I only discovered the existence of Shanwei Guangdong by looking at a map and I only went to Shanwei because Chinese New Year there were tickets to quite literally no where else.
I also discovered that there was little to no information about the city online, so decided to write this, the Shanwei Travel Guide!
What the Shanwei?
Shanwei, nestled along Guangdong’s coast, is the “Special Economic Zone” that had all the opportunities but none of the luck—or drive. Think of it as Shenzhen’s drug-addict little brother: once brimming with potential, now living off handouts from its overachieving sibling.
With a population of about 3.3 million, Shanwei isn’t tiny, but it’s far from thriving. Back in the 1980s, it was handpicked alongside Shenzhen and Zhuhai to lead China’s economic revolution. Shenzhen skyrocketed to tech superstardom, while Shanwei floundered. Today, it leans heavily on Shenzhen for jobs and cash, its skyline dominated by half-built towers that scream “close, but no cigar.”
Despite its struggles, Shanwei isn’t destitute. It’s a middle-of-the-road city with beaches, a port, and some decent street food—if you know where to look. From stinky tofu to deep-fried snacks, the flavors are as bold as Shanwei’s unfulfilled ambitions. It’s not glamorous, but it’s got charm, and maybe that’s enough.
Shanwei Travel Guide – What is there to do in Shanwei?
When it comes to tourist attractions in Shanwei, don’t expect to find a wealth of well-known sites. The city’s attractions are still in the “maybe one day” phase, aimed more at a future Chinese market than present-day visitors. The many “resorts” scattered around town look like they were built for an audience that hasn’t quite arrived yet.
One place that does get some attention is Coffee Castle, an industrial-themed attraction by the coast. It’s hard to find much information online, but it’s a popular stop for tour buses—mostly from Vietnam—who seem to have discovered it before the rest of the world. The site features old industrial buildings by the water, and while it’s interesting enough to draw tourists, the attractions remain underdeveloped.
Shanwei’s resorts and beaches, like those around Red Bay Resort, seem to be playing the long game, hoping for future growth. For now, they’re mostly empty or under construction, waiting for the day when more tourists come looking for a slice of Guangdong’s coastal charm.
The Shanwei Travel Guide to Hotels!
Shanwei’s hotel scene is a mix of the usual Chinese quirks and solid value. There are plenty of resorts, but don’t expect five-star luxury. A lot of these places also have apartment blocks where locals rent out rooms pretending they’re hotels. It’s a common setup across China, and while it may sound sketchy, it’s often excellent value. For example, near the train station, you’ll find a plethora of hotels and rented apartments. One spot even offers a decent two-floor room for just $25 in winter. It’s not glamorous, but it’s comfortable and cheap.
If you’re looking for something a bit more polished, the Vienna Hotel chain is your best bet. A mid-range Chinese brand that dominates in Shanwei and other similar towns, you can expect a room here for about $40 in winter. This is middle of the road town, so you will neither find a Hilton or a hostel to lay your head for the night.
Eating and drinking in Shanwei
The twin pillars of any trip anywhere, even to Shanwei is what the eating and drinking situations are, so do not worry our Shanwei Guide has you very much covered. Eating wise this is very much a Guangdong city so the nightlife is dominated by nighttime BBQ, which is accompanied by beer. You can tell these places by the big beer signs. On this trip I even saw a San Miguel sign.
Entertainment wise the most interesting place that I found was a night market by the quay which has a bunch of train wagons in it and guys singing in the middle. Theres some street food, but overall it was a bit of a disappointed. There are though some other night markets, as well as a vibrant street food scene. Cuisine wise it is very much Guangdong and indeed very much a seafood affair.
Bars wise I did not find anything, save places that said “bar” on DiDi the ride sharing app. This is though the boonies of Guangdong, so drinking is done at BBQ restaurants and often includes Bai Jiu. Alas it was winter so I did not indulge much in the resorts, although I expect them to be much the same.
Could it be worse than the nightlife of Zhuhai? I fear so….
Getting in and out of Shanwei
Getting in and out of Shanwei isn’t exactly an exercise in convenience, but it’s not impossible. The city, as you might expect, isn’t exactly a major tourist hub, so it’s not like you’ll be bumping into hordes of backpackers at the train station. But for those brave enough to venture here, you’ll find a few key connections, mostly to the big players in Guangdong: Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
- Shenzhen: If you’re coming from Shenzhen, the train ride to Shanwei is pretty straightforward—about two to three hours, depending on your luck with the schedule. Shenzhen is the big brother of the Guangdong family, and Shanwei is just the kid brother trying to get a handout. Trains run fairly regularly, but don’t expect the kind of crowds you’ll find at Shenzhen’s main station. It’s more like a quiet little side project.
- Guangzhou: From the provincial capital, Guangzhou, it’s about a two-hour train ride to Shanwei. Guangzhou is a bit like the overachiever cousin who went to a prestigious university and then became a high-flying executive. Shanwei, meanwhile, is just happy to have any job at all. Still, Guangzhou is a major transportation hub, so it’s easy enough to catch a train to Shanwei from here. The trains are comfy enough, though don’t expect any frills. This isn’t a place for luxury travel.
- Xiamen: Here’s where it gets interesting. While not exactly a direct line of tourism, you can catch a train from Xiamen, the coastal gem of Fujian province. Xiamen’s a bit of a trek away, but for those who want to take the scenic route (or just enjoy the novelty of traveling to a lesser-known destination), it’s a fun way to link up with Shanwei. Don’t expect this route to be the most convenient, though—it’s more for the adventurous.
- Smaller Guangdong Cities: If you’re coming from places like Huizhou or Dongguan, you’re in luck—there are trains linking these smaller cities to Shanwei as well. These aren’t exactly the hotbeds of tourism, but they do serve as important economic hubs in Guangdong, so they keep the trains running. The stations here are a bit less exciting, and you might find yourself wondering if you’ve stepped into an alternate reality where no one really cares about Shanwei. Spoiler alert: They don’t.
Now, buses—oh, buses. While not the first thing you’d think of when entering a city like Shanwei, they’re there if you need them. Buses can take you to nearby towns or even down to the coast, but don’t expect a whole lot of luxury. These aren’t the plush, air-conditioned buses you might find in more developed cities; think more along the lines of “get in, get out, and don’t ask too many questions.”
In short, Shanwei isn’t exactly the city you’d plan a trip around. But if you find yourself here, don’t worry—there’s a way in, even if it’s not the most glamorous. And when it comes time to leave, you’ll have your pick of connections, whether you’re heading back to the big cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou, or off on a more obscure adventure to Xiamen. Just don’t expect it to be an easy ride.
Is it worth visiting Shanwei?
I sit worth visiting Shanwei? Well I personally enjoyed this as an out of town experience from both Guangzhou and Shenzhen and you can see that it has a lot of potential for a future tourism industry.
With that being said though do I feel it is worth rerouting a China trip to come here, or indeed visiting before hordes of other tourists arrive? Well no, probably not in all honesty and nor will I be adding it to the roster of Young Pioneer Tours China Tours.