shenzhen

Expats listen to a Chinese-language class at the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats on Wednesday night.    A Chinese-language class kicked off a night school program initiated by the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE) on Wednesday night. Nearly 40 expat residents attended the event, which was held in the center's activity room.   Some 20 minutes before the class began at 7 p.m., Brazilian Alexandre Ambrosio and a dozen other expats were already seated in the classroom going over study materials.   Although Ambrosio has lived in Shenzhen for 12 years, his Chinese proficiency remains basic since English is the predominant language at the European firm where he works as an executive.   "I am beginning to learn the language, and this is a wonderful opportunity," said the Brazilian, who has transitioned from an engineer to an executive.   The class began with a young man from Georgia named Cao Cao sharing his Chinese-learning journey. After a decade in China, he speaks the language fluently, though the different tones are still a challenge.   "I knew only one Chinese word through Google Translate before coming to China, which was ni hao [hello]," he told…Original link

Shenzhen is bracing for the arrival of super typhoon Yagi, which is expected to be the strongest storm to make landfall in Guangdong Province in nearly a decade.   Yagi, the 11th typhoon of the year, has intensified into a level 17 super typhoon with winds of up to 209 km per hour, according to the national weather forecast.   The typhoon is forecast to make landfall as a super typhoon Friday afternoon somewhere between Qionghai City in Hainan Province and Maoming City in Guangdong Province.   Shenzhen's meteorological observatory upgraded the alert level to yellow for Yantian District, Dapeng New Area, parts of Nanshan and Bao'an district, and coastal areas across the city at 7 p.m. Thursday. Among the typhoons that have made landfall in Hainan and western Guangdong, Yagi is projected to be the most intense and the closest to Shenzhen, according to the forecast.   All primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, and nurseries in the city have been suspended.   The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge was closed at 9 p.m. Thursday. Vehicles traveling on Shenzhong Link are required to run at a reduced maximum speed of 70 km per hour from 9 p.m. Thursday.   Train services on…Original link

Residents practice on badminton courts at the park yesterday.    Expats who visited the Shekou Cultural and Sports Park in Nanshan District gave a thumbs-up to the new facility, which officially opened to the public yesterday after six years of construction.   "Finally!" said Russian Sergey Saanishvili, who added that he is most interested in the park's badminton courts and swimming pool. A quality assurance engineer for consumer electronics, Saanishvili has been in Shenzhen for 14 years.   Living just one Metro station away from the new facility, Saanishvili said, "I used to pass by this place every day on my bike ride to the office. I've witnessed the transformation of this complex from a construction site a few years ago."   Sharin, an Israeli stay-at-home mother, is also excited about the new park. "I've been eagerly awaiting its opening for years," she said, adding that she has longed for a standard swimming pool in Shekou since moving there three years ago.   Only a five-minute walk from her home, Sharin also wants to check out the basketball courts and soccer fields for her children.   Emmanuelle Williamson, from France, said that she will visit the park on weekends to…Original link

The certificate EyeShenzhen won at the 2024 Conference on Innovation and Development in China's Newspaper Industry.      The EyeShenzhen booth at the 2024 Exhibition of Innovation and Development in China's Newspaper Industry, which took place in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi, on Monday.   A screenshot of the "Shenzhen Travel" section on the EyeShenzhen portal.   A screenshot of the "Digital EyeShenzhen" section on the portal.   The EyeShenzhen Showroom, which aims to promote the city to global audiences.   The 2024 Conference on Innovation and Development in China's Newspaper Industry took place in Nanning, the capital of southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Monday.   Hosted by the National Press and Publication Administration, the event presented 60 exemplary cases that highlight in-depth integration, development, and innovation within China's newspaper industry.   EyeShenzhen, the international communication platform of the Shenzhen News Group, was the only project from Shenzhen to receive recognition in the multimedia communication development category. EyeShenzhen also presented its innovative international communications practices at the concurrent 2024 Exhibition of Innovation and Development in China's Newspaper Industry.   The 60 exemplary cases illustrated the significant progress and achievements that have been made in China's newspaper industry. The…Original link

