Shantou · 汕头
Shantou, a former treaty port once known as Swatow, is "China's toy and gift capital": its Chenghai district concentrates over 4,000 manufacturers and accounts for more than half of China's plastic toy production. A coastal city with a historic center of colonial (qilou) architecture and Nan'ao Island as a beach getaway.
City map
Wholesale markets in Shantou
📍 Chenghai District
China's toy capital: over 4,000 companies in the sector and its own trade fairs. You will mostly deal with local trading companies that channel the area's factories.
📍 Townships west of Shantou
China's great hub for underwear, bras and swimwear, with a strong knitting and embroidery industry.
📍 For toys bound for the EU, insist on genuine EN71 and CE marking from the very first conversation: it instantly filters for serious suppliers.
What to see
Chenghai (toy capital)
The district hosting the toy fair, with thousands of manufacturers and showrooms in the sector
Xiaogongyuan (Little Park)
Historic center with 1930s colonial arcade (qilou) architecture, centered on the Zhongshan pavilion
Nan'ao Island
Island with beaches, fishing villages and viewpoints, an hour by bus from downtown
Getting around
Shantou shares an airport with neighboring Jieyang and Chaozhou: Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport (SWA), about 30 km from downtown, with flights to major Chinese cities and a few international routes (Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong). Shuttle bus to downtown (~20-25 CNY, 45-60 min) or taxi/DiDi (~100-150 CNY, 40-50 min). Two high-speed rail stations: Shantou (the more central one) and Chaoshan, with direct connections to Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Xiamen. To get to Chenghai (where the toy fair is) or Nan'ao Island, the usual option is a city bus or DiDi.
In mainland China, Google, Gmail, WhatsApp and Instagram aren't accessible without a VPN arranged before you travel (it can't be installed once you've arrived). Hong Kong doesn't have this restriction.
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Frequently asked questions about Shantou
When is the best time to visit Shantou?
October and November, when the toy fair takes place and the weather is already milder after the humid summer with occasional typhoons (April-September).
Do I need a visa to visit Shantou?
Always check the current visa policy for your nationality before traveling: China has expanded short-stay visa exemptions to several European nationalities in recent years, but the conditions change frequently. For longer stays or multiple entries, consider arranging a business (M) visa in advance.
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