Shadunbei

East of the centuries-old Dawan Ancestral Residence lies a little-known treasure: Shadunbei (an ancient dam).

The earliest written mention of Shadunbei appears in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) records, briefly noted as “to the east lies Shadunbei” — then merely a footnote to the grand Dawan compound.

As an affiliated relic of the Hakka estate, Shadunbei’s significance has since been more widely recognized: in 1984, it was designated a Shenzhen Municipal Cultural Relic Protection Site alongside the Dawan Ancestral Residence, and in 2002 it was upgraded to a Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Site.

A view of Shadunbei near Dawan Ancestral Residence in Pingshan District. Photo from FunSome Ecology

Remarkably, while ancient Shenzhen once featured many dams and weirs, Shadunbei is today the only surviving ancient dam in the area — an exceptionally rare vestige. Its functions historically included water storage, irrigation, and flood control.

Today, Shadunbei offers both a window into traditional water management and a tranquil spot to enjoy the landscape. To find it, search for “沙墩石溪” in your map app.

Venue: Shadunbei, Juntian 3rd Road, Pingshan District (坪山区均田三路沙墩陂)

Metro: Line 16 to Pinghuan Station (坪环站), Exit A1, and then walk east on Dongzong Road (东纵路), turn south onto Pinghuan Road (坪环路), then turn west onto Juntian 3rd Road (均田三路)