Geographical Location

Shenzhen is a coastal city, close to Hong Kong, in South China. Sitting south of the Tropic of Cancer, it is in the south of Guangdong Province. Demarcated from Hong Kong by Shenzhen River to the south, it is bordered by Dongguan and Huizhou to the north, Daya Bay and Dapeng Bay to the east, and Lingding Sea and the mouth of the Pearl River to the west.

Natural Resources

The total area of Shenzhen is 1,952.84 square kilometers and within that, the size of the special economic zone is 395.81 square kilometers.
Shenzhen Reservoir in the east of the urban district has a total volume of more than 40 million cubic meters. It is the main water source for Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
Shenzhen has a 230-kilometer-long coastline rich with maritime life and products. Deep-water ports have been built at various locations in the city. Several beautiful mountains range across Shenzhen; the city’s highest peak has an altitude of 943.7 meters. The city boasts rich natural resources, ideal for developing tourism. To the east lie the popular beach resorts of Dameisha, Xiaomeisha and Dapeng Bay. To the west lie scenic areas, including Mangrove Nature Reserve, Inner Lingding Island, and Water Resort.　

Administration

Shenzhen is a city in Guangdong Province administered by the Guangdong Provincial Government. It is also a vice-provincial city directly administered by the Central Government. The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone is within the city’s administration. The Shenzhen Municipal Government governs six districts. Luohu, Futian, Nanshan and Yantian districts are within the Special Economic Zone, while Bao'an and Longgang districts are outside it. The city has a total of 51 sub-district offices and 620 residents' committees. In 2006, 378 million people visited the Special Economic Zone, and 110 million vehicles passed through the city's various checkpoints.

Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation

Downtown Shenzhen is only a 45-minute drive from Hong Kong.  The government of Shenzhen plans, over the next 15 years, to modernize Shenzhen in accordance with socialist ideals and to develop the city into a key regional and international metropolis.
Because of their geological proximity, Shenzhen and Hong Kong have been mutually dependent economically for a long time. Eggs, fish, meat, vegetables, dairy products and other daily necessities in Hong Kong are sourced mainly from Shenzhen. Every year, Shenzhen Reservoir channels a total of 1.1 billion cubic meters of water from the Dongjiang River to Hong Kong. The Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, located in eastern Shenzhen, transmits electricity to Hong Kong. Of the overseas investment in Shenzhen, above 70 percent is from Hong Kong. Many companies from Shenzhen have made their initial public offerings in Hong Kong.
In recent years, mutual cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong has been strengthened in fields covering checkpoint control, border infrastructure construction, trade, science and technology, education, finance, and tourism. In April 2007, Shenzhen and Hong Kong completed the third phase of their joint project of the Shenzhen River cleanup, which significantly raised the flood control standard in the Shenzhen River region such that infrequent but major floods can be controlled. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Western Corridor, which was put into use in July 2007, promotes the ties between Shenzhen and Hong Kong even more closely. 

Migrant Culture

Shenzhen showcases China’s policy to open up to the outside world. It’s a melting pot of cultures brought in by migrants. The city’s amenities make it an ideal place for entrepreneurs from China and abroad to start their businesses. In recent years, the city has won awards from media and industry as “The Most Dynamic City in Economic Development” and “The Most Welcomed City for Rural Migrant Workers.”
Although migrants began moving to the Shenzhen area at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), dramatic population growth occurred only after Shenzhen City was founded in 1980. By the end of 2006, the city had 8.4643 million permanent residents, of whom 1.9683 million were hukou households, and 6.496 million were non-hukou households. The non-hukou households made up 76.7 percent of the total population. The average expectation of life in the city is 76.71 years old, which is more than some advanced countries. Shenzhen has a minority population of more than 360,000 people, and is the second city in China after Beijing to have all 56 ethnic minorities in China represented in it.
More than 13,000 expatriates live and work in Shenzhen on a long-term basis, which has been key to the increasing internationalization of the city. The expatriates come from 111 counties; most are representatives sent by foreign companies to China, employees of foreign-invested enterprises, cultural workers, teachers, and foreign students. In 2005, the number of foreigners who entered the country through various checkpoints in Shenzhen totaled 3.4 million. About 5 percent of the city’s residential buildings were purchased by foreigners and people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

Languages

Shenzhen has Putonghua as its mainstream dialect which is the standard language for all people in China. Most public service workers, professionals and businesspeople as well as most of young students in the city can speak English. Talented and well-educated professionals who are bilingual and trilingual (Mandarin, Cantonese and English) can be found in the city.

Urban Construction

In the 27 years since the foundation of Shenzhen, an urban infrastructure of streets, lighting, sewage, environmental care, drainage and transport has been developed in Shenzhen. The city government strives to improve its management of the infrastructure network. The city’s construction area totals 719.88 square kilometers. In 2006, the city’s investment in urban infrastructure reached 40.784 billion yuan, up 23.9 percent over the previous year. Tap water is now available for use in all households in the city.

Highest Comprehensive Quality of Life Index

In 2005, the International Urban Development Research Institute in Beijing released the Report on Quality of Life in China’s Cities. It surveyed quality of life indices in the country’s 100 key cities. Shenzhen was listed in first place with the highest quality of life index.

(Source:Universiade Shenzhen Official Website http://www.sz2011.org)