"Experience in Shantou": Indian Woman Shares Impressions Following Visit to China's Under-the-Radar City
In a comparative analysis, the urban development in Shantou, China, stands out significantly against small towns in India. The primary factors driving this disparity include state-driven economic policies, industrial diversification, strong infrastructure, maritime trade facilities, and human capital development.
Established as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 1981, Shantou's status was expanded in 1991 to include its entire urban districts. This designation has attracted substantial investment, fostering rapid economic growth and modernization. Shantou has evolved from primarily exporting agricultural products to developing a wide range of industries, including photochemistry, electronics, textiles, toys, and processed foods. This diverse industrial base supports sustained urban growth and economic complexity that small towns in India often lack.
Shantou's infrastructure connectivity is another key factor. The city is linked by railway to major hubs like Hong Kong and Guangzhou and connects to Fujian province, facilitating trade and mobility. Its expressways also provide rapid access to key cities, enhancing logistics and commuting options. Shantou has well-established ports offering marine cargo shipping services to over 200 domestic and international ports, underpinning its role as a regional trade gateway.
In contrast, small towns in India generally lack special economic zone status or comparable concentrated economic policies focused on rapid industrialization. They have limited industrial diversification and infrastructure connectivity, often face inadequate transport and port facilities, and have less access to higher education institutions that integrate with local economies.
Ms. Dania Faruqui, an IIM graduate based in Bengaluru, recently visited Shantou and was struck by its advanced urban development. She noticed the city's high-risers, flyovers, and clean environment with no visible garbage. Ms. Faruqui was surprised to find that Shantou had wide, clean roads with separate lanes for pedestrians, electric two-wheelers, and cars. The air quality index (AQI) in Shantou was 5, indicating a very good air quality.
Ms. Faruqui's visit also revealed that most taxis in Shantou were electric vehicles, all of which were made in China. She found the flights within China to be very affordable, with a flight between two popular cities costing around INR 5,000 when booked two days prior. Luxury hotels like Sheraton are also affordable, costing around Rs 5,000 per night.
Ms. Faruqui's observations resonated with social media users. One user commented that Bangalore is way behind China in terms of living in the future, while another agreed, stating that China's internal development is way ahead in many areas, especially in infrastructure, tech, and urban planning. Ms. Faruqui shared her experience on LinkedIn, describing her visit as mind-blowing.
Despite not speaking Mandarin and looking different from locals, Ms. Faruqui felt safe and welcomed during her travels in China. She was also impressed by the city's significant number of trees throughout the industrial town, contributing to a clean and green environment.
In conclusion, Shantou's combination of state-driven economic policy (SEZ), diversified industrial base, strong infrastructure, maritime trade facilities, and human capital development enable a more advanced urban development relative to typical small towns in India. This reflects a deliberate, large-scale national strategy to promote urban and economic expansion, which many smaller Indian towns have yet to achieve at a comparable scale.
Shantou's urban lifestyle, enhanced by affordable travel options and networked infrastructure, significantly contrasts with Indian small towns. Ms. Faruqui's revelation of clean roads, electric vehicles, and advanced urban planning in Shantou highlights the lack of such amenities in many Indian towns.
China's strategic approach to urban and economic growth, as exemplified by Shantou's Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status, industrial diversification, strong infrastructure, maritime trade facilities, and human capital development, places it at an advantageous position compared to Indian small towns that have yet to achieve similar levels of development at scale.
