Shenzhen Special Economic Zone celebrates 44 years of growth and innovation
On Aug. 26, 2024, the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone celebrated its 44th anniversary. In just over four decades, Shenzhen's population has surged past 20 million, and its GDP has soared beyond 3.4 trillion yuan. What was once a coastal swamp has been transformed into a pilot demonstration zone for socialism with Chinese characteristics, evolving from a small town into a key hub of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Today, over 310 Fortune Global 500 companies have invested in Shenzhen. In the first half of this year alone, Shenzhen's imports and exports reached 2.2 trillion yuan, with the city's export volume leading the nation for 31 consecutive years. The city now operates more than 800 international passenger flights weekly.
Shenzhen is also home to 10 Fortune Global 500 companies, including giants like Ping An, Huawei, Tencent, and BYD. The city boasts 34 unicorn companies and 34 gazelle companies — startups with high growth potential. On average, 3.3 cars roll off production lines here every minute, and one in every eight new energy vehicles worldwide is made in Shenzhen.
This dynamic city, covering less than 2,000 square kilometers, features 1,290 parks, a green coverage rate of 43.56% in built-up areas, and a total greenway length of 3,406 kilometers.