Shenzhen Bay Park drops parking reservations amid scalper complaints

Shenzhen Bay Park has ended its reservation-only parking system at two of its main lots, switching to a first-come, first-served model in response to mounting complaints about scalpers reselling parking spots to visitors.

The trial change took effect Tuesday at parking lots 1 and 2. Drivers can now enter without booking in advance through the iShenzhen platform, although real-time availability information remains accessible via the app.

On the first day of the policy shift, Lot 2 allowed smooth vehicle entry with no queues, while a short line formed at Lot 1, which is located near the park’s bird-watching area and typically draws heavier foot traffic. 

Shenzhen Bay Park’s Parking Lot 2 is nearly full on Wednesday evening, though incoming vehicles are able to enter without queuing. Photos from WeChat account "深圳大件事"

Complaints drove policy change 

The adjustment follows persistent public frustration over illegal “reservation-for-hire” services offered by scalpers, particularly during weekends and holidays. These scalpers, operating near the park and online, charged between 30 (US$4) and 100 yuan for securing reservations on behalf of drivers. In some cases, they collected sensitive personal information such as phone numbers, license plate numbers, and SMS verification codes.

According to the Shenzhen Park Management Center, the policy revision was aimed squarely at addressing the widespread abuse of the reservation system. A staff member confirmed via phone that high complaint volumes and scalper interference made it difficult for regular citizens to secure spots through official channels.

A temporary notice printed on A4 paper at the entrance to Shenzhen Bay Park’s Parking Lot 2 instructs drivers to queue orderly, replacing earlier signage for reservation-based parking.

Warnings posted on the iShenzhen app had repeatedly cautioned users against using third-party booking agents, citing privacy risks and potential violations of law. The app also reminded users that behavior such as selling reserved slots or using automated tools to exploit the system could result in account suspension and legal action.

Earlier measures proved limited

Vehicles line up at the entrance to Shenzhen Bay Park’s Lot 1 on Wednesday evening. The lot is located near the park’s bird-watching area, which typically draws heavier visitor traffic.

The city had earlier tried several countermeasures, including adding a waitlist feature to the booking system and broadcasting anti-scalping messages at parking lot entrances. However, many users reported mixed results with the digital queue, while scalpers continued to advertise “guaranteed access” online and in person.

With the Spring Festival holiday approaching, officials opted for a more direct approach: removing the digital reservation requirement to eliminate the scalpers' advantage.

“This may not be a long-term solution, but at least it makes parking fairer again,” said Ms. Wang, a local resident and frequent parkgoer. “I hope Shenzhen can develop a smarter and more secure system that balances convenience and fairness.”