Shenzhen-  Basic Information

Shenzhen, also known as the "Roc City", is a coastal city in South China, neighboring Hong Kong and Macao. The core engine of the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen is a modern, international innovative metropolis full of charm, vitality, impetus and creativity.

Shenzhen, born in the country’s epic reform and opening-up drive and prospering for its innovation, ranks fifth in Asia in terms of economic power, and is a wonder of the world’s industrialization, urbanization and modernization.

- History

The earliest-known records bearing the name Shenzhen date from 1410, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Shenzhen became a township at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Local people called the drains in paddy fields“zhen”or “chong.”Shenzhen literally means “deep drains”because the area used to be crisscrossed by rivers and streams. Shenzhen is also known as the “Roc City”because maps of the city’s outline resemble a flying roc with its wings spread.

The city of Shenzhen was established in 1979. In August the following year, the country’s first special economic zone was established here.

Human activity in the area dates back more than 6,700 years. The area was founded as a county 1,700 years ago and is home to 600-year-old cultural relics such as Nantou Ancient City and Dapeng Fortress. The Hakka people migrated to the area from central China about 300 years ago.

- Attractions

Wuhan is the place to find both history and natural wonders. Hubei Provincial Museum and Yellow Crane Tower are two places to appreciate ancient Chinese history and culture. In the museum, chimes excavated from tombs reveal the incredible achievements of ancient people in music, acoustics and metallurgy. The classic poems and inscriptions on the tower, (although unrecognizable to most Westerners) can inspire your spirit as you pretend to be a poet with a bird''''''''s-eye view of the river from the tower window. In addition, the famous Villa of Chairman Mao Zedong on the scenic bank of East Lake, Wuchang, is an ideal place for Westerns to learn more about him.