Itinerary · China
Dapeng Peninsula in a day: fortress, beaches, seafood
A full day on the Dapeng Peninsula: Dapeng Fortress and its gates, old streets and museum, Xichong and Dongchong beaches, the coastal trail and Dapeng seafood.
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What is the Dapeng Peninsula, and why a full day?
The Dapeng Peninsula is Shenzhen's eastern peninsula, home to the old fort of Dapeng Fortress, Xichong and Dongchong beaches and the Nan'ao area. It is also where you can try seafood such as sea urchin fried rice, salt-baked hairy crab and sea urchin zongzi, as well as Hakka food. It is far from downtown, so set aside a full day.
Shenzhen's nickname 'Pengcheng' also comes from Dapeng Fortress on this peninsula. This post covers only a day on the Dapeng Peninsula in detail. For the standard plan that combines it with the city sights, see the 2-day route post.
Dapeng Fortress: three gates, old streets, temples and a museum
Dapeng Fortress (Dapeng Suocheng) was founded in 1394 (the 27th year of the Hongwu reign) as a coastal-defence fortress of southern China under the Ming and Qing. It measures 345 m east to west and 285 m north to south, and its east, south and west gates still stand. It became a national key cultural relic site in 2001.
Inside, walk old streets such as Nanmen Jie, Dongmen Jie and Shizi Jie. They are lined with Qing generals' mansions and temples including Houwang Temple, a Tianhou temple and Huaguang Temple, and the Dapeng New District Museum inside has 4 permanent exhibitions. Check official information for transport and hours.
- Gates: the east, south and west gates still stand
- Old streets: Nanmen Jie, Dongmen Jie, Shizi Jie
- Temples: Houwang Temple, a Tianhou temple, Huaguang Temple, plus Qing generals' mansions
- Museum: Dapeng New District Museum, 4 permanent exhibitions
- Status: national key cultural relic site since 2001
Xichong and Dongchong beaches and the coastal trail
Xichong Beach is on the southern Dapeng Peninsula, facing the South China Sea, with Dapeng Bay to the west and Daya Bay to the east. To the north is Qiniang Mountain, the city's second-highest peak.
A hiking trail follows the coast between Xichong and Dongchong. If you plan to walk it, check the length and walking time with official information first.
Outdoor sights may close during typhoon or rainstorm warnings. Since this is a day by the sea and on a coastal path, check official weather warnings and each sight's notices before you go.
What to eat in Dapeng, and when
Dapeng's signature seafood dish is sea urchin fried rice. According to Dapeng New District, a good plate shows bright red sea urchin through the rice, with every grain separate. At Dapeng Fortress you can also find lü wan zai, green noodles made from rice and glutinous rice, served in soup with meat and seafood; families there traditionally make them for festivals.
Salt-baked hairy crab is made from small hairy crabs from where fresh and salt water meet, baked in salt to bring out the roe. In season every year from after the Mid-Autumn Festival until before Spring Festival. Nan'ao sea urchin zongzi is on Shenzhen's municipal intangible heritage list: sea urchin, pork belly, shredded radish, peanuts, dried scallop and dried shrimp are mixed with glutinous rice, wrapped long and thin in local 'mang' leaves and steamed. Peak season is from the 8th day of the 4th lunar month to around the Dragon Boat Festival.
For Hakka food, there are also Kuichong Hakka tea cakes, rice cakes whose skin is glutinous rice flour mixed with ordinary rice flour. The five classic kinds are mugwort tea cakes, mugwort ban, ciba, radish cakes and 'xi ban'.
- Salt-baked hairy crab: in season every year from after the Mid-Autumn Festival until before Spring Festival
- Nan'ao sea urchin zongzi: peak season from the 8th day of the 4th lunar month to around the Dragon Boat Festival
- Sea urchin fried rice and lü wan zai: check the season locally
How the day flows, getting there and costs
The basic flow of the day (Dapeng Fortress in the morning, Dapeng seafood for lunch, Xichong Beach in the afternoon) is the same as day 2 of the 2-day route post. This post adds Dongchong Beach, the coastal trail and seasonal food so you can fill that day out.
Check official information before you set off for how to get from downtown to the Dapeng Peninsula and how long it takes. Buses M231 and M232 run to Dongchong and Xichong beaches. Check official information for routes.
The Shenzhen Tong card works on the metro and most buses and gives up to 35% off bus fares. The CNY 20 deposit is refunded when you return the card. Taxis are metered. Having your destination written in Chinese helps.
- Dapeng Fortress: 大鹏所城
- Xichong Beach: 西涌海滩
- Dongchong Beach: 东涌海滩
- Nan'ao: 南澳
When to go: weather and seasonal food
Shenzhen has a subtropical monsoon climate with warmth and plenty of rain. According to 1971–2000 normals for Shenzhen (WMO city data) from the WMO World Weather Information Service — China Meteorological Administration, October to March sees less rain, about 30–99 mm a month, while April to September is rainy, about 174–368 mm a month. Of these, August is the wettest at about 368 mm.
This is a day on beaches and a coastal path, so the weather matters. Some places close during typhoon or rainstorm warnings, so check official weather warnings before and during your trip.
If you are timing your trip around food, Dapeng's salt-baked hairy crabs are at their best from after the Mid-Autumn Festival until before Spring Festival, and Nan'ao's sea urchin zongzi season runs from the 8th day of the 4th lunar month to around the Dragon Boat Festival. Festival dates change every year, so check official information and a calendar.
- January: average high about 20°C, low about 12°C, rainfall about 30 mm
- April: average high about 26°C, low about 20°C, rainfall about 174 mm
- July: average high about 32°C, low about 26°C, rainfall about 339 mm
- October: average high about 29°C, low about 22°C, rainfall about 99 mm
Plan your Shenzhen trip
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FAQ
Is one day enough for the Dapeng Peninsula?
It is far from downtown, so set aside a full day. Check official information for the way there from downtown and the travel time.
Can I get to Xichong Beach by bus?
Buses M231 and M232 run to Dongchong and Xichong beaches. Check official information for routes. A hiking trail also follows the coast between Xichong and Dongchong.
When are salt-baked hairy crab and sea urchin zongzi in season?
Dapeng's salt-baked hairy crabs are at their best from after the Mid-Autumn Festival until before Spring Festival. Nan'ao's sea urchin zongzi season runs from the 8th day of the 4th lunar month to around the Dragon Boat Festival.
What is inside Dapeng Fortress?
The east, south and west gates, old streets such as Nanmen Jie, Dongmen Jie and Shizi Jie, Qing generals' mansions, and Houwang Temple, a Tianhou temple and Huaguang Temple. The Dapeng New District Museum has 4 permanent exhibitions.
Related reading
ⓘ Photo credits
- Chiwan Tianhou Temple · そらみみ / CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Pearl River at night and Canton Tower · Azwari Nugraha / CC BY 2.0