In a remarkable display of technological advancement, the Shenzhen (International) Artificial General Intelligence Conference (AGIC) opened at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao'an District yesterday. With a vast area covering 60,000 square meters, the three-day event is a large AI conference in terms of area.   During the opening ceremony, Fan Congming, the executive chairman of AGIC, said that the conference has 1,606 AI-related exhibits, including 61 new products. Fan announced that approximately 100 strategic partners are expected to secure agreements totaling 1 billion yuan (US$140 million).   A significant highlight of the conference is the introduction of Shenzhen's pioneering "Artificial Intelligence Enterprise Rating Standard," which will strengthen the city's position at the forefront of AI innovation.   Endorsed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Government Procurement Center and supported by entities like the Guangdong Federation of Industry and Commerce, the Shenzhen Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, and the Qianhai Authority, AGIC is a very important platform in the global AI landscape.   Bringing together key figures from both domestic and international AI sectors, including industry leaders like Huawei, Tencent, and UBTECH, the event includes nearly 1,000 participating companies. Organizers anticipate 100,000 industry professionals…Original link

A duty-free store will soon open in downtown Shenzhen, according to interim measures recently released by State agencies that will take effect Oct. 1.   The same practice will be mirrored in seven other cities across the country, namely Guangzhou, Chengdu, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xi'an, Changsha, and Fuzhou, according to a statement jointly made by the Ministries of finance, commerce, culture and tourism, the General Administration of Customs, and the State Administration of Taxation.   According to the statement, the duty-free stores will be for both domestic and international travelers who are departing the country by air or sea within 60 days. Travelers can make purchases at these stores in advance and then collect them at their port of departure.   These downtown duty-free stores will mainly sell consumer goods that are easy to carry, including food, clothing, bags, shoes, baby products, jewelry and crafts, electronics, perfumes, cosmetics, and liquor. The statement encourages the sale of goods from domestic brands that reflect traditional Chinese culture.   Another 13 foreign-exchange goods duty-free stores in the country will be transformed into downtown duty-free stores within three months of the new measures taking effect and open after passing customs inspections.   Existing downtown duty-free…Original link

A delegation from the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, or PSOE (Partido Socialista Obrero Español), led by Juan Lobato, general secretary of PSOE of the Community of Madrid, has expressed admiration for Shenzhen's pioneering approach to urban development.   Yu Xinguo, deputy Party chief of Shenzhen, welcomed the delegation at the Wuzhou Guest House yesterday. Both parties look forward to enhancing communication and cooperation in the fields of industry, technology, culture, and tourism.   Founded in 1879, PSOE stands as Spain's oldest political party and is a center-left party in Spain's political spectrum. The delegation arrived in Shenzhen on Sunday for a four-day visit.   During their meeting with Yu, Lobato conveyed his profound admiration for Shenzhen's rapid and successful development, attributing it to the support of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese Government.   "There is much we can learn from Shenzhen and apply in Spain," Lobato said, emphasizing Shenzhen's role as a paragon of reform and opening up.   Lobato was particularly impressed by Shenzhen's innovative strategies in urban governance, which he believes hold significant relevance for Spain's governance.   Yesterday morning, the delegation paid homage to the bronze statue of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping at…Original link

After a resounding success in Singapore last year, the Shenzhen dance drama "Wing Chun" is set to go abroad once more, this time touching down in the U.K. for a series of 12 performances. The critically acclaimed production will be staged at the prestigious Sadler's Wells Theatre in London from Friday to Sept. 7 local time, marking its second overseas journey since its international debut in Singapore in 2023. Preparations for the "Wing Chun" team are in full swing, with the crew and cast readying themselves for their journey to the U.K. The team has been rigorously rehearsing at their home venue, the Shenzhen Opera & Dance Theater, to ensure a flawless presentation on the British stage. The Sadler's Wells Theatre, a storied venue located on Roseberry Avenue in London, has been a home for performing arts for over three centuries. The building consists of two performance spaces — the 1,500-seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio. There are also extensive rehearsal rooms and technical facilities on-site. There are a number of associated artists and companies who produce original works for the theater, one of the U.K.'s foremost dance venues and production houses. For the dance drama's debut in…Original link

