Nan＇ao is a county on the sea and lies 11.3 miles northeast of Shantou. Composed of 23 islands including Nan＇ao Island, Nanpeng Archipelago and Lemen Archipelago, the county owns 111.5-sqkm land area, 4,600-sqkm sea area and 99.2-km coastline. The highest peak of 588.1m on the main island is also the summit of Shantou Prefecture. As a national AAAA tourist attraction and the only offshore county in Guangdong Province, Nan＇ao boasts perfect island environment, abundant farm produce and unparalleled natural scenery. Over 50 cultural relics and 60 beaches are ready for tourists.

Qing＇ao Bay: Located at the east end of Nan＇ao Island, Qing＇ao Bay is 11 km from the county town and is a fairly well-known tourist resort in East Guangdong. Hidden among the green hills, the crescent bay is a natural flat swimming beach with white fine sand and blue sea water.

Zongbing Fu (Regional Military Command＇s Headquarters): This is the Nan＇ao commander＇s office in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Located in Shen＇ao Town, it was first built in the fourth year of the Ming Wanli Emperor＇s reign (1576 A.D.) and was rebuilt in 1983. Nan＇ao Island is located at an important communication point between East Guangdong and South Fujian. As the frontline of coast defense, the island has been a place with military presence for centuries. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties alone, 172 regional commanders and vice commanders took office here. Nan＇ao Island belonged to Guangdong Province. However, from the 24th year of the Qing Kangxi Emperor＇s reign to the Republic of China (1912-1949), the regional commanders stationed on the island were actually in charge of all the coast defense of Fujian and Guangdong Provinces and Taiwan Island.

Jinyin Island (the Treasure Island): This is a small but mysterious island to the northeast of Nan＇ao Island. No bigger than 1000 sqm and composed mainly of rocks in various exotic shapes, the island is said to be the place where Wu Ping, a well-known Nan＇ao pirate in the Ming Dynasty, buried his treasures. There is also a proverb about the location of the hiding place which is "clear of the water when the tide is high but 3 feet flooded when the tide falls". For centuries, the words have remained a mystery.

Song Well (a water well from the Song Dynasty): This well is on the southeast beach of Nan＇ao Island, and was dug out in the Song Dynasty. Towards the end of the Southern Song Dynasty (1276 A.D.), the Yuan Dynasty army broke into Lin＇an (today＇s Hangzhou), the Southern Song capital, and the royal family had to flee to the south. When they arrived at Nan＇ao Island, they dug three water wells in the beach, one for the Emperor and named the Dragon Well, one for the ministers and named the Tiger Well and one for the soldiers and named the Horse Well. Due to landscape changes, however, only the Horse Well can be found today. And this well can do magical things. Frequently flooded as it is, the water in it remains fresh once the tide recedes. In the proximity of the well lies over the relics of Taizi Lou (Prince＇s Mansion). This prince refers to Zhao Bing, the younger brother of the last Southern Song Emperor Zhao Gang.

Qing Soldiers＇ Cemetery: This 3000-sqm graveyard was built in 1993 in the northeast of Nan＇ao Island, and relocated here were the remains of 199 officers and soldiers who were stationed in Taiwan and Penghu Archipelago during the reigns of the Qing Daoguang Emperor and Tongzhi Emperor and buried in their garrison when they died on duty. And their tombstones are arranged to form two big Chinese characters Zhong Hun (Loyal Souls).

Source: Website of the Municipal Tourism Bureau

　　位于汕头东北，距汕头市区11.3海里，是由主岛和南澎列岛、勒门列岛等23个岛屿组成的海岛县。陆地总面积111.5平方公里，海域面积4600平方公里，海岸线长99.2公里，岛上最高峰 海拔588.1米，为汕头最高峰。现为国家AAAA级旅游景区。广东省唯一海岛县，海岛生态环境良好，物产丰富，风光旖旎，景色秀丽。可供旅游海滩60处，文物古迹50多处。
　　青澳湾：位于南澳岛最东端，为粤东著名的旅游度假胜地，距县城11公里。呈弦月形的海湾为葱绿的山丘所环抱，海滩坡度平缓，沙白细腻，海水湛蓝，是天然海水浴场。　
　　总兵府：位于深澳镇，是明、清两代南澳总兵的衙署。始建于明朝万历四年(1576年)，1983年重修。南澳岛地处粤东与闽南之间的沿海要冲，是海防重地，故历代都在岛上驻兵设防，明清两代共有172位正、副总兵赴任。有意思的是南澳岛虽隶属粤地，清代康熙二十四年至民国时期，驻扎岛上的总兵府却管制闽粤二省及台湾的海防军务。
　　金银岛，位于南澳岛东北部，是由海岸边怪石叠垒而成，总面积不足1000平方米，却充满神秘感。传说，这里是明朝南澳著名海盗吴平埋藏财宝的地方，并流传一破解藏宝地点的谚语：“潮涨淹唔着，潮退淹三尺”。意思是：涨潮的时候水浸不到，潮退了倒被水淹三尺。至今无人破解，成为千古之谜。
　　宋井，位于南澳岛东南部海滩。为宋代开掘的水井。南宋末年(1276)，元兵攻破南宋都城临安(杭州)，南宋王室辗转南撤，来到南澳，在海岸边挖了三口水井：一为龙井，供皇帝饮用;一为虎井，供大臣饮用;一为马井，供随从和士兵饮用。由于地貌变化，现仅发现马井。该井的神奇之处在于，虽然常被海潮淹没，但是潮退之后井水仍清澈甘甜。附近还有“太子楼遗址”，太子即是南宋末代皇帝赵昰之弟赵昺。
　　故兵墓园，位于南澳岛东北部，建成于1993年。墓地面积约3000平方米，安葬了199位清朝官兵的遗骨，他们于清朝道光至同治年间驻守台湾和澎湖列岛，在驻地殉职就地埋葬，后被集中收埋于墓园。墓园主体 “忠魂”二字，由官兵的墓碑镶嵌构成。

信息来源：市旅游局网站