Editor’s Note:

On Aug. 26, 1980, Shenzhen, once an obscure fishing village in Guangdong Province, was designated as China’s first special economic zone. Over the past 44 years, this city has rapidly transformed into a thriving metropolis, achieving remarkable successes across various domains. Shenzhen Daily is launching a series of reports to celebrate the milestone.

Wei Jie

claudiamente@hotmailcom

WHEN Heinrich “Woody” Potgieter, from South Africa, first visited Shenzhen in 2003, the city simply represented China to him. Originally visiting during his gap year, Woody quickly fell in love with the city and returned repeatedly before making it his permanent home.

Potgieter, an experienced mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and kickboxer who is now a full-time coach, described his Shenzhen experience as being his only initial introduction to China Needless to say, he always kept coming back.

Magnet to global

innovators

In the early 2000s, while Shenzhen did not yet have the strong global presence it enjoys today, it had already transformed from a small border town near Hong Kong into one of China’s most economically important cities.

At that time, Shenzhen was rapidly becoming a powerhouse of innovation-driven economic growth in China. Home-grown high-tech giants like Huawei and Tencent were beginning to establish themselves on the global stage.

High-tech parks, various industrial clusters, and incubation carriers were transforming Shenzhen into a global hub for engineers and electronics experts. Among them was Terry Given, from New Zealand, who found Shenzhen the ideal environment for innovation.

“I fell in love with the place during my initial visit in 2003,” said Given. He took home nearly 30 kilograms of electronics components that he purchased in Huaqiangbei during that trip and made a point to visit Huaqiangbei at least once a year until he relocated to Shenzhen 2013. He now has a lab in the Digital Technology Building in Huaqiangbei filled with electronic parts and equipment sourced locally.

“When I finally got to settle down in Huaqiangbei, it has undergone tremendous changes,” Given noted. The subdistrict has transitioned from a simple electronics marketplace to a multifaceted industrial center that serves functions such as tech introduction and exchange, product development and release, logistics warehousing and distribution, and talent exchange.

“The maker community barely existed in Huaqiangbei back in 2003,” said the New Zealander. “I’ve got a bunch of friends who are now involved in the maker community creating amazing innovations.”

Shenzhen has become a global base for innovators, with Huaqiangbei alone housing 14 incubation platforms that accommodate more than 500 maker teams. Among them is Dutch maker Henk Werner’s Troublemaker, a well-known maker space that has attracted creators from more than 20 countries since opening in 2016. The city’s complete industrial chain enables makers from around the world to quickly turn their innovative ideas into tangible products.

Thriving

creative sector

The rapid growth of Shenzhen as a globally recognized tech hub can be attributed to its ability to adapt, innovate, and align with international trends.

Shenzhen’s global recognition as a creative powerhouse began in 2008 when it became the first Chinese city to earn UNESCO’s “City of Design” title. This accolade spurred initiatives like Shenzhen Fashion Week and the Bi-City Biennial of Urbanism/Architecture, which have since played pivotal roles in advancing the city’s design and creative sectors. In 2016, Italian fashion school Istituto Marangoni opened a new campus in Nanshan District.

Damon Frank Giannoccaro was one of the design experts that taught at the fashion school. Besides being a designer, he is also the founder of the Giannoccaro Design and Creative Agency, which has offices in China, the Netherlands, and South Africa.

Giannoccaro has witnessed the vibrant pulse of creativity in Shenzhen, from cutting-edge technologies like robotics to the dynamic world of fashion. “Innovation knows no boundaries, and the most brilliant ideas often emerge from the blending of different cultures and perspectives,” he remarked.

“As a foreigner, witnessing the steady upward trend in innovation and creativity across all of Shenzhen’s industries has been nothing short of inspiring,” he said.

Talent pull

Drawn to Shenzhen’s youthful spirit, vitality, and inclusive environment, Potgieter discovered that Shenzhen is a great place for expats. For him, Shenzhen strikes a perfect balance between professional opportunities and personal fulfillment.

During his time in Shenzhen, Potgieter has traveled extensively in China for professional kickboxing and MMA competitions as a pro participant, coach, and English-language commentator. In 2016, he established a boxing gym in Chegongmiao in Futian District. Another branch has been opened in Shekou.

His professional journey is a testament to the city’s ethos of embracing change and growth.

After nearly 20 years in Shenzhen, he thought he knew the city well until a recent visit to the Diwang Mansion neighborhood in Luohu, where he hadn’t been for two years. He was amazed by the rapid and astounding changes. “In Shenzhen, things can change so much in two years. In 20 years? it’s a totally different city!” he said.