SUMMER means happy times. It means going to the beach to enjoy the vast sea, soft sand, rolling waves, and endless sunshine. As summer is knocking on the door, most Shenzheners are itching to rush to the seaside to get the cool sun tan. Good news is that there are some quite nice options of islands and bays in the vicinity of Shenzhen, some even within one hour’s reach. Naqin Peninsula in Taishan, the ‘Little Greece of Guangdong’ The beautiful architecture, blue sea water...If you post a photo randomly taken here on your WeChat Moments, people may think you are enjoying vacation abroad, which is no doubt why Naqin Peninsula is nicknamed “Little Greece of Guangdong.” The coastline of Naqin Peninsula is 6,000 meters long. It has five beaches and is separated from Shangchuan Island and Xiachuan Island by the sea. There are also Roman- style corridors, British-style iron bridges, Mediterranean-style architectural complexes and a church in the air, which are all nice options for shutterbugs to bring back home some photos. Additionally, you can stroll along the plank road with vast sea view on one side and mountains with strange shaped rocks on the other side. If you reach the top of this area by climbing along the staircase, you can take in the whole view of the bay. It’s said that every year from May to October is the best time for observing Sousa chinensis, the humpbacked dolphins. Add: 1 Haijing 1 Street, Naqin Peninsula, Beidou Town, Taishan City, Jiangmen (臺山市北陡鎮那琴半島海景1街1號) Lovers Island in Xichong, the most romantic shooting place in Shenzhen With soft sand and three sides embraced by mountains, the Lovers Island is a small island off of the Xichong Beach. This magnificent island has been described by many as paradise on earth. The locals have nicknamed it Shenzhen Xanadu for its reputation of being a pure land in Shenzhen. The island is home to exquisite beaches that have soft white sand complimented by a beautiful crystal clear blue sea. There are various types of entertainment activities. Tourists can enjoy swimming at outdoor bathing places, can treat themselves with beach barbecue, have fun with water scooters and explore the underwater world by diving in the sea. Add: Xichong, Dapeng New Area, Shenzhen (深圳市大鵬新區南澳西沖) Xizhou Island of Daya Bay, the ‘Little Lamma Island’ for locals Located in the sea across Baguang Village, Xizhou Island is nicknamed “Little Lamma Island” by local people. The beach here is over 1,000 meters long. There are many huge strange shaped rocks on the beach. Some are huge enough to accommodate four or five people lying on it at the same time. The silver sand on the beach is soft and exquisite. When the tide recedes, you can pick up shells or catch crabs here. Sometimes there are thousands of crabs and when you move a rock you can see dozens of them hiding underneath. Far away from the land and endowed with a rich ecosystem, the island is deemed as an ideal camping base for camping lovers. Add: In the sea area of Daya Bay, intersection of Shenzhen and Huizhou (深、惠交界的大亞灣海域) Dajiao Bay in Yangjiang, the ‘Eastern Hawaii’ Reputed as “Eastern Hawaii”, Dajiao Bay, a national 5A tourism area, is a popular scenic spot in Hailing Island, which is situated to the southwest of Yangjiang. Part of a subtropical region, it has long hours of sunshine throughout the year with 310 clear days and an average temperature of 22.8 degrees Celsius. It is an ideal place for coastal tourism and vacations. The island features rich entertainment activities including beach motorcycle, volleyball, parascending, beach horse racing and laser shooting games. Add: Within Zhapo Town, Hailing Island, Yangjiang (陽江市海陵島閘坡鎮內) Hai’ou (Sea Gull) Island in Panyu, an idea place for cycling around the island Hai’ou (Sea Gull) Island is a quaint fishing island in Panyu District in southern Guangzhou. The island got its name due to its shape which is similar to that of a sea gull. There is a greenway that loops around the island which is ideal for cycling. Additionally, there is also a 13-kilometer-long highway which runs through the island from north to south. The island is a manageable size to explore in one day and offers a tranquil respite from city life. Whether you stroll along the tree-lined roads and soak in the sea air or take a boat through the island’s watercourses, it’s easy to forget about time here. Add: In the eastern suburbs of Panyu District, Guangzhou (廣州番禺區東郊) (Chen Xiaochun) | 