The offshore city of Shantou in southern China is easily accessible. Its Waisha Airport is located northeast of the city and is served by more than forty airlines to cities foreign and domestic. The modern facilities at busy Waisha allow quick and efficient movement of goods and passengers. The 'Guangzhou-Meizhou-Shantou' Railway traverses Shantou and extends to the middle and eastern parts of Guangdong Province. It also links up with the 'Beijing-Kowloon' Railway that runs across nine provinces and numerous cities. This comprehensive rail network enables tourists to reach Shantou from most cities in China.

Another method of getting to Shantou is by long distance bus. There are several national highways emanating from Shantou to west, north and south. Shantou has six stations operating buses every day to neighboring cities and counties.

Shantou has long played an essential role in transporting goods to other ports in China. Recently, its passenger transport business has experienced rapid growth. Shantou International Passengers Port has ships to many cities in Hainan Province as well as other cities including Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Other ports have shorter cruises to nearby counties and cities.

There's a variety of ways to explore Shantou. City buses are the most economical choice ranging from CNY1 to CNY6 for a whole journey. Of course, taxis are available. While more comfortable and convenient than the buses, Shantou taxi rates are relatively higher than those of most Chinese cities. Another interesting way is to go by boat. There are several cruise boats that will take you to tourist destinations such as Que Shi Scenic Spot and Nan Ao Ecological Tourist Area. Cruises around the harbor featuring the ship named 'Golden Phoenix' are worth trying, although they are only available in the summer.

The following pages will present more detailed information about getting to and around the city.