James Baquet

    THE weather is warming up, so it’s time to start thinking about THE BEACH!

    Out east of town, toward the Nan’ao Peninsula, Shenzhen boasts beaches with activities to suit every taste. From lazing by the pool of a five-star international hotel to tent-camping on the beach after a day of “extreme (sort of) sports,” the eastern beaches have it all.

    Closest in are the “Meisha twins,” Dameisha and Xiaomeisha. Here you can find all kinds of accommodations, like a five-star hotel in Dameisha and camping on the beach (in season) at Xiaomeisha.

    As a privately operated beach, Xiaomeisha charges a negligible 20-yuan entrance fee per person, but there are lots of cool things to do there. You can rent everything from a personal watercraft (like a Jet Ski) to a plain old innertube.

    Still bored? You can use a zip-line at Xiaomeisha, or head for nearby Sea World, a marine-based theme park filled with aquariums, museums, gardens, and a marine mammal show.

    Just up the road is Dapeng Fortress and the other wonders of that quaint village, including temples and tombs.

    Farther down the peninsula, at Xichong, you can rent a surfboard, and stay in a cabin right on the beach. Although much harder to reach than the Meisha twins, Xichong has one thing going for it: virtual desertion. Often, Robinson Crusoe would feel comfortable here.

    So head for eastern Shenzhen and hit the beach. Go now and you just might beat the summer crowds! (Remember, though, some activities are seasonal; not all are available at all times.)