On March 12, Zhang Ran, President of Shenzhen Tanhai Yacht Industry Development Co., Ltd., a company under JD.com, led a delegation on a visit to Shenzhen's Dapeng New District. The purpose was to inspect potential cooperation for the JD Yacht Club project and hold discussions with senior leaders of the district. This yacht industry headquarters project, backed by a personal strategic investment of 5 billion RMB from Richard Liu, represents the largest investment of its kind in China and is setting its strategic sights on Dapeng, a key area within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area described as Shenzhen's "hidden gem."
This visit signifies a convergence of corporate ambition and regional maritime strength, showcasing a mutual commitment to high-quality development in the yacht industry and the broader blue economy on the Dapeng Peninsula. The choice of Dapeng New District is no coincidence; it stems from a strong alignment between its natural resources and industrial positioning. The emergence of Tanhai Yacht coincides with a pivotal period of growth for China's yacht industry. With per capita GDP surpassing $13,000, national policies are identifying yacht consumption as a new growth driver, and Guangdong Province has set a target for related industries to exceed 100 billion RMB by 2027, heralding the arrival of a significant "private vessel" era.
Tanhai Yacht is focused on the "new energy + smart technology" sector, with plans to establish a manufacturing base in Zhuhai and its headquarters in Shenzhen. The inspection of Dapeng New District is a crucial step in solidifying its presence in Shenzhen and identifying high-quality partnership opportunities. Dapeng's receptive response is grounded in substantial inherent strengths. Designated by Shenzhen as a "world-class coastal eco-tourism resort" and a "core area for the global marine city," the district boasts half of Shenzhen's coastline and two-thirds of its marine planning area, fostering a unique marine ecological culture. Furthermore, Dapeng is home to three major yacht clubs—Langqi, Qixing Bay, and Dapeng—accounting for 72% of the city's yacht berths and having already established a vibrant yacht industry cluster centered on "events, business, and tourism."
This industrial foundation aligns perfectly with Tanhai Yacht's focus on "green, intelligent" products and its "yacht + tourism" business model. China aims to stimulate new economic activities like private boating, and Shenzhen's Dapeng New District presents an ideal testing ground for these new productive forces. For the yacht industry, high-quality marina infrastructure is an irreplaceable asset. The key sites inspected by Tanhai Yacht—Nanao Port and Qixing Bay Yacht Club—represent the core of Dapeng's yacht industry capabilities.
Nanao Port is located in a prime coastal area of the Dapeng Peninsula, just 2.5 nautical miles from Hong Kong's Tung Ping Chau Island, giving it a natural advantage for radiating across the Western Pacific. Plans indicate the port can accommodate 100 yacht berths, with a land-based port complex spanning approximately 41,000 square meters that includes provisions for a cross-border helicopter pad, fully meeting the needs for a comprehensive "land, sea, and air" service system. Currently, the main structure of the port building is complete, and maritime approvals have been secured, awaiting the right project to "attract the phoenix to nest."
Qixing Bay Yacht Club is renowned as one of China's finest sailing harbors. As the primary venue and home port for international events like the China Cup International Regatta, it encompasses 100,000 square meters of water area with 230 operational berths capable of accommodating superyachts up to 150 feet. It has successfully hosted top-tier events including the World University Games, the Asian 470 Sailing Championship, and the China Cup International Regatta. This mature experience in event management and high-specification facilities provides an extensive platform for JD's future yacht ventures to host international activities and launch premium products.
As a popular tourism destination within the Greater Bay Area, Dapeng New District welcomed 21 million visitors in 2025, a 117% increase compared to 2020. Tourism revenue reached 15 billion RMB, up 142%, overnight visitors exceeded 3 million, a 214% rise, and inbound tourists surpassed 1.5 million, a 285% increase. Preliminary statistics show that over 95% of these 21 million visitors engaged in coastal or sea-based activities, with more than 60% having experienced sea excursions, for which yachts are a key option.
Tanhai Yacht's ambitions extend beyond manufacturing and sales to building a comprehensive industrial ecosystem encompassing "R&D innovation, high-end manufacturing, operational services, and bonded maintenance." Dapeng New District offers fertile ground for this full industrial chain development. The district has a solid foundation for industrial synergy, already gathering related sectors like marine technology, water sports, and high-end cultural tourism, with major projects such as Club Med and CTS Senbo Longqi Bay Resort accelerating development. In 2025, the Dapeng Peninsula was selected as one of China's first high-quality outdoor sports destinations, hosted the National Games marathon swimming event for the first time, and saw its sea dragon boat race recognized as a national outstanding sports culture project. JD Yacht's entry can quickly integrate into this ecosystem, fostering composite formats like "yacht + low-altitude flights," "yacht + island resorts," and "yacht + event training."
Policy support is also strengthening. Dapeng has explicitly stated its aim to "promote the implementation of the city's yacht rental pilot program" and has established robust mechanisms for leisure vessel management and tourism safety. With the ongoing advancement of the Greater Bay Area yacht free travel policy, Dapeng is poised to become the "first stop" and "preferred destination" for Hong Kong and Macao-registered yachts entering mainland China.
The transportation landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation, eliminating the previous perception of remoteness. By the end of 2025, the opening of Metro Line 8 Phase 3 ended Dapeng's lack of rail access. Concurrently, the Shenzhen-Huizhou Intercity Railway Dapeng Branch is progressing rapidly, construction has begun on the first phase of Rail Line 32, and major projects like the urban transformation of the Yanba Expressway and the Pengba Corridor are accelerating. Beyond land transport, Dapeng has built 65 low-altitude takeoff and landing sites and launched 48 low-altitude routes. An integrated "land, sea, air, and rail" transportation network is rapidly taking shape, bringing a commute of "under 50 minutes" to the city center, Bao'an Airport, and Hong Kong increasingly within reach.
This fundamental improvement in connectivity removes barriers to attracting high-end consumers. For Tanhai Yacht, which targets the premium global market, it enables efficient linkage between its Shenzhen headquarters, Zhuhai manufacturing base, and Dapeng operational center. It means members and clients can travel directly from the city center by metro to the marina for an impromptu sea voyage.
Looking ahead to 2026, the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period and the year Shenzhen hosts the APEC meetings, which Dapeng has designated as its "Year of High-Quality Tourism Development," presents significant opportunities. The district plans to leverage the APEC platform by organizing events like an APEC Economy Sailing Friendship Regatta, forming APEC-friendly dragon boat teams, and curating themed activities such as the "Same Starry Sky" Asia-Pacific Lifestyle Festival. These international events provide Tanhai Yacht with an ideal stage for showcasing its offerings and expanding its market.
With the anticipated launch of the JD Yacht Club project, Dapeng's yacht industry is set to evolve beyond traditional berthing and leasing, moving up the value chain into areas like new energy propulsion, smart navigation, high-end customization, and bonded maintenance. The district is accelerating the integrated development of the "Three Marines" project—Shenzhen Marine University, the Deep Sea Science Center, and the Ocean Museum—enhancing the role of marine technology innovation as an intellectual core.
As technology meets the ocean and corporate vision aligns with regional assets, Dapeng New District, with its open attitude and solid industrial base, is inviting global partners to collaborate in writing a new, high-quality chapter for China's yacht industry—the "Dapeng Chapter." As emphasized in the district's 2026 economic work conference, the goal is to "promote industry through tourism, revitalize the city through tourism, and gather talent through tourism." JD.com's "Tanhai" venture is taking a firm and decisive step forward. Dapeng New District has prepared its ports and favorable conditions, ready to welcome this new industrial flagship as it sets sail into the deep blue.
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