I had heard of the massive traffic jams in China during the Chinese New Year festive period, as well as during major public holidays, when the government removes highway toll fees all over this massive country.
I had also read in the news that the Shenzhen government was trying to control the number of cars in the city by only granting persons to buy cars by ballot.
Lastly, my friends told me to avoid heading to the beaches in Shenzhen during weekends, especially during the summer.
Somehow the above advice did not register, and I thought it would be a fantastic idea to head to 西冲beach (rated #1 in Shenzhen, and #8 in all of China) on a Sunday.
BIGGEST mistake made in China
We left at 0900hrs in the morning, and the journey took 2.5hrs to get to the beach. The last 500m to the car park took an hour.
The beach was busy. Not packed like on Labor Day or National Day weekend, but bad enough that there were constantly people walking past us and staring at my girlfriend.
There was also lots of litter about. The sanitation facilities have not been setup to accommodate the crowds as yet.
The water was clean, though the waves were too strong for swimming, and there were way too many people for surfing safely. At least everyone was having a good time having waves crashing on their backs.
We got bored within 2 hours (and the weather got cloudy), so we thought we could beat the crowd by leaving the beach early at 1300hrs.
Time line as follows:
1330hrs - still in beach carpark - managed to walk out to buy food and walk back to the car. We moved 20m in 10 min
1400hrs - just left beach carpark. It started to rain, which gave scant consolation that we left the beach at the right time
1500hrs - stuck in a jam on the highway. We probably moved less than 10km
1600hrs - we are bitching to our friend in Hong Kong about the jam. Candy tells me we could have flown to Thailand and be on a better beach.
1700hrs - we try to sleep with little success. Our driver is blaring rather irritating Chinese music, singing about "being one's apple", and "get in my car, listen to my songs"; we almost wish for death.
1830hrs - we arrived back in Shekou. Exhausted. Frustrated. Hungry. And Candy has to pack her stuff and make it back to Macau by ferry by 1930hrs.
Total journey time - 5.5hrs
There - I documented my worst weekend in China.
I had also read in the news that the Shenzhen government was trying to control the number of cars in the city by only granting persons to buy cars by ballot.
Lastly, my friends told me to avoid heading to the beaches in Shenzhen during weekends, especially during the summer.
 |
| My feet; litter; Chinese people - @ XiChong beach |
BIGGEST mistake made in China
We left at 0900hrs in the morning, and the journey took 2.5hrs to get to the beach. The last 500m to the car park took an hour.
 |
| Our first view of the beach. It got more crowded with each pasing minute |
There was also lots of litter about. The sanitation facilities have not been setup to accommodate the crowds as yet.
 |
| Crowds picked up. All are happy |
We got bored within 2 hours (and the weather got cloudy), so we thought we could beat the crowd by leaving the beach early at 1300hrs.
Time line as follows:
1330hrs - still in beach carpark - managed to walk out to buy food and walk back to the car. We moved 20m in 10 min
 |
| Yao chicken. Delicious chicken and herbs baked in an earth oven |
1500hrs - stuck in a jam on the highway. We probably moved less than 10km
 |
| ”坐我的车，听我的歌！“ |
1700hrs - we try to sleep with little success. Our driver is blaring rather irritating Chinese music, singing about "being one's apple", and "get in my car, listen to my songs"; we almost wish for death.
1830hrs - we arrived back in Shekou. Exhausted. Frustrated. Hungry. And Candy has to pack her stuff and make it back to Macau by ferry by 1930hrs.
Total journey time - 5.5hrs
There - I documented my worst weekend in China.
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