Shenzhen Shorts — The Western Shore of Nanao
We wanted to have a leisurely lunch at the YUN hotel but the dining options there were limited. We then decided to head over to the western shore of Nanao. The ride would take a little more than half hour.
Nanao has the beautiful name as one of “China’s eight great shores.” Its western shore is certainly representative of its good repute. Tourism is better developed in the western shore. The vibe there is significantly westernized, and that is a common perception of what attracts tourism in China (or, otherwise, something that gives an ancient Chinese vibe). A whole lot of higher-end hotels and guesthouses are established along the hilly areas above the shoreline. At this location, sunset viewing is certainly a key selling point for tourists.
Yet, as with so many development projects in China, there is an unmistakable sense that a lot of the investments ended up as hopes dashed. You could see the intention of building the structures in a certain way to impress. But they were left to decay. We saw a lot of dents and broken pieces in these buildings in a relatively upscale neighborhood. Some of the construction seemed to have stopped halfway.
The first stop we made at this area was the Akanara Hotel.
Beach and Dining at the Akanara Hotel
We arrived at Akanara to find a vibrant scene of people engaging in all kinds of activities. At the entrance area, we overlooked the wide-open ocean and a pristine beach, which was very crowded.
There was an al fresco dining area at the terrace, and people could order snacks and enjoy the ocean view there. We headed over to the hotel restaurant and found ourselves in a pleasant ambience. The facilities were new, the restaurant was spacious, and large windows overlooking the beach let in generous daylight.
Everything there felt quite right until we sat down and ate. We ordered a set lunch for two, the price was somewhat reasonable (but not cheap by Chinese standards). We then became very bothered by the patrons at other tables with groups of family. The children ran around and screamed. We were so troubled that we asked to change tables twice.
The food at the hotel restaurant was not too bad, but perhaps it was not really worth mentioning either. The plan was for us to each read our books there at the restaurant until dinner time, when we would head out for sunset dinner at another location.
This was my friend’s idea for making a getaway in Shenzhen. She wanted to relax completely. Enjoy sea views, do nothing, and just let time pass. For me, I wanted a time of productivity in a more relaxed environment. Certainly, Nanao satisfies both of our objectives.
As the brightness of a hot spring day began to wane, we thought it was time to leave. We headed over to the beach, but again, the overwhelming presence of people there made it unpleasant for us. Surely, the sand was soft and the sea was clear there, but the people!
Sunset at the First Beach of Nanao
We went to the First Beach of Nanao, where the restaurant Mingqi is. There is a nice café there belonging to the White House Hotel of Nanao. We ruled out the Thai restaurant at the hotel, and opted for dinner at the Mingqi Restaurant.
The Mingqi Restaurant receives very good reviews. It is headed by an award-winning chef, who specializes in making baked chicken. Our set for two came with what we liked very much, serving a whole chicken, an oyster pancake and veggies. The chicken was perfectly done with crispy skin. It was well flavored and not too dry.
We did not take outside seating, although the sun was setting soon. By the time we finished dinner, the sunset was well on its way. This beach was less crowded than the one at Akanara Hotel. But the buildings on the hills afar blocked the setting sun. It was slightly disappointing, but we secured the only outside table at the White House Hotel’s café and chatted the night away.