CULTURAL AFFAIRS

1. CULTURE
Shantou culture undertakings developed healthily. There are 37 culture institutes, 9 performance organs of different special arts, 24 cinemas and theaters, 8 public libraries, 8 arts galleries and cultural centers, 5 museums, 2 large publishing houses and 3 book wholesale centers. In recent years, a number of modern and high taste culture activity centers have been built with the Government’s investment, the donation from overseas Chinese and compatriots of Hong Kong and Macao, and the fund collected from the society. Shantou Public Library, Shantou Museum, Shantou Science and Technology Center, Lim Por Yen Convention and Exhibition Center, Shantou Teenager Activity Center, Shantou Activity Center for Women and Children, Shantou Activity Center for Workers, Shantou Activity Center for Senior Cadres, Shantou Activity Center for the Handicapped and Chao Opera Art Activity Center have formed beautiful scenery in Shantou.

2. EDUCATION
In order to push the reform and development in education, Shantou is undertaking the strategy of “revitalizing the city by science and education” and speeding up the pace of the procession of “teaching according to laws and regulations”. Efforts are being made to build “Three Projects” for education (the project to train famous teachers, the project to train excellent students and the project of residence settlement for the teachers). For the modernization of Shantou education, scientific researches on education are carried out, accomplishment education is put in practice in the round and education quality is being raised. There is 1 university, 1 specialized college, 225 medium schools of different kinds, 8 colleges for adults and 11 medium professional technical schools.
Between 1993 and 1999, Government put 3.327 billion RMB into ordinary education. Besides, donation from overseas Chinese, compatriots of Hong Kong and Macao and collected fund from the society to run schools are in the ascendant At the end of 1999, there were 21 civilian-run middle schools and primary schools and 674 kindergartens (including foreign fund, Sino-foreign cooperation). Shantou University, a synthetical university built with the donation 1.85 billion HKD from Mr. Li Jia-cheng, has set up 9 colleges and science research institutes including different subjects of literature, science, law, engineering, commerce, medical and arts. It has become one of the awarding units for doctor degree and for master degrees on 16 subjects and has been listed into “100 key universities” by the State. Today, the new multilevel structure with harmonious development of education for kids, ordinary education, professional education, education for adults and college education has been established in our city. Shantou owns a number of famous schools enjoying certain reputation in our province and even in our country.

3. HEALTH
Shantou has made great progress in the health affairs and the health condition of the residents has been greatly improved. There are 130 medical institutions of various levels, among which 78 are hospitals with 7005 patient beds. The medical network for preventing and curing diseases with complete medical subjects and departments has been set up to meet the need of the residents in medical health. Different kinds of acute contagions and endemics are effectively controlled. “Health and Safety Project for Mothers and Babies” is carried out and the health condition of women and children has been improved. The goal of primary health plan “everyone can enjoy hygiene and health” has been realized and the average expected life span of the city has been increased from 35 years old before 1949 to 74.39 years old today. Shantou has made “Health Plan for all People” and often holds healthy sports activities participated by the residents. In May 1998, Shantou was officially named “National Sanitation City”.

4. NEWS MEDIA
There are 5 television and radio stations with 10 self-broadcasting channels. The coverage rates of television and radio for audiences and listeners are 98.91% and 98.92% respectively. There are 5 newspapers and 10 magazines published and distributed to all parts of China. The main press agencies of China including Hong Kong have set up19 reporter stations in Shantou. While three main medias newspapers, broadcasting and televisions are developing constantly, the internet newspaper (dahuawang) and the web of three local newspapers set up by Shantou SEZ Newspaper Agency come into operation, declaring the birth of the fourth media in Shantou.

5. CHAO-SHAN CULTURE
Shantou has a long history in traditional culture and has been called the “seaside Zou and Lu” (Zou and Lu were two ancient kingdoms in Shandong Province, where culture and education were prosperous). The culture sediment is profound and the local characteristic is strong. The local opera Chao Opera and the elegant classic Chao-zhou music, the important means to express hometown affection and homesickness, often stir the feelings of Chao-Shan (known as “Teochew” or “chiuchow” overseas) people at home and abroad. The delicate and fresh Chao-Shan food and Chao-Shan pastry attract people from all parts of the world and its favor is unforgettable. Chao-Shan Gong-fu Tea, regarded as Chinese Tea Ceremony, enjoys high reputation in the world. The exquisite Chao-Shan ceramics, drawn-work pieces, Chaozhou embroidery and golden carved lacquerwares are very popular in all parts of the world.