Of course, you have to go see the sea in the summer! Today’s destination is Shenzhen. When it comes to Shenzhen, it’s hard to associate it with “vacation.”
However, Shenzhen is actually a coastal city that has been recommended multiple times by National Geographic, boasting over 260 kilometers of coastline. We previously wrote a travel guide on viewing the sea in Shenzhen.
The article was published in 2021, and looking at Shenzhen’s coastline now, the supporting facilities have improved significantly. If you don’t want to get hassled on the way, Xiaomeisha should be your first choice; both are natural beaches with good sand quality and are close to the city center, easily reachable by subway. I took the subway from Baoan Airport to Xiaomeisha and only spent 12 yuan.
In terms of scenery, there’s not much difference between the two beaches, but the distinction is that Damesha is free, while Xiaomeisha charges an admission fee. Xiaomeisha has slightly finer sand and is less crowded and cleaner. Furthermore, Xiaomeisha was newly refurbished and reopened this year, with more activities added, providing an even better experience.
Traveling approximately three kilometers east from Xiaomeisha to Beizai Jiao brings you to the highlight of the Yantian Seaside Boardwalk.
The Yantian Seaside Boardwalk is a popular outdoor hiking spot for Shenzhen residents on weekends, stretching a total of 19.5 kilometers, making it somewhat challenging to walk the entire length. However, starting from Xiaomeisha is just right, as the endpoint is a red-and-white lighthouse standing at the edge of the blue sea. The journey is refreshing, and Shenzhen’s sea is no less beautiful than that of Sanya!
In terms of convenience, sightseeing, and experience, Xiaomeisha is highly recommended. Moreover, there is now an additional reason to visit Xiaomeisha: the newly opened MGM Hotel in Shenzhen.
Compared to the beautiful beaches, a good hotel with a direct sea view is rarer.
MGM Shenzhen, designed by CCD Hong Kong Zheng Zhong Design Firm, has an impressive aesthetic, incorporating ocean elements throughout every space, ensuring that every corner is photogenic.
There are a total of 321 guest rooms, all of which are sea view rooms equipped with large balconies, allowing guests to enjoy mountain and sea views from their rooms!
In addition to outdoor swimming pools and a family-friendly playground, numerous shows are held daily, including candy parties, clown performances, laser shows, and night fire dancing.
With so many entertainment elements, it’s not just children who have fun; adults can enjoy it just as much.
This undoubtedly is the most unique MGM!
We visited the site before the official opening to provide fresh content for our shareholders.
Now, let’s delve into the main content:
The lobby of MGM Shenzhen feels like a giant luxury item filled with futuristic elements, leaving a strong impression from the moment you walk in.
As a seaside hotel, the use of marine elements aligns excellently with local characteristics. The brilliance of CCD lies in the subtle application of these marine elements, which, while eye-catching, also adds a sense of depth.
The ceiling and walls are constructed using a white iridescent ceramic membrane that, under sunlight, presents a texture reminiscent of mother-of-pearl, shifting in shades of blue and purple.
During the day, the space is bright and transparent, and at night, under the lights, it transforms into a rich, mysterious deep-sea atmosphere.
The blue and purple wave-patterned carpets, blue and purple floral arrangements, and sofas all echo the color themes together, providing a splendid visual satisfaction for those with obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
The use of various reflective materials in the space gives it a stylish and cool ambiance.
The black marble flooring has excellent reflective properties, and given the high ceiling, stepping into the lobby feels like swimming into an ocean world.
To maintain this reflective effect, the cleaning staff tirelessly mops the floors. Indeed, beauty takes effort!
In the lobby, two pieces of artwork also follow the marine theme:
One is titled “Flowing,” symbolizing the golden years transformed from the waves, representing the glorious struggles of this coastal city in the past;
The other is “Rebirth – Koi,” where natural life takes on unreal colors, expressing a reflection on the relationship between humanity and nature.
The space features a significant amount of white space while also being rich in information; everyone can derive differing interpretations from it—this is the essence of good design.
The ocean-themed design extends to the lobby bar but features some changes: the ceiling height is reduced, and the layout is more compact.
The lobby bar is clearly defined in transition from the lobby, with charming shell-shaped seating and blue glass screens that enhance privacy and comfort.
The lobby bar is what I most want to recommend; enjoying afternoon tea here will definitely lift your spirits!
As for the desserts, I can’t say enough how exceptional they are.
The tiramisu is served in a chocolate cup, making both the inside and outside delicious.
My favorite is the butterfly-shaped coconut pandan dessert, with a pure white cake and delicate green filling—rich yet not heavy.
The tableware uses Wedgwood’s vintage series, adding elegance.
The various colored lion-shaped chocolates were modeled after the golden lion at the entrance. Each color offers a different flavor, making them perfect companions for afternoon tea.
