Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

TO mark the 45th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, a new video series is turning to an unexpected group of storytellers — the city’s international residents — who are revealing the history behind diplomatic gifts sent to Shenzhen from their home countries.

In the “One Gift, One Story” series, expats from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Pakistan, Indonesia, and other countries discuss the significance of these symbols of international friendship, including items like a silver bowl from Pakistan and a Bavarian lion figurine from Germany.

Friendship takes root

“This gift was presented by the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Shenzhen. It embodies the Pakistani spirit of hard work, generosity, dedication, and hospitality,” said Pakistani researcher Muhammad Saif Ur Rahman of the silver bowl. He referenced the classic description of Pakistan-China friendship — “higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the oceans, and sweeter than honey.”

Ekaterina Ding, a German translator who has lived in Shenzhen for 13 years, explained the historical significance of a Bavarian lion figurine, a symbol dating back to the 12th century, and reflected on the growing ties between Shenzhen and the German region of Nuremberg.

Briana Francois, an American teacher, felt a personal connection to a model space shuttle from Houston, humorously noting its link to the “Space City.” Indonesian student Aileen Sierends Davina shared the cultural belief that the silver Arowana fish ornament brings good fortune.

Imagining a gift in return

When asked what gift they would send from Shenzhen to their home countries, the answers consistently highlighted Shenzhen’s technological prowess, transformative development, and iconic landmarks, revealing a deep understanding of their home away from home.

The city’s innovative pulse was a top choice. Lee Barrett, a content creator from the U.K., Ding from Germany, Davina from Indonesia, and Rita Gimenez, an entrepreneur from Spain, all suggested technology-related items. Gimenez’s idea was particularly imaginative: “A small robot that helps people learn basic Chinese — maybe it doesn’t exist yet, but in Shenzhen, you have to dream it to make it happen.”

Iconic structures also resonated strongly. Briana Francois proposed a model of the Ping An Finance Center, stating, “Whenever I see it, I know I’m back in Shenzhen.” Maksim Silenko, from Russia, suggested a picture of the Civic Center be sent to St. Petersburg, calling it “the heart of Shenzhen.”

The spirit of reform was another key theme. Australian Greg Smith, head of Shekou International School, suggested a clock, citing the famous Shekou slogan, “Time is money, efficiency is life,” as something that encapsulates Shenzhen’s core ethos.

Closer people-to-people exchanges

Behind these gifts lies not just Shenzhen’s global network of 95 sister and friendly exchange cities across 59 countries, but also deepening practical cooperation and people-to-people bonds.

Ugur Kayan, a Turkish content creator, movingly recalled the swift assistance from Shenzhen rescue teams after the 2023 earthquakes in his homeland. Silenko noted that his work at Shenzhen MSU-BIT University is itself a testament to deepening Sino-Russian educational cooperation. Others, like Polish dancer Alicja Ciesielska and Venezuelan teacher Brian Vivas, expressed sincere hopes for further collaboration in culture, education, and infrastructure.

These once-silent gifts are given new life through the voices of international residents. They serve not only as a tangible record of Shenzhen’s openness but also as “envoys of friendship,” building connections and fostering mutual understanding for Shenzhen’s development as a modern, international metropolis.

Lee Barrett from the U.K.

The gift from the U.K. to Shenzhen is a Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee commemorative mug. It was created to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee marking 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.

It’s white porcelain with gold edging and gold around the handle and a nice, purple design. The gift reflects Britain’s deep respect for tradition, history, and the monarchy.

I think if I were to give a gift from Shenzhen to present to the U.K., I’d select a piece of high-quality Shenzhen-made technology innovation such as a finely crafted smart watch.

Greg Smith from Australia

Australia has presented two ornaments [to Shenzhen]. One is a porcelain plate from Brisbane, and it shows our city blend of new and old buildings in beautiful Brisbane. And the second is an ornament that shows the beautiful, clear water of Darwin.

I think one of the most remarkable things about our space here in Shekou is a very strong statement that we would represent by sending from Shenzhen to Australia a clock, because the statement that really characterizes Shekou is “Time is money, efficiency is life.”

Alicja Ciesielska from Poland

The gift Shenzhen received from Poland is an elegant wooden sculpture inspired by an astronomical model, symbolizing planetary motion. This gift represents a blend of Polish history, art, and science.

The astronomical theme recalls Mikołaj Kopernik, a very famous Polish astronomer who revolutionized people’s understanding of the universe.

Shenzhen and Poznan have been sister cities since July 1993, making Poznan one of the first cities to form such a partnership with Shenzhen.

If I were to represent Shenzhen and send gifts to my country, I would probably choose some miniature artwork inspired by Shenzhen’s skyline. This would symbolize Shenzhen’s modernity, rapid growth, and innovative spirit – qualities that people from my country could get inspired by.

Rita Gimenez from Spain

The gift from Barcelona to Shenzhen is a pair of ceramic Park Güell lizards. The Park Güell lizard, also known as “El Drac,” is a famous mosaic-covered lizard sculpture located at the main entrance of Park Güell in Barcelona. The lizard sculpture means “the dragon” and is created using a technique called trencadís, where broken mosaic tiles are used.

