Shenzhen: From a Fishing Village to a Global Innovation Hub

Nestled at the southern tip of the Chinese mainland, on the eastern bank of the Pearl River Delta and adjacent to Hong Kong, Shenzhen boasts a subtropical marine climate with abundant sunshine and rainfall, nurturing lush vegetation and a variety of tropical fruits. Covering an area of 1,997.47 square kilometers, this city has written one of the most magnificent development sagas in modern history—a transformation from a small border fishing village with a population of merely over 30,000 four decades ago to a modern international metropolis that leads China’s reform and opening-up drive.

The turning point in Shenzhen’s fate came in 1980, when it was designated as China’s first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) under the visionary initiative of Deng Xiaoping. This bold experiment marked the beginning of China’s exploration into reform and opening-up, making Shenzhen a touchstone for the country’s policy innovations. Over the past 45 years, Shenzhen has adhered to the spirit of “daring to break new ground, forging ahead with innovation, and working with determination,” creating the world-famous “Shenzhen Speed”—a testament to its rapid urban construction exemplified by the phrase “one floor built every three days.” Today, this speed has evolved into “Shenzhen Quality” and “Shenzhen Efficiency,” symbolizing its pursuit of high-quality development.

Economically, Shenzhen stands as a powerhouse with remarkable vitality. In 2023, its GDP reached 3.46 trillion yuan ($481.89 billion), growing by 6% year-on-year, while its import and export volume hit 3.87 trillion yuan, an increase of 5.9% from the previous year. For 31 consecutive years, Shenzhen has topped China’s large and medium-sized cities in exports, solidifying its position as a core hub of global trade. The city’s economic structure is dominated by high-tech industries, financial services, modern logistics, and cultural industries, with strategic emerging industries becoming new growth engines. By 2024, the added value of Shenzhen’s strategic emerging industries accounted for 42.3% of its GDP, reaching 1.56 trillion yuan.

Innovation is the soul of Shenzhen. The city has built a comprehensive innovation ecosystem with enterprises as the mainstay. It is home to 25,000 national high-tech enterprises, with a density of 12 per square kilometer, ranking first in China. The number of national specialized, sophisticated, distinctive, and innovative “Little Giant” enterprises reaches 1,025, and the total number of market entities exceeds 4.5 million. Shenzhen’s total social R&D investment intensity reached 6.46% in 2024, maintaining double-digit growth for nine consecutive years, with 93.3% of R&D investment coming from enterprises. Its PCT international patent applications have ranked first among Chinese cities for 21 consecutive years, making it a global leader in technological innovation.

Openness is a core trait of Shenzhen’s development. The city has formed an open pattern featuring “Hetao in the east, Shekou in the middle, and Qianhai in the west.” Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone has taken the lead in aligning with international high-standard economic and trade rules, with its GDP reaching 300.88 billion yuan in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 8.6%. The Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone has gathered over 200 high-end scientific research projects and 15,000 researchers, promoting in-depth cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in scientific and technological innovation. Shenzhen also actively integrates into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area construction, striving to become a gateway city of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Beyond economy and innovation, Shenzhen is also an ecological garden city. Half of its total area is designated as protected land where construction is prohibited. It is China’s first city to win the Nations in Bloom Award and has been listed on the United Nations Environment Program’s Global 500 Laureate Roll of Honor. The city’s per capita green space is constantly improving, creating a harmonious coexistence between urban development and nature. Meanwhile, Shenzhen’s architectural landscape is a blend of modernity and artistry. Landmarks such as the Shenzhen Civic Center, Shenzhen Concert Hall, Shenzhen Stock Exchange New Headquarters Building, and the upcoming Shenzhen Opera House (designed by Jean Nouvel) showcase the city’s cultural taste and international vision, attracting global architectural masters to leave their marks here.

As a city of immigrants, Shenzhen embraces inclusiveness as its cultural core. It has a total talent pool of 7 million, including 26,200 high-level talents, 220,000 returned overseas students, and 4.06 million skilled talents. The city has built a comprehensive housing security system of “a bed, a room, and an apartment” to ensure talents can settle down and pursue their dreams. It also provides a sound entrepreneurial space system of “a desk, an office, and a floor of office building,” supporting startups at all stages. In 2024, Shenzhen’s permanent population increased by nearly 200,000, ranking first in the post-95s talent attraction ranking for two consecutive years.

Looking ahead, Shenzhen has a clear strategic blueprint. By 2025, it aims to become one of the world’s top cities in economic strength and development quality, with world-class R&D investment intensity and industrial innovation capacity. By 2035, it will become a national model for high-quality development and a global leader in comprehensive economic competitiveness. Shenzhen’s story is not only about urban growth but also a vivid practice of China’s reform and opening-up, embodying the spirit of courage, innovation, and inclusiveness that continues to inspire the world.