Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a big city in the province of Guangdong, China. It is near the Pearl River and close to Hong Kong. Shenzhen has lots of people, with 17.5 million living there. It is one of the busiest cities in China, after only Shanghai and Beijing. The Port of Shenzhen is one of the busiest ports in the world.

Shenzhen became a city in 1979 and grew very fast because of changes in China's economy. It became a special area where businesses could grow quickly. This brought many people and companies to the city. Today, Shenzhen is known for technology and trade. It is often called China’s Silicon Valley because many important tech companies started there, like Huawei, Tencent, DJI, and Oppo.

The city has many tall buildings and is a major center for finance and science. Shenzhen is also a big place for making cars, being the largest car manufacturing city in China. Many people from different parts of China have moved to Shenzhen looking for new opportunities. This makes it a young and lively city.

Toponymy

The name Shenzhen might have been used in 1410 during the Ming dynasty. It was named after a deep drain called "Zhen" that flowed through the area. People in the area used "Zhen" to talk about drains in rice fields.

History

Prehistory to Ming era

People have lived in the area where Shenzhen is today since the middle of the Neolithic period, about 6,700 years ago. Historic counties were set up there about 1,700 years ago. Two old towns, Nantou and Dapeng, were built over 600 years ago in what is now Shenzhen. The Hakka people have lived in Shenzhen for around 300 years.

In 214 BC, when Emperor Qin Shi Huang united China under the Qin dynasty, the area became part of Nanhai Commandery, one of three commanderies in Lingnan. In 331 AD, the Eastern Jin created a new Dongguan Commandery. The main town for both areas and Bao'an County was near today’s Nantou town. In 590, the Sui put the area back into Nanhai. In 757, the Tang renamed the county Dongguan and moved its main town to what is now Dongguan city.

During the 1200s, Nantou and nearby areas became a key place for trading salt and spices in the South China Sea. The area became famous for its pearls in the 1300s. In 1362, Chinese sailors went to a Mazu temple in Chiwan before sailing to Nanyang or Southeast Asia. The Battle of Tunmen happened south of Nantou when the Ming fought invading Portuguese sailors.

Qing era to 1940s

To stop pirates, people were moved north, and Bao'an County lost land to nearby Dongguan in 1669. After the Qing dynasty lost to the United Kingdom in wars, Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula were given to Britain. On April 21, 1898, the Qing government signed a treaty leasing the New Territories to Britain for 99 years. British forces took over Xin'an, which includes today’s Shenzhen, in 1899.

In 1911, during the Wuchang Uprising, people in Xin'an fought against local Qing leaders and took over. That same year, the Chinese part of the Kowloon–Canton Railway opened, with its last stop in China at Shenzhen railway station, helping the town grow.

During World War II, Japan took over Shenzhen and Nantou, but the Bao'an County leaders moved to Dongguan. In 1941, the Japanese tried to enter Hong Kong through the Lo Wu Bridge in Shenzhen, but British forces stopped them.

1950s to 1980

In 1953, the Bao'an County leaders moved to Shenzhen because it was closer to the railway and bigger than Nantou. From the 1950s to the 1970s, many people tried to move from mainland China to Hong Kong, and thousands lived in Bao'an County.

In January 1978, a team from the State Council visited and suggested making a foreign trade port in Bao'an County. In October 1978, Bao'an County became Bao'an City and a medium-level prefecture-level city. But leaders wanted to rename it Shenzhen because that name was better known.

On March 5, 1979, the State Council approved the name Shenzhen. The city was set up with six areas: Luohu, Nantou, Songgang, Longhua, Longgang and Kuiyong. In January 1979, plans began for the Shekou Industrial Zone to be the first export processing zone in China, led by a Hong Kong group under Yuan Geng.

Special Economic Zone (1980s–present)

In 1980, Shenzhen had about 30,000 people. In May 1980, China’s leaders chose Shenzhen to be the first special economic zone as part of opening up the country. Its job was to test new economic ideas.

In 1981, Shenzhen became even more important. Plans to use different currencies were stopped because of risks. In 1983, the city put up fences and checkpoints between the special economic zone and the rest of China.

In December 1990, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange opened. In February 1992, Shenzhen got the right to make its own local laws. By 2001, more people from China moved to Shenzhen. In May 2008, China approved plans to improve Shenzhen’s systems.

