Shuitousha Beach
水头沙The verdict
For deliberately looking for 'zero people' — there is no better beach near Shenzhen. It delivers exactly what it promises (emptiness) and nothing else, so come fully prepped or don't come.
Perfect for
- ✓ Solo readers and people who want hours of silence
- ✓ Weekday-escape locals who can walk from Nanao
- ✓ Picnickers who'll shop at the Nanao wet market first
- ✓ Beachcombers and low-key nature lovers
Not for
- ✗ Families — zero facilities, no lifeguards
- ✗ Swimmers (unpatrolled, stay in shore-close water)
- ✗ Anyone who can't pack basics (toilet paper, water, shade)
- ✗ Tourists with limited time who have other beaches to see
Editor's field note · Verified June 2026
Sat here alone for two hours on a June weekday — about the same number of people as flights I could count on one hand. It's exactly the 'anti-beach' it claims to be. The moment anyone needs a toilet, a drink or a lifeguard, it fails — so know that going in.
Overview
Shuitousha Beach (水头沙) is Shenzhen's anti-beach — and for a certain kind of visitor, that is exactly its appeal. Barely 300 meters of mixed sand and rock tucked behind Nanao town, Shuitousha has zero facilities, zero vendors, and on most weekdays, zero other people. It will not win any beauty contests, but it will give you something rarer in Shenzhen than white sand or resort pools: absolute, uninterrupted solitude.
The beach sits at the end of a short path from the road, hidden from view by a small rise. The sand is coarse and mixed with pebbles, the water is calm but unpatrolled, and there is not a single shop, shower, or trash can in sight. This is not a beach for swimming laps or posting on Instagram — it is a beach for sitting on a towel, reading a book, and hearing nothing but waves and wind for hours.
Shuitousha's location 10 minutes on foot from Nanao town gives it a unique advantage: you can bring a picnic from the Nanao wet market, find your spot on the empty sand, and when you are ready for a proper meal, walk back to the seafood street for dinner. It is the ultimate low-effort escape — no planning, no tickets, no crowds, just a quiet strip of coastline that most people drive past without noticing.
The beach is unpatrolled and has no lifeguards. Swimming is at your own risk, and the general guidance is to stay close to shore and never swim alone. The lack of shade means you need to bring your own umbrella or beach tent, especially in summer. Come prepared, expect nothing, and you will find one of the most peaceful corners of Shenzhen's coastline.
How to Plan Your Day
A concrete plan for Shuitousha, based on our visits. Start Weekday morning — walk 10-15 min from Nanao town with a wet-market picnic. There's no parking at the beach itself.
Half-day plan (4-5 hours)
- 1Shop the Nanao wet market for fruit, bread, buns and cold drinks (30-80 RMB per person).
- 2Walk the short path over the rise to the hidden cove.
- 3Find your spot, lay out the picnic, read/swim cautiously.
- 4Walk back into Nanao for coffee or late lunch.
Full-day plan (7+ hours)
- 1Market picnic as above, stay for beachcombing at low tide.
- 2Relax through the heat in your own shade.
- 3Late afternoon: sunset over the quiet bay.
- 4Dinner on the Nanao seafood street, then walk back to a town guesthouse (100-200 RMB).
Avoiding the crowds
It's empty on weekdays and near-empty even on summer weekends. The only real enemy is weather — no shade, no shelter, so pick a clear, calm day.
Money tip
Essentially free once you're here: 30-80 RMB for picnic supplies. Stay in Nanao (100-200 RMB) and you've got one of the cheapest quiet weekends in the Pearl River Delta.
Plan Your Trip to Shuitousha
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How Shuitousha Compares to Its Rivals
The beaches visitors most often weigh against Shuitousha — and which one to pick in each situation.
The 10-minute walk pairing — sand here, feast there.
Choose Shuitousha when
You'll be happy with beach-to-midday-meal as the whole plan.
Choose Nanao Beach when
You want the seafood and town first and a quiet spot to digest second.
The two 'genuinely empty' beaches — but very different difficulty.
Choose Shuitousha when
You want empty + easy (walk from a town, no scrambling).
Choose Shangdong when
You're an experienced outdoor person who wants real remoteness and sunrise over open sea.
