The beach where tourists may not even see the sea
Crowded Damerisha beach in China's Shenzhen city. Collected photo.
Damerisha Beach in China's Shenzhen city. This 1.8-kilometer-long beach sees a flood of people in summer. Especially, on holidays, it becomes difficult to find a place to set foot on the sand. To manage the crowds, the authorities have had to decide to limit the number of people entering the beach.
How crowded the beach can get can be understood just by reading tourists' experiences online. On travel websites like TripAdvisor, many tourists have expressed dissatisfaction over the crowds. Some have said the crowd was so dense that they could not even reach the seawater!
Damerisha is an open public beach. There is usually no ticket required to enter. However, to control excessive crowds, the Shenzhen authorities have taken special measures. Various reports mention that from May to October, a maximum of 80,000 visitors per day are allowed to enter. During this time, advance booking or reservation is also required to go to the beach.
However, this limit of 80,000 people is also huge in numerical terms. Reports published in local media said that in the summer of 2024, a maximum of 190,000 visitors came to the beach in a single day. In such a situation, it becomes difficult to walk around comfortably. Activities like sunbathing or swimming in the sea also become difficult.
Transport system also behind the crowds
Easy transportation is behind such a large gathering of people at Damerisha Beach. There are multiple bus routes to get there. The biggest advantage is that there is a metro station right in front of the beach. As a result, it is easy for tourists as well as local residents to reach here.
The opportunity for free entry has also increased the beach's popularity. Easy transportation, no entry fee, and the attraction of spending time at the beach—all together bring a flood of people here in summer.
There are scenic structures on the beach
Damerisha is not just a place for swimming in the sea or spending time on the sand. There are unique sculptures, walking paths, and various structures to attract tourists. In the middle of the beach is the Wish Tower. From the observation deck on top of it, a wide view of the sea and sky can be seen. The place is also popular among tourists for taking photos. Besides, there are small parks and walking paths built along the sea near the beach. These facilities have made the beach an attractive destination for outings with family and friends.
However, the presence of a huge number of people has also created environmental concerns. In August 2024, the local environmental authority said that due to excessive visitors and heavy rainfall over a long period, changes had occurred in the beach's water quality. Polluted substances and garbage from surrounding areas flowing into the sea with rainwater is also a reason for this. To manage the situation, the authorities said they would strengthen regular water quality testing, cleanliness, and security measures.
Although tourists complain about excessive crowds, Damerisha's popularity has not diminished much. During summer vacations, photos of the beach regularly spread on social media. In the photos, a massive gathering of people can be seen beside the blue sea. Seen from a distance, it seems as if the sandy beach has turned into a sea of people.
(Sources: Website of Yantian Government of Shenzhen, iShenzhen)
