From Serpent to Sea World
From Serpent to Sea World
Shekou means snake’s mouth. A name conferred on it, probably because it was at the end of a narrow peninsula that separates the mouth of the Pearl River from Shenzhen Bay. Reclamation has fattened the peninsula out considerably over the years, and the only thing resembling mouth parts, these days, would be the entrance to the Chiwan container port.
But while ships loaded with manufactured goods may arrive and depart, Shekou’s 14,000-ton floating tourist attraction is firmly anchored. Indeed, since it was berthed, the area around it has been reclaimed so that it is now completely land-locked, save for an ornamental lake along its starboard side.
The Minghua was once a luxury cruise liner. It was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The ship was launched in 1962 with President Charles de Gaulle cracking the champers on its bow to set it off on its maiden voyage to the Canary Islands. It was bought ten years later by China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) and renamed Minghua, and served for a further ten years.
Sea View entertainment plaza (above) and a herbal tea seller (below)
During the ship’s time in service, its ports of call have included Casablanca, Alicante, Sydney, Aukland, Bali, Singapore, and Thailand. It was retired in 1983, after completing its final voyage from Yokohama to Shanghai, and towed to Shekou at the end of that year.
Humble beginnings
Shekou is actually one of the oldest districts in super-modern Shenzhen. Before 1979, it was little more than a collection of small fishing communities, then, in January of that year, it was earmarked as a special industrial zone. It became the test bed for modern management systems, foreign investment, and led the area’s rapid rise even before Shenzhen itself was designated a Special Economic Zone.
In 2003, in order to entertain the influx of foreign workers, the Minghua became the centrepiece of the Sea World complex. The ship itself hosts a number of restaurants, and it is surrounded by a pedestrian-only precinct lined with even more restaurants as well as bars, open-air live performances. Cuisines from around the world are represented, as well as from all corners of China. There are trucks selling ice cream and other sweet treats and little vehicles, festooned with coloured lights, for kiddies to drive around.
It’s an impressive place, and well worth a visit. But if you prefer a more local atmosphere with bargain bites, head for Shekou Old Street. There are still a lot of small engineering and hardware shops along here, but alongside them, a burgeoning street food area is taking shape.
There are more local dining options on Shekou Old Street
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