How to Get to Shuitousha Beach
- Bus
- E11 to Nanao, then short walk (15 min) or taxi (starting fare)
- Taxi from Futian
- ~155 RMB (65 min)
- Taxi from Luohu
- ~115 RMB (50 min)
- Taxi from Nanshan
- ~175 RMB (75 min)
- Driving
- 50-65 min
- Parking
- Informal roadside. Free but limited.
Food & Dining
At the Beach
Nothing. Zero vendors, zero shops. Bring everything you need.
Nearby
Nanao town and its famous seafood street are a 10-15 minute walk away. The Nanao wet market (morning hours) is the best place to buy supplies for a beach picnic — fresh fruit, bread, snacks, and drinks. For a proper meal, the seafood restaurants along the waterfront offer everything from quick noodle soups to full seafood banquets.
What to Try
Build a picnic from the Nanao wet market: fresh tropical fruit (mango, lychee in season), steamed buns (包子), cold drinks, and maybe some takeaway grilled seafood from a waterfront restaurant
Price range: Picnic supplies from the market: 30-80 RMB per person. Seafood dinner at Nanao restaurants: 100-300 RMB per person.
Where to Stay
Nanao town (10-15 min walk) has guesthouses from 100-200 RMB/night and mid-range hotels from 200-400 RMB/night. The proximity means you can walk to the beach for sunrise, spend the day, and walk back to your room without any transport logistics.
Camping
Possible but entirely unofficial. There are no facilities, no permitted zones, and no support. If you choose to camp, you must bring all gear and take all waste with you. Fires are not permitted.
Price range: Guesthouse: 100-200 RMB/night. Mid-range hotel: 200-400 RMB/night.
What to Wear & Bring
Summer (May-Oct)
Swimsuit, full sun protection (zero shade), water shoes for rocks. Bring own umbrella or beach tent.
Winter (Nov-Apr)
Light jacket for beach walks. Pleasant solitude but too cold for swimming.
Packing Checklist
- ✓ Everything for a beach day (zero facilities)
- ✓ Water (2L+ per person)
- ✓ Food/picnic
- ✓ Sunscreen + hat
- ✓ Umbrella or beach tent
- ✓ Trash bag
- ✓ Toilet paper
- ✓ First aid kit
Facilities
- Showers
- None
- Lockers
- None
- Umbrellas/Chairs
- None
- Lifeguards
- No
- Food/Drinks
- None
- Restrooms
- None on-site
- Changing Rooms
- None
- First Aid
- None
Beach Features
- Sand Type
- Mixed sand, natural state
- Water Quality
- Grade II
- Wave Type
- Calm
- Best Season
- May-September
- Swimming Zone
- No formal zone
When to Avoid
No specific times to avoid — even on summer weekends, Shuitousha rarely has more than a handful of people. The main constraint is weather: avoid typhoon conditions, heavy rain, and extreme heat without shade preparation.
Things to Do
Solitude & Reading
The main activity. Bring a book, a towel, and an umbrella. Find your spot on the empty sand and let the hours disappear. This is the best beach near Shenzhen for doing absolutely nothing.
Picnic
With zero vendors, a picnic is mandatory. Buy supplies at the Nanao wet market in the morning and set up your feast on the sand. The combination of market-fresh food and an empty beach is hard to beat.
Casual Swimming
The water is calm but there are no lifeguards. Swim with extreme caution, stay close to shore, and never swim alone. Best for a quick dip rather than extended swimming.
Beachcombing
The mixed sand and pebble shoreline means interesting finds at low tide — shells, smooth stones, sea glass. A meditative activity for a quiet afternoon.
Safety
Best Time to Visit
Shuitousha Beach (水头沙) offers ideal conditions during May-September.
Photo Spots
The empty beach at sunrise. Rocky sections at low tide for texture and foreground interest. The path leading down to the beach through the small rise — a 'reveal' shot. The view toward Nanao harbor from the western end.
History & Background
Shuitousha has no grand history — it has always been a quiet strip of coastline used occasionally by local fishermen and residents. Its obscurity is its defining feature. Unlike every other beach on this guide, Shuitousha has never been developed, never been promoted, and never attracted crowds. It remains exactly what it has always been: a simple, unremarkable, wonderfully empty beach.
Visitor Tips
- • Bring absolutely everything — there are zero facilities of any kind
- • Pack water (2L+ per person), food, sunscreen, umbrella, and a trash bag
- • Walk from Nanao town (10-15 min) — no parking at the beach itself
- • Go on a weekday for guaranteed solitude