyang Weinan Yan'an Hanzhong Yúlin Ankang Shangluo Gansu Lanzhou* Jiayuguan Jinchang Baiyin Tianshui Wuwei Zhangye Pingliang Jiuquan Qingyang Dingxi Longnan Qinghai Xining* Haidong Ningxia Yinchuan* Shizuishan Wuzhong Guyuan Zhongwei Xinjiang Ürümqi* Karamay Turpan Taiwan5 Taibei* Gaoxiong Other cities (partly shown below) Prefecture-level capitals (County-level) (Inner Mongolia: Ulanhot Xilinhot) Jiagedaqi3, Heilongjiang Enshi, Hubei Jishou, Hunan Xichang, Sichuan (Guizhou: Xingyi Kaili Duyun) (Yunnan: Chuxiong Gejiu Wenshan Jinghong Dali Mang) (Gansu: Linxia Hezuo) (Qinghai: Yushu Delingha) (Xinjiang: Hami Changji Bole Korla Aksu Artux Kashgar1 Hotan Yining Tacheng Altay) Province-governed cities (Sub-prefecture-level) (Hebei: Xinji Dingzhou) Jiyuan, Henan (Hubei: Xiantao Qiánjiang Tianmen) (Hainan1: Wuzhishan Qionghai Wenchang Wanning Dongfang) (Xinjiang - XPCC(Bingtuan) cities: Shihezi Aral Tumxuk Wujiaqu Beitun, Xinjiang Tiemenguan Shuanghe) (Taiwan5: Jilong Taizhong Tainan Xinzhu Jiayi Taibei county) Former Prefecture-level cities Chaohu, Anhui Wanzhou, Chongqing Fuling, Chongqing Sub-prefecture-level cities (Prefecture-governed) Qian'an, Hebei Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia Erenhot, Inner Mongolia Golmud, Qinghai Notes * Indicates this city has already occurred above. aDirect-controlled Municipalities. bSub-provincial cities as provincial capitals. cSeparate state-planning cities. 1Special Economic Zone Cities. 2Coastal development cities. 3Prefecture capital status established by Heilongjiang Province and not recognized by Ministry of Civil Affairs. Disputed by Oroqen Autonomous Banner, Hulunbir, Inner Mongolia as part of it. 4Only administers islands and waters in South China Sea and have no urban core comparable to typical cities in China. 5The claimed province of Taiwan no longer have any internal division announced by Ministry of Civil Affairs of PRC, due to lack of actual jurisdiction. See Template:Administrative divisions of the Republic of China instead. All provincial capitals are listed first in prefecture-level cities by province.

Largest cities or towns in China Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China (2010)
	Rank	Name	Province	Pop.	Rank	Name	Province	Pop.
Shanghai Beijing	1	Shanghai	Shanghai	20,217,700	11	Chengdu	Sichuan	6,316,900	Chongqing Guangzhou
	2	Beijing	Beijing	16,446,900	12	Nanjing	Jiangsu	6,238,200
	3	Chongqing	Chongqing	11,871,200	13	Shenyang	Liaoning	5,718,200
	4	Guangzhou	Guangdong	10,641,400	14	Hangzhou	Zhejiang	5,578,300
	5	Shenzhen	Guangdong	10,358,400	15	Xi'an	Shaanxi	5,399,300
	6	Tianjin	Tianjin	9,562,300	16	Harbin	Heilongjiang	5,178,000
	7	Wuhan	Hubei	7,541,500	17	Suzhou	Jiangsu	4,083,900
	8	Dongguan	Guangdong	7,271,300	18	Qingdao	Shandong	3,990,900
	9	Hong Kong	Hong Kong	7,055,071	19	Dalian	Liaoning	3,902,500
	10	Foshan	Guangdong	6,771,900	20	Zhengzhou	Henan	3,677,000

Economic Development Zones of China Special Economic Zones Shenzhen Zhuhai Shantou Xiamen Kashgar Hainan Province New open development zones Dalian Qingdao Qinhuangdao Lianyungang Pudong Yantai Zhanjiang Ningbo Wenzhou Nantong Fuzhou Guangzhou Beihai