AT 6 a.m. on a summer morning in Shenzhen Talent Park, the 74th Park Run began with a countdown spoken in multiple languages. Participants included expats from Germany, South Africa, South Korea, and China.

Among the runners was British teacher Martin Crozier, who is currently head of mathematics at Harrow International School Shenzhen.

On July 10, the 5-minute documentary “Shenzhen: Meet the Locals” premiered on Euronews, reaching over 160 countries and regions and 400 million households worldwide. According to Ipsos data, it attracted 23.2 million unique viewers, generating 44.3 million total impressions and averaging 1.9 views per person.

The documentary portrays Shenzhen’s modern, convenient, and inclusive spirit through the eyes of Crozier. It captured the city’s rich cultural diversity and conveys a powerful message: Shenzhen, a cosmopolitan beacon where languages, cultures, and dreams converge, is a place where expats can truly belong.

“In 1980, Shenzhen was a fishing village too small to appear on maps. Today, it’s where my daughter rides her scooter safely at night,” Crozier said in Mandarin, with a Cantonese accent.

China’s rapid pace impressed Crozier, but Shenzhen surpasses even that. “They can shift an entire road four meters to the left overnight. Every time I return from vacation, there are new surprises. That’s just cool,” he said.

The film goes beyond one teacher’s story — it is a snapshot of a city embracing the world.

Crozier, a co-founder of the Park Run running club, organizes group runs for both expat and Chinese residents of the city regularly.

“As an expat, community is really important to me. My colleague and I decided to start Park Run two years ago. Shenzhen Talent Park is a fantastic place with beautiful scenery,” Crozier explained.

“What I really like is that it’s not just an expat crowd or local community — it’s a wonderful mix of both, a lovely group of people who share a common interest,” he added.

“Family life in Shenzhen, as an expat, is incredibly easy, and we have a lot of freedom,” said Crozier’s daughter Eleanor. “We can go out at night and feel safe. It’s fun.”

Crozier also highlighted the convenience of living in Shekou, where he resides with his family.

“In Shekou, there’s a lot of authenticity about the restaurants we have. So, Tequila Coyote’s is a restaurant I go to often. It’s run by an amazing Mexican guy,” said Crozier.   (Han Ximin)