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"Snake's Mouth"

Shekou literally means “Snake’s Mouth” due to its position at the tip of the Nantou peninsula at the mouth of the Pearl River. The Shekou Hash logo, a snake on a rock is derived from this name.

Shekou is located on a peninsula at the far southwestern end of Shenzhen bay, opposite Huang Gang on the eastern side, with Luo Hu visible in the distance on a clear day. The housing estates in Yuen Long in Hong Kong can be seen across the bay, and a bridge completed in 2007 links Shekou with the New Territories in Hong Kong. Shekou Ferry Terminal links to Central in Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Airport, Zuhai and Macau.

Modern Development
Shekou was a small fishing village with an old port in the early 80s, located in Baoan County before the founding of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in 1979. The rights to develop Shekou were given to The China Merchants Company. China Merchants initially created the Shekou Industrial Zone which attracted many factories to the peninsula, including makers of everything from toys, paint, garments, heavy industrial equipment and household appliances. China Merchants also developed Shekou Port into what was for many years the busiest in Shenzhen (until being overtaken in volume by the Hong Kong invested Yantian Port).

Shekou looking east in1982

Shekou Port under construction, 1984

Taizi Road looking west. Part of the old Taizi Square can be seen on the right.

The Oil Industry Arrives
Westerners came to Shekou after the offering of oil concessions and oil joint ventures to western oil companies. Those initially included Agip, Chevron, Texaco, StatoilHydro, and Shell which began exploration, and later attracted myriad support and service companies to the area. When oil drilling began Shekou became the base for these oil related companies and the hundreds of western oil industry workers, managers and engineers that were sent here. Some came with their families, and in 1988 Shekou International School was established in Jingshan Villas.

The Snake Pit, The Hash and Bar Street
There wasn't much for oil personel to do on the weekend in Shenzhen during the 80s, and it was in 1984 that the Saturday Shekou Hash was founded by Steele "Bullwinkle" George and Colin "Tampon" Martin to have something to look forward to every week. The Hash soon became one of the mainstays of Shekou life and very popular with the oil crowd. After almost three years of running without a suitable place to drink afterwards, the Shekou Sports and Social Club (a.k.a. "The Snake Pit") was established in 1987 as the first expatriate bar in China, with Steele George and Colin Martin among the founding members. Since then the Shekou Hash has called the Snake Pit home. The Snake Pit was eventually located in a ground floor location on an alley near the end of Taizi Road. Soon afterward, local bars with names like "Mustang Sally", "Manilla Bar" and "Flower Girl Bar" sprang up, offering colorful night-time entertainment for visitors and locals alike. The street became a famous evening destination in South China, and became known as Shekou Bar Street or "Chicken Street" by those who live here. Although the Snake Pit has since moved to the new Taizi Square, and an elementary School opened in its place on Bar Street, there are still enough bars left in the area to attract visitors from around the world.
Sea World is Redeveloped
Local developers recognized Shenzhen’s unique western atmosphere, and capitalized on this with the redevelopment of Sea World, the areas in front of and surrounding the derelict, landlocked ship the "Ming Hua". Completed in 2006, the new Sea World included a 4-star hotel inside the Ship, and attractive new space for international restaurants and bars throughout the plaza. These now include McCauleys Irish Pub, The Terrace, D-Club, a brewery and international restaurants of almost every kind. The area is now the heart of Shekou, a top night-life destination for Shenzhen residents and an important tourist destination. The Snake Pit, home of the Shekou Hash moved from Bar Street to the "new" Taizi Square, directly opposite Sea World.

Shekou and The Hash Today
Shekou is continously changing. Local international schools are expanding as more foreigners choose to to call Shekou home. More expatriate housing keeps hitting the market as Shekou is converted from an industrial zone to a prime residential and office district. More western food specialty shops and stores that cater to foreigners open all the time, and the great selection of bars and restaurants keeps growing. The Shenzhen Metro link to Sea World and Shekou Port is scheduled to open in 2010, and the landfill near Sea World is now under development. At one time the Hash consisted mainly of oil industry staff and locals. While there are still a few oil guys left on our Hash, we now have runners from all walks of life and nationalities, and we never know who the next "virgin" is going to be. No matter what changes, The Shekou Hash keeps on running every Saturday from the Snake Pit, and you can bet that the Shekou Hash will still be running strong from the Pit for years to come.
On On!