Editor’s note:

In order to understand a city, you must understand its people.

And for those seeking to truly understand one of the most incredible cities in the world, there is no better place to start than the “Top 10 Concepts of Shenzhen,” which explores the thoughts and goals that have inspired Shenzheners for 30 years and counting.

This in-depth exploration of the values and ideals that formed the city’s foundation is far more than just a book.

Written to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone that opened the city to the world, “Top 10 Concepts of Shenzhen” is a compilation of local history and lore, a diary of innovative thinking and daring endeavors, and a must-read for anyone interested in the area’s groundbreaking transformation from fishing village to international metropolis.

With contributions from leading scholars, industry giants, political leaders, media insiders, local historians and foreign experts, “Top 10 Concepts of Shenzhen” is a study of the beating heart that has fueled the city’s astronomic growth for the past 30 years. It is a study of Shenzhen’s people and their dreams, and how they used those dreams to overcome enormous challenges.

International business consultant, economic strategist, author and China adviser Robert Lawrence Kuhn sums up the city’s 10 foundational concepts thusly in his preface to the book:

“The message of Shenzhen is clear: Continuing reform is essential; emancipating the mind is an ongoing need, not just a historical aphorism; and risk taking in governments and business, prudent to be sure, must put into practice the elements of reform.”

Understanding that mindset of continuing reform, and of constantly seeking to improve and strive, is critical to understanding the residents of a city where factories produce floods of products and skyscrapers rise in countless waves above the heart of the Pearl River Delta region.

Often overlooked in discussions and writings about Shenzhen are the dreams and aspirations upon which the modern city was built, and the thoughts and challenges that inspired the people who led local development.

“Top 10 Concepts of Shenzhen” is an effort to bridge that gap, and to link the physical majesty of the city with the mental mottos that continue to shape Shenzhen today.

We hope you enjoy this firsthand look into not only a very unique city, but also into the transformative thoughts and hopes that continue to inspire its very unique people.

Robert Lawrence Kuhn

Born in 1944, Robert Lawrence Kuhn is an international investment banker, corporate strategist, and public intellectual. With a doctorate in brain research and the author or editor of over 25 books, he is a commentator on business, finance and China; longtime adviser to the Chinese Government; adviser to multinational corporations on China strategies and transactions; and adviser to Chinese companies on capital markets.

Kuhn is the author of “How China’s Leaders Think: The Inside Story of China’s Reform and What This Means for the Future,” featuring exclusive discussions with more than 100 Chinese leaders and officials. He is also the author of “The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin,” the first biography of a living Chinese leader to be published on the Chinese mainland.