The design of waterfront areas has already established many basic consensuses, but there are still many regrets in actual construction. Today, beauty has become a key factor in urban competition. Driven by high beauty value, many urban planning and design logics are changing, allowing waterfront area design to evolve accordingly. This article will discuss the future trends of waterfront area design pursuit and methods, as well as the underlying reasons behind supporting changes, based on urban design practices primarily in Shenzhen.