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

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.

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).