Shantou is located in southeast of Guangdong, China, adjacent to the South China Sea. It is known as "the gateway of east Nanling Mountains and the communication hub of Southeast China" because of its advantageous geographical location. The city covers an area of 2,064 square kilometers and has a population of 4.68 million people. It has jurisdiction over six districts----Longhu, Jinping, Haojiang, Chenghai, Chaoyang, Chaonan and Nan'ao County.

Shantou is a beautiful place with pleasant climate, green hills and clear waters, blue sea and sky, numerous scenic spots and fine natural environment. It is not too cold in winter or too hot in summer. Shantou has plentiful sunshine and rain. The water and air here are of fine quality. Shantou is National Health City, Model City of Environment Protection and Excellent City for Tour. On an average, the living space for each resident is 13.6 square meters, garden residential quarters can be found everywhere in the urban area. The housing conditions are favorable. Infrastructures of the city are developed. Transportation is smooth and easy. Business and trade are flourishing. Various kinds of cultural, physical and recreational facilities spread all over the city. Public order is leading. Character of the people is generous and honest.

It's well known that Shantou is the famous hometown of overseas Chinese and one of the largest emigration ports in modern China. At present, 3.35 million overseas Chinese, including Hong Kong and Macaonese are living in more than 40 countries and regions all around the world.

Shantou has a long history in foreign trade. It is one of the oldest harbors opening to the world in China after it was opened up in 1861 and it is known as "trading port in one hundred years". In 1921, Shantou set up its own municipal organizational system. From then on, it has been an important harbor city in south China and the communication hub, trading port and distribution center in East Guangdong, Southwest Fujian and Southeast Jiangxi. Shantou has accumulated considerable local culture of strong local characteristics along the development of history. Traditional culture with distinctive local features such as Chao Opera, Chao Music, Chao Dishes and Kongfu Tea enjoy great popularity at home and abroad.

While there has been grown in some fields, for example, science-technology-guided, export-oriented, multi-functional and comprehensive module, the city's main industries are ultrasonic electronics, petrochemical, textiles, machinery, foodstuffs, pharmaceutical, printing and packing, handicrafts, etc. More than 20 famous brand products such as printing circuit plates, ultrasonic instruments and polystyrene appear to be competitive in the market. With the sound development of agriculture, Shantou has shaped its six main lines namely grain, vegetable, livestock products, aquaculture, fruits and tea, flowers and plants.

At the beginning of 1990s, new and high-tech industry began to develop rapidly, and it became one of the most active economic increasing points. The contribution rate made by science and technology to the economy growth has been raised from 21.1% in 1991 to 44% in 2000. Shantou has gained the title of "the national advanced city of developing city by science and technology" for two years in a succession and has been chosen as "the national experiment region for technology innovation projects". By the end of 2000, 4.493 patent items have been approved, 616 scientific and technical progenies have passed the examination and approved by the specialists. 518 items have gained prizes for progress on science and technology from governments of perpetual cities or above level. There are 62 province-level high-tech enterprises with annual output of 9.2 billion RMB. In May 1999, Shantou took the lead in China to set up a science and technology development base for postdoctors from Beijing and Guangdong and the first enterprise working station for postdoctors in east Guangdong, establishing the trinity system of government, science and technology research institutes and enterprises. And they made science and technology exchanges and cooperation with countries and regions like the USA, Japan, Germany, France, Brazil, Spain, Hong Kong and Macao one after another.

As a result, Shantou has now built an open system, having business relations with 165 countries and regions in the world. Foreign enterprises and businessmen are attracted to invest in Shantou. Dozens of "World Top 500 Enterprises" including Chevron Texaco, Kodak, Henkel, Mitsubishi and Wal-mart have founded their bases in Shantou. International exchange and cooperation between Shantou and the other countries in the world are becoming brisk. Shantou city has contracted friendly relationship with Kishiwada, Osaka Presecture of Japan and St. John, New Brunswick of Canada. Since reform and opening up, Shantou has fully taken the advantage of being an SEZ and the hometown of overseas Chinese, so its economy has got tremendous growth. The city has an accumulative contract foreign investment of US$10.697 billion, among which the actual foreign investment utilization amounts to US$7.637 billion and has become one of "Top 50 Chinese Cities in Economy". The annual increase in GDP averages a 14.2%, annual increase in industrial and agricultural output value 17.1 %, and annual increase in import and export value averages 9.5%. The highest export value in history is 4.23 billion dollars. In 2000, the GDP of the whole city is 47.79 billion RMB, which increased by 17.5 times compared with that of 1980 before the founding of Shantou SEZ.