Shiziwan

Shiziwan has more than 800 meters of coastline, white sands and still water. It's an ideal place for scuba-diving lovers and you can even find some sea hedgehogs there.

According to local people, sea hedgehogs have high standards of water quality, and the abundance of the creature therefore proves the clearness of the water.

The only disadvantage of the bay is that it is a little bit small compared to its counterparts and travelers are advised to avoid school holidays and weekends.

The government plans to set up some yachting clubs at the bay and maybe some diving clubs in the future. However, part of the bay is also designed for a LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) terminal, which may eventually bring some negative impact to the bay.

Xiasha Beach

Located at Jinshawan in Dapeng Township, Xiasha beach is one of the few beaches fully equipped with washrooms, parking lots, lawns and even a park. The parking lots with a capacity for 500 cars and a 110,000-square-meter park are open to the public only from early July.

A 550-meter-long and 5-meter-high net to keep out sharks and ensure swimmers' safety has also been built. More than 25 trees imported from tropical countries, some of which are valued at more than 250,000 yuan, enhance the scenic view of the beach.

The beach is 2,000 meters long, which is rare in Dapeng.

You can find a corridor winding through the beach and rocks to the middle of the sea. It's a pleasure enjoying the fabulous view when waves hit the corridor and rocks.

The unique reddish brown rocks near the beach, eroded by huge waves and sea breeze for hundreds of years, deserve having pictures taken of them.

Sea creatures are well-preserved here; you may find little crabs scrambling in the middle of the sea water. Tiny oysters are everywhere around the rocks. Local people usually cook these tiny oysters in porridge, which tastes sweet and fresh.

According to a blueprint released by the municipal government recently, Xiasha beach is among the first few beaches to be developed for tourism. Some luxury villas, scuba-diving clubs and shopping malls are expected to be built in the future.

Xiasha is one of the closest beaches to Hong Kong. Merely two kilometers away, you can see the Hong Kong outlying Peng Chau Island.

The beach used to be a frontier defense base, and some abandoned observation posts can still be seen here. The Xiasha area includes Xiasha beach, Bihaiwan and Jinshawan, all surrounded by mountains.

Where to stay:

Overnight travelers can stay at the Jinshawan Hotel. Facilities include shops, BBQ field, parking lots, restaurants and bars.

A double room with a sea view starts from 260 yuan during weekdays and 280 yuan for weekends and public holidays.

Booking or enquiry:

8430-2888

Diefu

Diefu, where you can find a two-story-high yacht on the beach, is a place for yacht lovers.

The yacht used to be owned by a decades-old yacht factory at Diefu.

Run by a Taiwan businessman, the factory makes 70 to 80 yachts every year, most of which are exported to foreign countries. Diefu is where these yachts get their first taste of water.

The 1,000-meter-long coastline and greenery-covered mountains far away are all well-preserved.

However, there is no facility for swimmers. Also, the large number of yachts in the water may cause inconvenience or even accidents for swimmers.

The government's plan for Diefu is to make it a tourist spot that can receive some 18,300 people from Shenzhen and the Pearl River Delta area in a few years.

Editor: Wing