Shenzhen hosted a development conference for the smart robotics agile hand industry at the Shenzhen Venture Capital Square in Nanshan District yesterday.   Organized by the Shenzhen Municipal Science, Technology, and Innovation Bureau and hosted by the Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, the conference is the first in the country to focus on the intelligent robotics flex-finger sector, combining elements of conference, competition, and exhibition. It aims to foster collaboration among government entities, industry players, academic institutions, research facilities, and investors.   Shenzhen Mayor Qin Weizhong delivered an insightful speech during the event, underscoring the significance of robotics in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and IoT integration. The industry is a typical representative of the new quality productive forces, he stressed.   He highlighted the crucial role agile hands play as the final actuators connecting embodied robots with their environment, incorporating state-of-the-art technologies such as flexible sensing and high-performance materials.   The mayor outlined Shenzhen's commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the growth of smart robotics agile hand technologies through comprehensive ecosystem development, innovative capital utilization, and global market expansion. He emphasized the city's dedication to providing a conducive environment for enterprises, institutions, and talent to thrive,…Original link

Compiled and published by Shenzhen's culture, media, tourism, and sports bureau, the English edition of "Hiking Shenzhen — Exploring 100 Unique Trails," a guidebook for hiking in Shenzhen, was officially launched yesterday at a 10-kilometer cross-border hiking event held in Shenzhen. The guidebook aims to encourage more Hong Kong residents and expats to explore Shenzhen's mountainous and coastal resources and develop an appreciation for the city through hiking. Featuring 40 unique trails developed last year, the book provides detailed descriptions of each trail, including route maps, walking guides, scenic highlights, nearby attractions, and trail stories. Yesterday also saw the launch of the traditional Chinese version of the book, while the simplified Chinese edition was released earlier this year in January. The book can be purchased at some bookstores. For yesterday's event, approximately 300 hiking enthusiasts from Shenzhen and Hong Kong convened at Bijia Hill Park in Futian District in the morning to explore Shenzhen's distinctive blend of mountainous and coastal scenery. Stretching to Meilin and Yinhu mountains, the route they took is a favored hiking trail and forms an integral segment of the extensive 200-kilometer Kunpeng Trail, which starts at the top of Phoenix Mountain in Bao'an District and traverses…Original link

Passengers at Shenzhen North Railway Station. As the summer vacation draws to a close, Shenzhen is experiencing a peak in return travel.  On Saturday, Shenzhen's exit and entry checkpoints recorded 972,000 border crossings, setting a new record since the resumption of border services following the COVID-19 pandemic.   The Futian, Luohu, Shenzhen Bay, and Liantang checkpoints each set records with 237,000, 261,000, 157,000, and 102,000 travelers, respectively, according to data from the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection.   Despite the summer vacation nearing its end, the demand for travel remains strong. By Aug. 14 this year, the number of international travelers entering and exiting Shenzhen had exceeded 3 million, a 122.7% increase compared to the same period last year, underscoring Shenzhen's appeal as a preferred destination.   Of these, 1.49 million were inbound travelers, and 367,000 entered under the visa exemption policy, which is 3.25 times the total for all of 2023. Currently, 11 Shenzhen checkpoints are included in Guangdong's 144-hour visa-free transit policy for international travelers.   Since the beginning of this year, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport has opened 10 international routes, including those to Mexico City and Budapest, and increased flights on eight routes,…Original link

The trip between Shenzhen and Meizhou in northeastern Guangdong will be cut to 1.5 hours when a new high-speed railway opens in September, according to a Thursday post on iShenzhen, the official WeChat account of the Shenzhen Municipal Government Service Data Administration. A test run held Tuesday on the Meizhou-Longchuan section of the under-construction Longyan-Longchuan High-speed Railway that links Longyan City in Fujian Province and Heyuan City in Guangdong, showed that a one-way trip took only 35 minutes. Currently, it takes almost six hours to drive from Shenzhen to Meizhou, and a train trip takes around three hours. The 94-km Meizhou-Longchuan section will have three stations in Meizhou and one station in Heyuan. It will link up with the Meizhou-Shantou High-speed Railway at Meizhou West Station and the Ganzhou-Shenzhen High-speed Railway at Longchuan West Station. The rail is the first railway independently funded and constructed by Guangdong Province. Along the route, the contractor, China Railway Construction Co. Ltd., completed a total of 52 tunnels including the 7,377-meter-long Xiahuangtian Tunnel, the route's longest. According to the Guangzhou Railway Group Corp., the railway will play a significant role in facilitating the integration of the eastern area of Guangdong into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao…Original link

