DUE to limited space and inadequate facilities, Shenzhen’s park management authority has announced a citywide ban on recreational vehicle (RV) parking in public parks. Owners are encouraged to use designated RV campsites.

According to the “i深圳” (“i Shenzhen”) mini-program, the restriction covers all RV models, trucks, engineering vehicles, and nine-seater vehicles.

This issue first caught the public attention Dec. 8, 2025, when a resident posted on “问政深圳,” a public feedback app, calling for a dedicated RV parking area in Shenzhen Bay Park. A follow-up media visit at the time revealed some RVs were parked across marked lines, drawing public complaints.

In response, the Shenzhen Park Management Center stated that a review conducted by Dec. 12 found 62 RVs parked across six lots at Shenzhen Bay Park — all had paid required fees and none had been parked for over a year. A city-wide targeted rectification campaign for RV parking was also launched.

Subsequent media reports noted that, starting Jan. 9, all Shenzhen Bay Park lots formally banned RV parking. Staff confirmed that RV owners were redirected to park at the designated lot near the Happy Valley amusement park.

RV tours have become increasingly popular in China in recent years. The country launched the new C6 driver’s license in 2022, which renders more drivers eligible to get behind the wheel of certain types of RVs. In the same year, the central authorities released a guideline on fostering the orderly development of camping, highlighting the construction of public campsites and enhancing service quality.

Compared with Europe and the U.S., the RV market in China is still in its infancy. Sales of RVs in the country exceeded 600,000 in 2022, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association in the U.S.

(Zhang Chanwen)