Savor and stroll: Exploring SZ's maritime heritage route

A route highlighting the shared maritime culture of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and intangible cultural heritage has been selected as one of Guangdong’s 30 intangible cultural heritage travel routes. This route covers iconic spots in Yantian District, such as Zhongying Street (Chung Ying Street), Yantian Seafood Street, Yantian Coastal Promenade, and Dameisha Beach Park.

An aerial view of the Shatoujiao area in Yantian. Photos from SZ Evening News

Visitors should note that entering Zhongying Street requires a border access permit, which is currently not issued to foreign nationals or citizens from China’s Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. However, the other sites along the route also offer unique cultural and scenic experiences.

Zhongying Street 中英街

Zhongying Street. 

Zhongying Street, 250 meters long, straddles the border between the mainland and Hong Kong, bearing witness to an important chapter in Chinese history spanning more than a century. Following renovations last year, the street now features new restaurants and shops with a distinct Hong Kong flair. Visitors can enjoy tax-free shopping, exploring a wide range of snacks and trendy items.

An immersive cultural experience here reflects the intertwined history of Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The Zhongying Street Historical Museum (深圳市中英街历史博物馆) serves as a patriotic education site, showcasing the street’s evolution over the past century.

Nearby, the Shatoujiao Fish Lantern Dance Folk Museum (沙头角鱼灯舞民俗博物馆) preserves the national-level intangible cultural heritage of the Shatoujiao Fish Lantern Dance. The museum regularly hosts dance training for youth and fish lantern crafting workshops.

Metro: Line 8 to Shatoujiao Station (沙头角站), Exit B

Teng’s Bakery Studio 邓家传文糕点工作室

Chaguo is a traditional Guangdong snack integral to the daily lives of Cantonese and Hakka people. With a history spanning hundreds of years and origins linked to sacrificial ceremonies, chaguo comes in many varieties and is consumed during various festivals.

As a district-level intangible cultural heritage, the technique for making Yantian Hakka chaguo has been passed down for four generations in the Teng family. Teng’s Bakery Studio promotes this heritage through community and school activities that help revitalize Hakka culture.

Metro: Line 8 to Yantian Road Station (盐田路站), Exit F

Yantian Seafood Street Golden Wharf 盐田海鲜街金色码头

Yantian Seafood Street is one of the city’s eight renowned food streets, celebrated for fresh and affordable seafood. Visitors can enjoy sea views and join boat tours, taking in the coastal scenery of Yantian and Hong Kong.

Metro: Line 8 to Yantianxu Station (盐田墟站), Exit B

Danjia Cultural Hall and Danjia Fish Painting Studio 疍家文化馆及疍家鱼贴体验工作室

The “boat people” (Tanka or Danjia) traditionally lived on boats in southeastern China’s estuaries and have distinctive customs. The Danjia Cultural Hall showcases the provincial intangible cultural heritage of Danjia wedding customs.

At the hall, a studio offers Danjia fish painting workshops for youth. This district-level intangible cultural heritage involves rubbing fish images and creating festive decorative paintings, which are placed on the boats where Danjia people have lived for generations. These paintings symbolize safety in fishing and family prosperity, reflecting respect for nature and hope for a good life.

Metro: Line 8 to Yantianxu Station (盐田墟站), Exit A

Yantian Coastal Promenade 盐田海滨栈道

Yantian Coastal Promenade. 

The 19.5-kilometer Yantian Coastal Promenade stretches between Shatoujiao and Beizaijiao, featuring attractions such as the Lighthouse Library and the Sea View Library. The promenade offers a blend of urban leisure, port views, and natural ecological scenery, making it one of the most beautiful coastal promenades in the world.

Metro: Line 8 to Haishan Station (海山站), Exit B

Dameisha Beach Park 大梅沙海滨公园

Dameisha Beach Park. 

With coconut groves and white sandy beaches, Dameisha Beach Park extends approximately 1,800 meters and boasts Shenzhen’s largest beach.

Metro: Line 8 to Dameisha Station (大梅沙站), Exit B

Wugufang Squab Culture Experience Center 五谷芳乳鸽文化体验中心

The Wugufang Squab Culture Experience Center preserves the city-level intangible cultural heritage of braised squab cooking. It regularly hosts community and school activities, offering visitors a chance to learn about culinary exchanges between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, experience local squab culture, and savor the famous braised squabs.

Metro: Line 8 to Dameisha Station (大梅沙站)