Upon its release Tuesday morning, "Black Myth: Wukong," a video game developed by Shenzhen-based Game Science, became an instant global hit, amassing over 1 million players within the first hour.   Inspired by "Journey to the West," one of China's ancient literature classics, the game brought the Monkey King or Sun Wukong, one of the most iconic characters in global fiction, to life for fans. Within one hour of its release, the game topped Steam's most-played games list.   Steam, a leading online platform for PC gaming, is widely recognized for its vast user base, extensive game library, and significant impact on game sales, indie development, and community engagement.   By the end of Tuesday, the game had sold more than 3 million copies on Steam alone. Combined with sales from gaming platforms like WeGame, Epic Games, and PlayStation, 4.5 million copies had been sold, generating over 1.5 billion yuan (US$210.3 million) in revenue. The game also achieved an approval rating of over 95% on Steam.   During a routine press conference in Beijing yesterday, a reporter from Reuters asked Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning about the game.   Mao stated: "I do not know much about video games, but…Original link

The 8th International Biotechnology Conference & Expo (BTE 2024) will be featured as one of the professional exhibitions during the 26th China Hi-Tech Fair, which will take place at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao'an District from Nov. 14 to 16.   BTE 2024, an annual international biotech conference held in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, will gather around 300 enterprises. More than 10,000 cutting-edge products in fields such as biopharmacy, cell therapy, in vitro diagnosis (IVD), genetic technology, and medical examination will be present. Over 500,000 professional audience members are expected to attend.   The 26th China Hi-Tech Fair, covering an area of 400,000 square meters, is expected to attract more than 5,000 renowned enterprises and international organizations from over 100 countries and regions, presenting their latest technologies and products.   In conjunction with BTE 2024, the 8th South China International Medical Examination and IVD Exhibition will also be held during the fair. This event aims to promote deepened industrial integration by attracting exhibitors from across the entire biotechnology supply chain.   Additionally, more than 100 forums and seminars will be held during the fair, featuring over 1,000 leaders, technological experts, and scientific scholars who…Original link

Newly admitted international students pose for a photo at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen in Longgang District yesterday. This year, the university welcomes a record-breaking 240 international students for its undergraduate program.   Relocating to China without any knowledge of the Chinese language created a lot of anxiety for Michail Pechlivanidis, a freshman from Greece. However, upon arrival at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) in Longgang District, his anxiety dissipated thanks to the helpful and friendly nature of the students and staff.   Pechlivanidis is one of the 240 international students from 16 countries enrolled in CUHK-Shenzhen's undergraduate program this year.   The number of international freshmen at CUHK-Shenzhen reached a record high this year, accounting for almost 10% of the incoming class, according to the university. International students completed their registration at CUHK-Shenzhen on Monday and yesterday.   Additionally, around 130 international students will begin exchange programs at the university Aug. 25.   Francisco Manna Melo Martinez, a 19-year-old freshman from Brazil, had not planned to study in China until he heard about the positive experiences that his father's friends had in Shenzhen and Shanghai.   After researching universities in these cities online, he…Original link

Zach Mills (R), from the U.S., tries the Hover Camera X1, a foldable, pocket-sized drone developed by Shenzhen Zero Zero Infinity Technology, at its office in Qianhai.    A drone delivers food in Longgang District in this photo taken Aug. 15 last year. Xinhua   Editor's Note:    On Aug. 18, 2019, China unveiled a plan for implementing reforms in Shenzhen to transform the city into a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics. To celebrate this endeavor, we are presenting a series of stories that highlight the city's progress in achieving this ambitious goal.   The term "new quality productive forces" refers to advanced productivity that transcends traditional economic growth models. This form of productivity — marked by high technology, high efficiency, and high quality — embodies China's new development paradigm in the contemporary era.   In Shenzhen, these new forces are not just concepts frequently discussed in the media. Instead, they are real products that significantly influence people's daily lives.   Zach Mills, an American high-tech gadget enthusiast, finds Shenzhen Zero Zero Infinity Technology's Hover Camera X1 incredibly useful while traveling or biking. The Hover X1 is a foldable, pocket-sized drone that autonomously follows its owner, opening…Original link