On July 1, 2010, the fences came down, and the special economic zone grew to include all of Shenzhen. In August 2010, China approved plans for the Qianhai zone for working with Hong Kong. In August 2011, Shenzhen hosted a big international sports event. In April 2015, the Shekou Industrial Zone and Qianhai Zone became part of the new Guangdong Free-Trade Zone.

On August 18, 2019, China’s leaders announced plans to make Shenzhen a test area for new ways to build socialism.

Geography

Shenzhen is a city in Guangdong, China. It used to be part of an old area called Bao'an County. After some big changes in history, called the Opium Wars, part of this area became British Hong Kong. Shenzhen grew into a city by 1979.

The city is near many places, like Hong Kong to the south, Huizhou to the north, and Dongguan to the northwest. It has many rivers and lakes, including the Shenzhen River.

Climate

Shenzhen has warm weather most of the year. Winters are mild and not too wet, while summers can be hot and very wet. The city gets a lot of rain, especially from April to October. Even though it can get warm, very hot days are rare. The city also sometimes gets strong storms called typhoons during the summer and early autumn.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Shenzhen

Shenzhen, like other cities in China, has a system where the government and a party group both help make decisions. The party leader, called the secretary, has more power than the city's mayor.

Shenzhen can make its own rules and laws because it is a special economic zone. This means it can decide many things without asking the central government for approval.

Shenzhen is made up of several areas called districts. The city has grown and changed its districts over time. It started with six districts and has since added more, including Bao'an, Longgang, and Nanshan. These districts work together to help the city grow and care for its people and businesses.

Economy

Shenzhen was the first Special Economic Zones created by Deng Xiaoping. It began in April 1979 to welcome investment and new technology. By May 1980, it became a Special Economic Zone. By 2022, Shenzhen's economy was very strong, with a nominal GDP of 3.24 trillion RMB. This made it larger than the economies of nearby Hong Kong and Guangzhou, putting Shenzhen among the top three biggest cities in China, just after Shanghai and Beijing.

Shenzhen is also a very important place for money and business. In 2021, it was ranked as one of the world's top financial centers. The city is expected to keep growing and could be among the top ten biggest economies in the world by 2035.

Industry

Shenzhen's economy has four main parts: high tech, finance, logistics, and culture.

High Tech

Shenzhen is a big place for technology in China and the world. It is famous for its high-tech industry. The city has important tech companies like Huawei, Tencent, DJI, and ZTE. Huaqiangbei is a popular spot to buy gadgets and smartphones.

Shenzhen is also known for making cars. In 2024, it became the top city in China for car production.

Financial services

Shenzhen has many big financial companies, such as China Merchants Bank and Ping An Insurance. The city is one of the world's top ten financial centers.

Container port

The Port of Shenzhen is one of the busiest container ports in the world. It handles a lot of cargo, making Shenzhen a major spot for logistics.

Cultural industry

Shenzhen has been growing its cultural industry. In 2008, it was named a "United Nations Design Capital" by UNESCO. The city also has popular video games, like Black Myth: Wukong, which became very popular in 2024.

Real estate

Shenzhen has a strong real-estate industry. Big companies like the Evergrande Group and Vanke have their headquarters there.

High Tech Industrial Development Zone

In 1996, a special zone for high-tech was created to help grow industries like electronics and information technology.

Tourism

Tourism is becoming more important for Shenzhen. The city is known for its theme parks, like Overseas Chinese Town (OCT), which includes places such as the Window of the World and Happy Valley. Shenzhen also has many parks and tall buildings that attract visitors.

Retail

Shenzhen is a big shopping place, especially in areas like Huaqiang North, which is famous for electronics. The city is also working on using technology to improve shopping experiences.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Shenzhen

In 2020, about 17.6 million people lived in Shenzhen. Only about one-third of these people were officially registered to live there. Shenzhen is a younger city, with few people over 60 years old, but it has a high life expectancy of around 81 years. The city has more males than females.

Before Shenzhen became a special economic zone in 1980, most people spoke Cantonese or Hakka. But as people moved in from all over China, Mandarin became the common language. Some people are working to keep the Cantonese language alive as part of Shenzhen’s culture.

Religion

Shenzhen has many people who practice Buddhism and Taoism. There are also Protestant and Catholic churches, as well as mosques in every district. The city is also home to the headquarters of the Holy Confucian Church, which was started in 2009.