The lobby is on the first floor, and the ground level (G) connects directly to the beach. The G level is entirely dedicated to public areas, featuring the Little Lion Club, a gym, an all-day dining restaurant “Feast,” with outdoor pools and a family playground.
[Little Lion Club]
⏰: 9:00-21:00
It includes areas for younger and older children. For kids aged 4-10, there are child care services available without parental presence, allowing staff to accompany the children in play.
The panoramic floor-to-ceiling window gym is open 24 hours!
[Two Outdoor Swimming Pools]
⏰: 8:00-22:00
The main pool resembles a lion, with a mosaic at the bottom depicting the MGM golden lion. Another semi-open, temperature-controlled pool caters to sun protection needs.
[Outdoor Family Playground]
Outside, there is a vast lawn hidden behind palm trees, featuring a family playground. Kids will surely be overjoyed here; after rolling around in the playground, they can head straight to the beach.
[Xiaomeisha Beach]
⏰: 7:00-23:00
Xiaomeisha Beach requires an entrance fee: 50 yuan for adults and 30 yuan for children. For two adults and one child, it amounts to 130 yuan. Guests can directly access the beach for free by swiping their room cards without limitations, allowing for more flexible playtime and saving significantly over multiple entries.
Currently, Xiaomeisha operates from 10:00 to 21:00, with last entry at 19:30. On weekends, the hours extend to 9:30-21:30, with last entry at 20:00. Hotel guests can enter the beach from 7:00 to 23:00, which is longer than the official hours, allowing them to enjoy a less crowded beach.
Of course, water sports like jet skiing, flyboarding, paddleboarding, and sailing come at an additional cost. While the entrance fee for Xiaomeisha Beach is high, the pricing for activities is quite reasonable. There are fewer people on weekdays, and significantly more on weekends.
[Feast Restaurant]
⏰: Breakfast 7:00-10:30, Lunch 12:00-14:30 (on weekends until 11:00-14:30), Dinner 17:00-21:00
Feast is an all-day dining restaurant offering a buffet breakfast, and lunch and dinner can be ordered à la carte. The variety at the buffet breakfast is considerable.
Once again, I must praise the desserts; the breakfast offerings are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth!
Chocolate lions sold in the lobby bar are also part of the buffet!
The à la carte menu is quite fusion-based, with options like Wagyu beef burgers, Hainanese chicken rice, steak, and Thai green papaya salad available here.
Sometimes, the dinner service on weekends offers a buffet, and the quality of the seafood is quite good.
The buffet is delicious, and I hope they increase the buffet options!
[Pinjia Jafu]
⏰: 11:30-14:30, 17:30-21:30
Located on the second floor, Pinjia Jafu specializes in high-end Chinese cuisine, focusing on Cantonese and Chaozhou dishes, along with some Sichuan and Hunan cuisines.
The entire space is very elegant, with the dining area drawing from elements of traditional Cantonese roundhouses, while bamboo and red brick colors are applied in a modern way.
The private rooms here have a sea view!
The presentation style of the dishes is aesthetically pleasing, making it perfect for banquets.
Currently, during the trial operation period, some restaurants are not yet open to the public. Later, there will be Mediterranean restaurant “Yishuo,” the “Poolside Barbecue” restaurant by the pool, and the “BAR 18” rooftop bar on the 18th floor, all worth looking forward to.
The “M Show” is a major feature at MGM Shenzhen. Daily performances are held from noon to evening in the lobby and by the pool, with a packed schedule. Specific activity times can be found on their official WeChat account.
During my visit, I enjoyed a relaxed time watching performances, including Candy Wonderland, clown interactions, space walks, and underwater adventures.
Staff on-site help create engaging atmospheres, and the performers are skilled at interacting with the audience, making it immersive for both children and adults without any awkwardness.
The M Show by the pool from 19:30 to 20:30 nightly is not to be missed, with performers changing into multiple outfits and showcasing various dance styles, providing a dazzling experience along with powerful fire performances! The collaboration among performers is excellent!
Staying here with kids is worry-free, as different personnel take turns engaging with them.
This MGM combines elements from Atlantis and Club Med to present a new and unique hotel experience, elevating the hotel scene in Shenzhen to a new level.
Now, let’s discuss the rooms—the main structure of S Bay ensures that all rooms face the sea, and each room has an unobstructed view with a large balcony.
This sea, with its boundless blue, offers both close and distant views. One side leads to the coastal boardwalk leading to Beizai Jiao, while the other side reveals the mountains of Hong Kong.
Staying on the hotel’s balcony and looking out towards Hong Kong across the sea is quite a marvelous experience. The diverse scenery adds character to this body of water.
Waking up the next day, I saw Beizai Jiao shrouded in mist, gradually revealing patches of blue from the sky, showcasing a completely different view from the previous day.
And these views? You can see them just by drawing the curtains aside. Especially in summer, when you don’t feel like stepping outside, enjoying the sea breeze in an air-conditioned room is particularly refreshing.
