Straight to the sea: exploring Dameisha, Shenzhen

Waves crash against the craggy shore while soft beats drift from a beachside eatery and holidaymakers stroll the boardwalk that hugs the seafront. Here in Dameisha, you’ll find the perfect formula for a relaxing one-stop beach resort holiday. There’s a wide range of activities, scenic shopping and a luxury resort – all steeped in laid-back coastal vibes and accessible on foot from Dameisha Station.

To get here, take the new Line 8 extension of the Shenzhen Metro, which, when it opened at the end of last year, made it easier for travellers to venture northeast beyond Hong Kong. It’s now possible to get to Dameisha in less than an hour from the border.

The metro exits directly onto Dameisha Beach Park, a stretch of sand dotted with food stalls selling fried skewers and green coconuts, plus new toilet and locker facilities and installations just made for photo-taking. There are two main ways to explore Dameisha: out on the water or up on the mountain, and there are ample opportunities to swim or stroll while enjoying the scenery.

Beach lovers will find ample space to stretch out beneath umbrellas-for-rent and plenty of ways to cool off in or on the water, from speedboating and parasailing to diving at an outlying island. You can sledge down a sand pyramid, admire the sand sculptures or take pictures with colourful angel statues among other artistic exhibits. There’s an onsite barbecue area, and pop tunes wafting through the park add to the chill vibes.

However, those who prefer sightseeing to sunbathing or watersports should head east to find the Wishing Tower, a three-level observatory with a 360-degree view of the beach, the yacht club, a shopping outlet and the surrounding resort area. The tower also houses a short, Mandarin-language deep sea experience aimed at children.

To the west, you’ll see the boardwalk, Dameisha Coastal Walkway, hugging the rocky shore before it traverses the hillside to connect to the 19.5km-long Yantian District Coastal Walkway, which offers plenty of photo opportunities along the way. Yantian Seafood Street is just 20 minutes away on foot if you follow the walkway, though you may need to spend some time selecting one that’s less geared purely towards tourists.

Across the road from the beach is a resort area housing the Hampton by Hilton Shenzhen Dameisha: it comes to life at night with a selection of restaurants and a swathe of food stalls where you can enjoy a fruit tea or icy dessert, after a hearty bowl of beef noodle soup. Continue east and you’ll come across the European-inspired architecture of Dameisha 8 Warehouse Outlet – a location that seems designed for social media, with its village-style layout, picturesque bridges and lake, mountain views and a wall covered in cuddly toys. Here you’ll find many local and international food and apparel brands.

You can also take a day trip up Shenzhen’s tallest peak, Wutong Mountain, to explore its national park and the cityscape views it offers. To get there, take the metro to Haishan Station then walk to Bitong Lu, which leads to the start of a paved climb. The mountain – also called the “first peak of Peng Cheng” – overlooks Mirs Bay, which hugs the smattering of islands around Sai Kung and northeastern Hong Kong, as well as Dameisha and the urban scenery of Shenzhen below. It’s at least a five-hour round trip, but the views are worth it.

If you have the time to explore the area further, you’ll find out how Dameisha is the gateway to a plethora of things to eat, see and do further inland. But for a short holiday on the coastline, close to Hong Kong yet feeling a world away from the city, Dameisha is a refreshing and fulfilling adventure.

Stay here

Check into the InterContinental Shenzhen Dameisha Resort . Its curvaceous structure evokes both the oceans and mountains, and all of its spacious, beachhouse-minimalist units look out to sea. As well as five swimming pools, the hotel has three restaurants spanning the world’s cuisines. Commune, a spacious international buffet-style restaurant offering poolside views and a seasonal à la carte menu, makes for a leisurely holiday lunch.

Watersports enthusiasts can take advantage of the resort’s private stretch of beach to partake in scuba diving or stand-up paddleboarding.

If privacy and luxury are a priority, Club InterContinental is just a short walk from the main hotel and includes its own infinity pool as well as access to all the facilities of the main building. Come evening, book an intimate dinner at The Azure for floor-to-ceiling sunset views and moreish, Mediterranean fusion dishes like pull- apart slow-cooked ribs and spicy mala beef cubes.

Getting there

After crossing the border at Luohu, take Line 1 from Luohu Station. Transfer at Grand Theatre Station for the Metro Line 8 heading eastwards towards Dameisha. At Dameisha Station, leave via exit A for most of the town’s main attractions.