Languages

Before Shenzhen grew, most people spoke Cantonese or Hakka. But with so many people moving in from different parts of China, Mandarin became the main language spoken. Still, some people are trying to bring back the Cantonese language as part of the city’s heritage.

Cityscape

See also: List of tallest buildings in Shenzhen

Shenzhen has many tall buildings. In 2019, it was called the world leader in building new skyscrapers. The city has many buildings taller than 150 meters.

Some famous buildings include the 599 meters tall Ping An Finance Centre, which is the second tallest in China. Shenzhen also has old buildings with traditional Chinese styles, like the Hakka walled villages and historic temples. In 2023, a new pavilion was finished in Longhua District.

Education and research

Main article: Education in Shenzhen

Before the 1980s, Shenzhen had only small schools, and no one could go to university. But after Shenzhen became a special economic zone, many new people arrived and more jobs needed training.

In the 1980s, more schools opened for older students. Shenzhen Normal School began in 1983 and later became a college for teachers. Shenzhen University opened the same year, becoming the city's first full university. In 1999, a special area was made for university learning where teachers from top schools taught students. New universities opened in 2011 and 2018, and other famous schools started campuses in Shenzhen.

By 2025, Shenzhen was one of the top cities in the world for science. Children in Shenzhen can go to school for nine years for free. Some of the most popular schools are very hard to enter. Shenzhen has many schools, but some say it still needs more, especially for younger students. To help, the city is paying teachers more to attract new teachers.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a big place for travel in Guangdong and South China. The city has many ways to get around, like rapid transit, buses, and taxis. You can use a Shenzhen Tong card or QR codes from WeChat to pay for these.

Shenzhen was the first big city to use only electric buses and taxis. By 2023, 70% of the cars in Shenzhen were electric vehicles.^: 104 

Shenzhen has its own Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport and is close to Hong Kong International Airport. Passengers can also travel by ferry from Shenzhen to Hong Kong. The Shenzhen Metro is the city's rapid transit system with many lines and stations. It also has a tram system in the Longhua District.

Shenzhen has several train stations and is connected by fast trains and other railway lines. The city's bus system has over 900 lines and uses mostly electric vehicles. Shenzhen is also part of China's expressway system, with many highways running through it. The city is linked to Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macau by ferries, and its port is one of the busiest in the world for shipping containers.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Shenzhen

Shenzhen is in Guangdong. The city’s culture comes from Cantonese traditions. Shenzhen is known for its fast and busy spirit, called "Shenzhen speed".

In 2003, Shenzhen started to grow as a cultural center. It focused on design, animation, and building libraries. The city created areas for fashion and creative work, and holds an international culture fair each year. In 2008, Shenzhen was named a United Nations Design Capital.

Shenzhen built many libraries to become a "Library City". By 2015, there were over 600 libraries, from big city libraries to small neighborhood ones. Famous places include the Shenzhen Library and the Shenzhen Children’s Library. The city also has museums and art galleries, like the Shenzhen Museum and the He Xiangning Art Museum.

Schools in Shenzhen wear blue and white uniforms. These uniforms are well-known and often appear in videos and cartoons.

Food

Shenzhen's main food style is Cantonese. Because many people have moved to the city, you can find many different foods there, like Teochew cuisine, Hakka cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Shanghai cuisine, and Hunan cuisine.

The Yantian District is famous for its seafood, especially from Teochew and Hakka traditions, with many restaurants near the coast.

You can try street food such as Xinjiang cuisine and black sesame soups on Xijie Street and in the urban village of Baishizhou.

The Shekou area in Nanshan District has many long-running local restaurants where you can enjoy desserts, chicken, goose, seafood, and even some western foods.

Shenzhen was the first place in mainland China to open a McDonald's restaurant, which began in the Luohu District in 1990. Today, McDonald's can be found all over the city.

Shenzhen also has a rich tea culture, with popular tea shops like Hey Tea offering many kinds of cheese and fruit teas.

In 2020, Shenzhen made a law to stop people from eating cats, dogs, and wildlife.

Nightlife

Shenzhen has a lively nightlife, especially in areas like COCO Park and Shekou. These places have many bars and clubs that stay open late. The city works to keep its nightlife safe and friendly for everyone.

