Li Zhao, Class 5, Senior 2, Shenzhen Foreign Languages School

Every city owns an impressive main avenue. Undoubtedly, in Shenzhen, the impressive avenue is Shennan Boulevard.

Shennan Boulevard, considered as ideal on a business card and representative of the scenery of Shenzhen, is the most beautiful scenic road in Shenzhen. In the sun, Shennan Boulevard looks like a shining ribbon, which floats to the front of colorful flowers; at night, countless neon lights are interwoven with the continuous lamps, which are brilliant. Shennan Boulevard is not only a transportation route but is also a display window, concentrating the classic nature of the city.

Shennan Boulevard is a coordinate line of Shenzhen, and other signs are based on it. During every major event, you can always see signs of confirmation on Shennan Boulevard. In August 2020, Shenzhen ushered in the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the special economic zone. There are many landscape and sculpture pieces on the green belt in the middle of Shennan Boulevard. The words can be seen to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the special economic zone. Red lanterns and colored flags are hung on both sides of the road.

Shennan Boulevard is an east-west main road in Shenzhen, spanning Luohu, Futian and Nanshan districts. It is said that, during the beginning of the reform and opening up, the original motive for building this road was to keep the flying dust “choked back” from the Hong Kong businessmen who just crossed the Luohu bridge.

From the 2.1km long gravel road in 1979 to the 25.6km Shennan Boulevard in 1994, and then to 58.4km after Shennan and Bao’an boulevards were connected in 2006, Shennan Boulevard has become longer, wider and more beautiful. The development of Shenzhen city develops along Shennan Boulevard. Through the changes of Shennan Boulevard, we can see 40 years’ development of Shenzhen and feel the miracle of the fast-growing city.

When we look back on the past, when Shennan Boulevard was just built, Shenzhen was still a small and remote fishing village. Now Shenzhen has become the youngest first tier city in China and an innovative city with international influence.

Shenzhen has become a leading demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics.