OCT Bay

This article was originally published on November 14, 2011, in the Shenzhen Daily.
The information was accurate at that time, and may be outdated now. Use with caution.

Workers use a waterway to transport materials at the not-quite-yet-open OCT Bay

They say that "the third time's the charm." Well, it took me FOUR visits to the new OCT Bay complex before I found anything open. [And most things still weren't.] They took time to get it right.

Evergreen Resort

This article was originally published on September 5, 2011, in the Shenzhen Daily.
The information was accurate at that time, and may be outdated now. Use with caution.

The hotel and conference center at the foot of Nanshan Mountain

Despite being highly developed, Shenzhen continues to surprise me with the amount of green space available to explore right in the midst of the urban environment.

On a blistering hot day recently, my wife and I went to the Evergreen Resort (Qingqing Shijie 青青世界, which gives its alternate English name, "Qing Qing World").

Shekou Sea World

This article was originally published on January 21, 2011, in the Shenzhen Daily.
The information was accurate at that time, and may be outdated now. Use with caution.

Deng Xiaoping's calligraphy on the Ming Hua at Shekou Sea World

With the completion of Metro Line 3 from Windows of the World to Chiwan, there's no excuse not to visit the rapidly-changing Shekou area. You no longer need to spend precious time on a bus or precious money on a taxi. Shoppers, diners, and revelers can now travel from the city center to Shekou Sea World without ever leaving the underground.

Dameisha and Beyond

This article was originally published on March 11, 2011, in the Shenzhen Daily.
The information was accurate at that time, and may be outdated now. Use with caution.

Giant statues on the beach, Dameisha

The weather is warming up, so it's time to start thinking about THE BEACH!

Out east of town, toward the Nan'ao Peninsula, Shenzhen boasts beaches with activities to suit every taste. From lazing by the pool of a five-star international hotel to tent-camping on the beach after a day of "extreme (sort of) sports," the eastern beaches have it all.

Xiangmi Hu

As nearly as I can tell, this article was never published in the Shenzhen Daily.
This was at the time of the Universiade, when the paper "adjusted" its publishing schedule.
Anyway, the information was accurate when written, and may be outdated now. Use with caution.

The D.Club at Honey Lake Resort

There was a time a mere few decades ago when "civilization" ended around Huafu Lu on the edge of the Huaqiang Bei shopping district, and didn't start again until somewhere close to Shekou. Smack dab in the middle of all that is the Xiangmi Hu ("Honey Lake") Resort area.

Shiyan Lake

This article was originally published on March 22, 2010, in the Shenzhen Daily.
The information was accurate at that time, and may be outdated now. Use with caution.

Approach to Hongyuan Temple

Shenzhen is defined by water. The name itself means "deep ditches," a reference to the drainage that takes the wealth of water in the area into the sea

There are numerous lakes--some artificial, some natural--and many of them have resort facilities: Honey Lake, Silver Lake, Xili Lake, and today's destination, Shiyan Lake.

Drinking and Dining at Coco Park

This article was originally published on November 21, 2011, in the Shenzhen Daily.
The information was accurate at that time, and may be outdated now. Use with caution.

The central court at Coco Park (the south precinct)

If you haven't been to Coco Park lately, there may be some surprises in store.