Shenzhen, the Spirit of Speed

5 min read

Few talk about Shenzhen without making reference to its modest origins as a tiny fishing village. While much of its obscure 6, 000-year history has been lost, its present incarnation as one of the fastest growing cities in China is nothing less than miraculous The area consists of three parts, Shenzhen City, Shenzhen County and the Special Econom Zone (SEZ), which is the business and financial center of the city. As one of the first cities to “open” with economic reforms in 1979, and situated next to Hong Kong, sleepy Shenzhen went from village to metropolis in just over 20 years, and is now a magnet for arc fortune-seekers.

Many people are drawn to Shenzhen by a certain energy, what locals call”Shenzhen speed.” Speed is the catchphrase here in a city that sees the opening of one supermarket per day and an unmatched prosperity in trade. Efficient and courteous service is a merit of Shenzhen. In this highly commercial and competitive society, 24-hour-a-day delivery is offered by your neighborhood stores for any purchase down to a lump of soap. spirit of pragmatism pervades Shenzhen’s unusually young population of migrant workers. They’re an interesting mix of graduates of prestigious universities as well as villagers from rural areas but they’re all attracted by the possibilities that lie in Shenzhen. Because Shenzhen is a city of migrants there’s no Shenzhen dialect. The locals speak a peculiar mix of Cantonese and Mandarin flavored with a mish-mash of regional accents. While Shenzhen still holds a reputation as a newly formed city, two decades of development has shown signs of a maturing metropolis, from well-developed residential and commercial districts to an efficient public transportation system. Many young settlers have not only started a career in the city, but also started their families here; buying their first house and car, thus establishing Shenzhen as more than an office city, they have made it their home. ains busy 1a into Shenzhen remains busy late into the night.

There’s more to Shenzhen than what meets the eyes. On the surface, it appears to only feature blocks after blocks of high-rises and factories. Under its subtropical climate, Shenzhen enjoys year-round warmth and days filled with sunshine punctured with tropical rains. The city planners, seeing an opportunity to create a modern livable environment, placed great emphasis on the city’s greenery. An exceptional model is Shennan Da Dao running through Shenzhen from east to west for 25 miles (40 km). The broad avenue features a wide green belt down the middle which makes up 40% of its width. While Shenzhen is still used as a transit point to Hong Kong, the city is fast becoming a popular travel destination in south China thanks to its assortment of parks, beaches, shopping centers,as well as plenty of dining and drinking options.

Quotes

“People say Shenzhen is like a pretty lady without much depth or soul but Shenzhen is full of opportunities and challenges for those who are willing to try. It’s stimulating.

“There are many amazing things to see in the Overseas Chinese city. I can’t get enough of it.

Geography and architecture-loving tourists in Shenzhen shouldn’t pass up the three large theme parks of replicated landscape and architecture located inside the Overseas Chinese City (huaqiao cheng ) a full-fledge community of tourist attractions and residences. The attractions there include Splendid China, China Folk Culture Villages and Window of the World, all must-sees- in Shenzhen. Splendid China(jinxiuzhonghua) recreates 100 or so tourist attractions from all corners of China in miniature, including such sights as: the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, Tai Shan, the Three Gorges, Hangzhou’s West Lake, Suzhou’s Gardens, Lijiang’s landscape as well as numerous pagodas and temples. Continuing the shrinking trend Window of the World(shijiezhi chuang) packs in 118 world famous scenic spots and architectural wonders from the Great Pyramids to the Sydney Opera House, allowing visitors to traverse the world at one site. The China Folk Cultures Village(zhonghuaminsuwenhuacun) weaves into one tapestry the customs and traditional lifestyles of 24 Chinese ethnic groups. The site also includes mock-ups of their native villages, from Beijing courtyard houses to Shaanbei cave dwellings. Minority performers regularly stage variety shows and artists make handicrafts on site. True to Shenzhen speed, all three theme parks are next to each other and allow you to take in not only the whole of China but also the world in a few days. During summer, evening entertainment programs to partake in. there are many vening ente Lianhua Shan (lionhud shan in the northern tip of central Shenzhen, is a hit areas of and the fields of grass com come to lif night with young couples and families. Many visitors take the easy-going trail for a 20-minute stroll to the top of the mountain that offers a splendid view of downtown Shenzhen.Two favns for locals are Dameisha(dameisha)and Xiaomeisha, two seaside resorts about an hour’s’ drive from downtown and easily reached by bus. Both beaches lean against a hill and are surrounded by lush tropical forests. Dam heaving with swimmers and surfers on weekends; there, are also some colorful sculptures. All this and no admission charge. Xiaomeisha is Shenzhen’s largest resort and it boasts an extensive white sand heach lying to the east of Dapeng Bay.

It s well-equipped heac and aquatic toys as well as accommodations and catering Dallities. The RMB 10 admission charge makes Xiaomeisha slightly more exclusive than Dameish All the shopping and theme parks may make for aching muscles, but it should come as no surprise that this city, which moves at a breakneck speed, is also full of massage salons.

Literally any massage salon you visit, whether at a street corner or inside a shopping mall, will be clean, professional, affordable and above all, immensely relaxing. Many complain that Shenzhen is all about money -but money, not necessarily a lot of it, can indeed buy you a lot of satisfaction in this land of material temptations.