Sports

Shenzhen has several professional sports teams, like the Shenzhen Leopards in the Chinese Basketball Association and Shenzhen Peng City F.C in the Chinese Super League. The city has hosted many international sports events. In 2011, Shenzhen held the 26th Summer Universiade, a big sports event for university students. It has also hosted tennis tournaments and was one of the cities for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Shenzhen has many places where people can play and watch sports. One famous event is RoboMaster, a robot competition where students build robots to compete. This exciting competition started in 2015.

Environment

Parks and beaches

Main article: List of parks in Shenzhen

Shenzhen has many parks and beautiful beaches. The city made a park system in 2006 with three types: natural parks, urban parks, and community parks. By 2019, there were 1,090 parks. Shenzhen plans to build more parks by 2035.

Some famous parks include Lianhuashan Park, which has a large statue on a hill, and Wutongshan National Park, which has great views of the city and Hong Kong. Shenzhen Bay Park, opened in 2011, has many places to explore and a long walk by the sea. The Mangrove Ecopark, started in 2000, is a small park where many birds visit. Shenzhen also has lovely beaches like Dameisha and Xiaomeisha.

Pollution

See also: Pollution in China

Shenzhen had very good air quality during a recent health challenge. The city had low levels of harmful particles compared to other big cities in China. Most air pollution in Shenzhen comes from building work, using coal, and traffic.

In 2014, some rivers in Shenzhen were polluted with harmful substances. The city worked to clean the rivers by building more water pipes and treatment plants.

Environmental protection

From 2000 to 2014, Shenzhen spent money to clean its rivers. The city built many treatment plants and laid thousands of kilometres of water pipes. By 2020, even more pipes were added.

In 2009, Shenzhen became one of the first cities to test new-energy vehicles. By 2018, the city had electric public buses and most taxis were electric too. In 2019, Shenzhen started a program to sort waste into four groups, with rewards for people who followed the rules.

Media

Shenzhen has many newspapers, magazines, and media companies. Some well-known media companies include the Shenzhen Media Group, the Shenzhen Press Group, China Entertainment Television (CETV), and the Phoenix Television branch iFeng.

Important news outlets include Shenzhen News, the main online news source in Chinese, and Shenzhen Daily, an English-language news outlet. There is also That's Shenzhen, the Shenzhen edition of That's PRD, and ShekouDaily.com for news in the Shekou area.

Relations with Hong Kong

The area now called Shenzhen and Hong Kong was once part of the same region long ago. After a war, the United Kingdom took control of Hong Kong Island and another area called the New Territories. This made the boundary between the two places we see today. Shenzhen and Hong Kong are close to each other, separated by two bays and a river. Their closeness has helped them work together in business.

Since Shenzhen became a special economic zone in 1980, Hong Kong has been its biggest trading partner. They share many business activities. They also created a special area called Qianhai to help both cities grow. There are several places where people can cross between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, making travel and trade easier.

Sister cities

Shenzhen has made many friends around the world by creating sister city relationships. In 1989, the mayor of Shenzhen visited Houston and they became the first sister cities. By 2015, Shenzhen had 25 sister cities. As of May 2021, Shenzhen is twinned with many places, including:

• Houston, United States, since March 1986
• Plovdiv, Bulgaria, since November 2013
• Brescia, Italy, since November 1991
• Brisbane, Australia, since June 1992
• Poznań, Poland, since July 1993
• Kingston, Jamaica, since March 1995
• Lomé, Togo, since June 1996
• Nuremberg, Germany, since May 1997
• Walloon Brabant, Belgium, since October 2003
• Tsukuba, Japan, since June 2004
• Gwangyang, South Korea, since October 2004
• Johor Bahru, Malaysia, since July 2006
• Perm, Russia, since 2006
• Turin, Italy, since January 2007
• Timișoara, Romania, since February 2007
• Hull, United Kingdom
• Rotherham, United Kingdom, since November 2007
• Luxor, Egypt, since 6 September 2007
• Reno, United States, since 30 April 2008
• Samara, Russia, since 19 December 2008
• Montevideo, Uruguay, since February 2009
• Kalocsa, Hungary, since 2011
• Haifa, Israel, since 2012
• Barcelona, Spain, since July 2012
• Apia, Samoa, since August 2015
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia, since December 2017
• Edinburgh, Scotland, since June 2019

Other twinnings

The Shenzhen Port works with:

• The Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, since June 2013.