With China's 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy now covering 54 countries, Shenzhen's major tourist attractions are experiencing a significant boost in overseas visitors.   The Splendid China • China Folk Culture Villages, one of Shenzhen's must-see theme parks, recorded a staggering 1,125% year-on-year increase in overseas tourists between January and August this year, according to a Shenzhen Special Zone Daily report Saturday.   Located in Nanshan District, the park highlights China's rich cultural heritage, history, and diverse traditions. It features 82 miniature architectural landmarks, offering international visitors the chance to "step into history and explore all of China in a day." Additionally, the park houses 28 ethnic villages that showcase the authentic customs of China's 56 ethnic groups.   To better serve its growing number of international tourists, the park has enhanced its services and streamlined processes. Now, international visitors can purchase discounted tickets online, receive personalized tour route recommendations from staff, and enjoy a range of cultural activities, including trying on traditional Chinese costumes and experiencing ethnic customs.   Beyond its regular attractions, the park also hosts special cultural events, such as the "Splendid Guangdong New Year" and the "Splendid Lantern Carnival," offering international visitors a deeper, more immersive exploration…Original link

Registration is now open for the 8th China (Shenzhen) Innovation & Entrepreneurship International Competition, dubbed as the "Entrepreneurship Olympics."   Without nationality barriers, all overseas innovation and entrepreneurship projects are eligible to enter the competition.   With a prize pool of 9.42 million yuan (US$1.31 million), the competition's first-place winner will receive up to 1.75 million yuan in prize money and start-up subsidies, according to the organizer, the local human resources and social security bureau.   In addition, a venture capital pool of 25 billion yuan has been set up by over 50 investment institutions to encourage outstanding projects to settle in the city.   The deadline for application is Sept 10. Between mid-September and the end of October, regional contests will be held across 12 countries at 13 sites in Tokyo, Melbourne, London, Paris, Munich, Milan, Barcelona, Eindhoven, Stockholm, Zurich, the San Francisco Bay Area's Silicon Valley, Boston, and Toronto.   Winners of these regional contests will qualify to compete at the finals, which will take place in Shenzhen between November and December.   Competitors will compete in seven thematic areas — next-generation electronics, high-end equipment manufacturing, green and low carbon, new materials, biopharmaceuticals and health, digital and fashion,…Original link

Smart onboard functions have enabled Chinese automotive startups to make foray into high-end markets and compete with established global giants, said a senior J.D. Power executive. "Smart NEVs have won the heart of Chinese car buyers," said Su Jun, president of J.D. Power China, at a forum held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Thursday. "In other words, smart functions have proven to be the driving force for Chinese carmakers to catch up and even overtake global rivals," he said. Smart cockpit technologies are more widely accepted by new vehicle owners in China and are a key factor in their vehicle-buying decisions, according to the 2024 China Tech Experience Index Study, whose findings were released earlier this month. Besides the market, J.D. Power has also found changes in car buyers, especially those born after 1995, who are wooed by dealers as they account for a big proportion of new car buyers. One important finding is that they value a fast response. A previous J.D. Power study reveals that their overall satisfaction can hit 825 out of a scale of 1,000 when a dealer contacts them within an hour of leaving their contact information. The score would drop to 792 if it…Original link

Shenzhen had a total of 71,479 registered physicians as of Dec. 31, 2023, up 7.28% compared to 2022, according to data released by the city's health authority yesterday, the seventh China's Doctors' Day.   Among them were 67,690 practicing doctors and 3,789 practicing assistant physicians. In terms of practice type, the city had 45,364 clinical physicians, 9,635 stomatologists, 3,199 public health physicians, and 13,281 traditional Chinese medicine physicians.   In addition, Shenzhen boasted 10,569 general practitioners (GPs), which accounted for 14.79% of the total number of registered physicians. By the end of 2022, the city had achieved the goal of having four GPs per 10,000 people, with an average of 5.48 GPs per 10,000 people currently.   Shenzhen has continued to improve the quality of health services. As of the end of 2023, Shenzhen had a total of 5,431 medical and health institutions, 926 community health institutions, and 159 hospitals, cumulatively offering 69,877 beds.   Last year, the city's medical and health institutions completed more than 128.84 million medical treatments, a year-on-year increase of 24.3%. The huge contrast between 71,479 registered physicians and over 128.84 million treatments reflects the hectic daily schedules of doctors in Shenzhen, according to the health…Original link

Original link