Industrial centre · Port · Border city · Guangdong
Shenzhen
深圳
China's first special economic zone, across the river from Hong Kong
Shenzhen is a sub-provincial city in Guangdong on the border with Hong Kong. Designated China's first special economic zone in 1980, it grew from a county of small towns and villages into one of the country's largest cities and its leading centre of electronics, technology companies and venture capital, with one of the world's busiest container ports.
Key facts
Overview
Shenzhen takes its name from a market town on the Shenzhen River, the boundary with Hong Kong's New Territories. When the special economic zone was created in 1980, the area was largely farmland and fishing villages; within a generation it had become one of the great manufacturing and technology cities of the world, built almost entirely by migrants from other provinces.
The city stretches along the coast from Shenzhen Bay in the west to the beaches and hills of Dapeng in the east. Many of the old villages survive as dense urban villages (城中村) among the towers, and Mandarin, not Cantonese, is the everyday language.
Names and nicknames
鹏城
“Roc City”
After the Ming coastal fortress of Dapeng in the east of the city.
History
Before 1980 the area formed Bao'an (Xin'an) county, whose walled seat at Nantou administered the land that later became Hong Kong. The Ming built Dapeng fortress against pirates. In 1979 Bao'an county became Shenzhen city, and in 1980 part of it was made a special economic zone to attract foreign investment. Deng Xiaoping's visits in 1984 and 1992 endorsed the experiment. The zone was extended to cover the whole city in 2010.
1394
Dapeng fortress
A Ming coastal garrison against pirates; its walls and Qing-era houses survive in the east of the city.
1573
Xin'an county founded
The county seat at Nantou governed the coast from Shenzhen to what later became Hong Kong.
26 August 1980
Special economic zone established
China's first special economic zone, where foreign investment, land leasing and market pricing were tried out.
1990
Shenzhen Stock Exchange
One of the two stock exchanges of mainland China opened in December 1990.
1992
Deng Xiaoping's southern tour
His visit and remarks in Shenzhen signalled the resumption of market reforms.
2008
UNESCO City of Design
Shenzhen was the first Chinese city designated a UNESCO City of Design.
2010
Special economic zone extended
The zone, previously separated from outer districts by a guarded line, was extended to the whole city.
Landmarks
Historic site
Nantou Ancient City
南头古城
The former seat of Xin'an county, with its south gate and old lanes, restored as a cultural quarter.
Historic site
Dapeng Fortress
大鹏所城
Walled Ming garrison town near Dapeng Bay, with the residences of Qing naval commanders.
Park or garden
Lianhuashan Park
莲花山公园
Hill park at the northern end of the Futian civic axis, with a statue of Deng Xiaoping and views over the central district.
Street or quarter
Huaqiangbei
华强北
District of electronics markets for components, devices and repairs.
Nature
Shenzhen Bay Park
深圳湾公园
Coastal park facing Hong Kong's Mai Po wetlands, with migratory birds in winter.
Neighbourhoods
Futian
福田
The civic and financial centre, with the Civic Center and the stock exchange.
Nanshan
南山
Technology district with the headquarters of many tech firms, universities and the Shekou port area.
OCT
华侨城
Overseas Chinese Town, with theme parks, the OCT-LOFT creative park and museums.
Dapeng
大鹏
The hilly eastern peninsula with beaches and the old fortress.
Food
Shajing oysters
沙井蚝
Oysters from the Pearl River estuary, grilled with garlic or dried.
Guangming roast pigeon
光明乳鸽
Crisp-skinned roast squab from the Guangming farms.
Hakka cooking
客家菜
Many of the original villages were Hakka; salt-baked chicken and stuffed tofu are local staples.
Culture
Shenzhen has the youngest population of any large Chinese city and prides itself on openness to newcomers — its unofficial slogan is “once you come, you are a Shenzhener” (来了就是深圳人). The city has invested heavily in museums, libraries and design; the Dafen village in Longgang became known for workshop oil painting, and the Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism and Architecture is shared with Hong Kong.
Getting around
- The Shenzhen Metro covers the city and connects with the Hong Kong MTR at the Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau (Futian) border crossings.
- Shenzhen North is the main high-speed station; Futian station, underground in the centre, lies on the high-speed line to Hong Kong West Kowloon.
- Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport is in the west; ferries from Shekou serve Hong Kong International Airport, Macau and Zhuhai.
Day trips
Wutong Mountain
梧桐山
The highest peak in Shenzhen, climbed on forest paths.
Gankeng Hakka town
甘坑客家小镇
Restored Hakka village in Longgang.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Shenzhen Municipal People's Government — Shenzhen Municipal People's Government (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Seventh National Population Census communiqués — National Bureau of Statistics of China (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Shenzhen — Creative Cities Network — UNESCO (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Shenzhen — Encyclopaedia Britannica (retrieved 27 September 2026)
More cities in Guangdong
- Guangzhou广州Capital · Historic city · PortCity of Rams on the Pearl River, China's oldest open port
- Foshan佛山Historic city · Industrial centre · Cultural centreCeramics, kung fu and Cantonese opera next door to Guangzhou
- Zhuhai珠海Port · Border city · Scenic areaCoastal special economic zone on the border with Macau
- Chaozhou潮州Historic city · Cultural centreWalled Teochew city on the Han River
- Jiangmen江门Historic city · Cultural centreHomeland of the overseas Chinese and the Kaiping diaolou