Tony Li, G11 李东鸿

Hello, everyone! My name is Tony, and I’m happy to be here today to introduce Shenzhen to you.

Although I finished elementary school in Hong Kong, I’ve lived in Shenzhen for most of my life. To me, it’s more than just a city — it’s home. Growing up here, I’ve watched it change day by day. What strikes me most is its cultural diversity and the inclusiveness of its people.

Walk down any street in Shenzhen, and you’ll feel this diversity immediately. You’ll hear Cantonese, Mandarin, English, Korean, or Japanese. Near my home, there’s a food street where you can find Cantonese dim sum, Sichuan hot pot, northern noodles, and Italian pizza — all within one block. That’s Shenzhen’s magic: food from across China and the world comes together here, and we all enjoy it side by side.

Shenzhen is full of people from different places. My friends come from Guangdong, Sichuan, Hunan, and even other countries. During Spring Festival, some make dumplings, some make rice cakes — and we all celebrate together. At Mid-Autumn Festival, we bring different mooncakes and sit together under the moon. This mix of cultures makes our life so colorful.

Shenzhen’s inclusiveness means everyone feels welcome. Two years ago, I met a Japanese friend in my TOEFL class. He spoke little Chinese; I spoke little Japanese. But we used simple English and gestures — and it worked. He told me about Tokyo, and I shared life in Shenzhen. We became friends easily. That’s how Shenzhen is — it naturally brings people together.

As a boarding student, I don’t go home every day, but Shenzhen still feels like home. On weekends, I discover something new. There are many study-friendly places — libraries, quiet cafes — where I can prepare for tests. I also love how safe the city is; I never worry when I go out alone.

Another thing I appreciate is how green Shenzhen is. Parks and mountains are everywhere. I often go to Lianhua Hill Park with my friends. We walk around the lake, talk, or do our reading there. From the top, you can see the whole city — from Futian’s skyscrapers to Luohu’s busy streets. In those moments, I feel how beautiful Shenzhen is.

Shenzhen is young and fast-moving. You’ll see modern skyscrapers next to old villages, high-tech companies beside small family shops. But no matter how fast it develops, it never loses its warm, inclusive heart. That’s the real beauty of Shenzhen — it welcomes everyone, celebrates our differences, and turns them into something amazing.

In the end, Shenzhen isn’t just a city of technology. It’s a city of people — from all walks of life, all cultures, all stories. And that’s why I love it.