The close connection between Shenzhen and Barcelona began in 2012 when the two cities established friendly exchanges. In 2021, the two cities became sister cities.

The gift from Barcelona reminds me of how lucky I am to call Barcelona my home city – about the art you find in each corner, thanks to Gaudí and the rest of the artists who left their mark over centuries.

If I were to represent Shenzhen and send a gift to my own city, I would choose a small robot that helps people learn basic Chinese. Everyone who knows Shenzhen now knows that it’s the innovation city of the world. Maybe this robot doesn’t exist yet, but in Shenzhen, you have to dream it to make it happen.

Brian Vivas from Venezuela

The gift that my country gave to Shenzhen was a very special gift — a mask with many colors. It reminds me of a special celebration that is called Los Diablos Danzantes del Yare (the Dancing Devils of Yare), which is a very specific and special festival where a lot of people wear big devil masks and parade to chase away evil spirits.

A gift from Shenzhen to my country will be help building super fast trains, which are super nice, since Shenzhen people can build things so fast. There’s a flower that is very common in Shenzhen, which is called creeping daisy. I think this flower could be really nice in certain streets in my country.

Maksim Silenko from Russia

The present from Moscow to Shenzhen is a brilliant picture of our Red Square with the cathedral, the museum, and the Kremlin. It’s a very nice present.

Another present is from the east of Russia. It’s an artistic gilded plate from Irkutsk. Irkutsk is a very beautiful city, and it has established friendly exchange relations with Shenzhen since 2012.

I’m originally from St. Petersburg. I hope that a present can be sent to the St. Petersburg government and people from Shenzhen. I think that probably Shenzhen could send a picture of the Civic Center, the heart of Shenzhen, to St. Petersburg. That would be an incredible exchange.

Ugur Kayan from Türkiye

I’m very happy to share with you the story of two beautiful gifts from my country to Shenzhen. These gifts include a metal plate ornament and a ceramic bowl.

The metal plate has a golden frame with a detailed cityscape painting, which reminds me of the charming waterfront views along the Bosphorus. The ceramic bowl, in vibrant turquoise with intricate golden patterns, reflects the elegance of Ottoman art and Türkiye’s long tradition of fine craftsmanship.

These gifts are symbols of the friendship between Türkiye and Shenzhen — a friendship that has been growing for more than a decade. The designs remind me of Istanbul’s rich heritage, where East meets West and tradition blends with daily life.

If Shenzhen were to send a gift to Türkiye, I imagine something that combines modern technology with traditional Chinese artistry — a perfect reflection of Shenzhen’s innovative spirit and cultural pride.

Aileen Sierends Davina from Indonesia

The gift from Indonesia to Shenzhen is a beautifully carved silver ornament of a Super Red Arowana fish. This gift reflects the richness of Indonesia’s natural heritage. The Super Red Arowana fish comes from a river named Kapuas in West Kalimantan, and it is believed by Indonesians that this fish can bring good fortune.

Shenzhen has friendly exchange relations with several cities in Indonesia, including Batam, Bandung, and Bogor. With trade, culture, and education, they have built strong connections throughout the years.

If I were to represent Shenzhen in sending a gift to Indonesia, I would choose a modern gadget decorated with traditional Chinese patterns. It will be a perfect symbol of how Shenzhen combines modern technology with cultural heritage.

Briana Francois from the U.S.

Shenzhen has many different sister cities and friendly exchange cities in the United States, including Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, and one close to my heart, Atlanta.

Shenzhen received some really interesting gifts from some of these cities. One of them, from Houston, is a model of a spaceship. Shenzhen has also received this crystal ornament from San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge etched into it.

I think that if Shenzhen were to send gifts to some of its sister cities, or the gift that I would choose for Shenzhen to send, would have to be a statue of Ping An Finance Center. Whenever I see Ping An, I know I am back in Shenzhen. If each of its sister cities had a miniature Ping An somewhere, I think that would be so fun.

Muhammad Saif Ur Rahman from Pakistan

This gift was presented by the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Shenzhen. It’s a silver bowl — a masterpiece of Pakistani craftsmanship. The silver bowl embodies the Pakistani spirit of hard work, generosity, dedication, and hospitality.

Pakistan and Shenzhen share a bond that is a part of the greater Pakistan-China friendship, and the friendship is often described as “higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the oceans, and sweeter than honey.”

If I have to represent Shenzhen and send one gift to my country, I would definitely choose a model depicting the remarkable transformation of Shenzhen over the last 40 years — symbol of how vision and dedication can turn aspirations into reality.

Ekaterina Ding from Germany

The gift from Germany is a Bavarian lion figurine. The lion figurine is actually featured on the coat of arms of Bavaria, so it’s a symbol of Bavaria. There are also a lot of statues that have a similar shape like that. It represents both the royalty and the history of Bavaria.

This gift reminds me of the Bavarian flags and the coat of arms because of the blue checkered pattern. The lion itself has been a symbol of Bavaria since the 12th century.

Shenzhen and Germany have already established many friendly relationships, especially with the region of Nuremberg.

I think if I were to send a gift from Shenzhen to Germany, it would be an electronic product. It would be something modern, because Shenzhen is very well-known for its technology.