Full History Of Shenzhen In Timeline From 1911

1911: Xin'an Residents Rebel Against Qing Administration

In 1911, in response to the Wuchang Uprising, residents of Xin'an rebelled against and overthrew the local Qing administration. The Chinese section of the Kowloon–Canton Railway (KCR) also opened to the public in 1911, with the last stop on the Chinese side being Shenzhen railway station.

1913: Xin'an County Renamed Bao'an County

In 1913, the Republic of China administration renamed Xin'an County back to Bao'an County to prevent confusion with another county of the same name in Henan Province.

1925: Reception Station Set Up for Strike Workers in Hong Kong

During the Canton–Hong Kong strike in 1925, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions established a reception station in Shenzhen for strike workers from Hong Kong, providing support during the labor action.

1931: Chen Jitang Establishes Casinos in Shenzhen

In 1931, Chen Jitang and his family established several casinos in Shenzhen, with the Shumchun Casino being the largest.

1941: Japanese Army Attempts to Enter Hong Kong

During World War II, in 1941, the Japanese army attempted to cross into Hong Kong through the Lo Wu Bridge in Shenzhen, but the bridge was detonated by the British, preventing their entry.

1953: Bao'an County Government Moves to Shenzhen

In 1953, the Bao'an County government relocated to Shenzhen due to its proximity to the Kowloon–Canton Railway (KCR) and its larger economy compared to Nantou.

February 1957: Extreme Low Temperature

On 11 February 1957, Shenzhen recorded an extreme low temperature of 0.2 °C (32 °F).

January 1978: Central Inspection Team Investigates Bao'an County

In January 1978, a Central Inspection Team investigated Bao'an County to assess the possibility of creating a foreign trade port.

August 1978: Proposal to Change Bao'an County to Shenzhen

In August 1978, the Huiyang District Committee reported on the "Report on the Request for the Change of Bao'an County to Shenzhen", pushing for the county to be renamed Shenzhen.

January 1979: Proposal to Rename Bao'an County to Shenzhen

On 23 January 1979, the Guangdong provincial administration and the district of Huiyang announced their proposal to rename Bao'an County to Shenzhen and was approved and put into effect by the State Council on March 5 of that year.

March 1979: Shenzhen City Established

On 5 March 1979, the State Council of the People's Republic of China dissolved Bao'an County and established Shenzhen City in its place, initially with six districts.

Apr 1979: Shenzhen Reformed as Special Export Zone

Back to Apr 1979, Shenzhen was reformed as a Special Export Zone to create a favorable investment environment and introduce advanced technology and management experience.

April 1979: Proposal to Set Up a Trade Cooperation Zone in Shenzhen

At the beginning of April 1979, the Standing Committee of Guangdong Province discussed and proposed to the Central Committee to set up a "trade cooperation zone" in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Shantou. In the same month, the Central Working Conference decided on the "Regulations on Vigorously Developing Foreign Trade to Increase Foreign Exchange Income" and agreed to pilot the first special economic zones (SEZ) in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou, and Xiamen.

1979: Shenzhen Becomes a City

By 1979, Shenzhen's economy grew and it became a city. Shenzhen railway station was the last stop on the mainland Chinese section of the Kowloon–Canton Railway.

May 1980: Renamed to Special Economic Zone

In May 1980, Shenzhen was renamed to Special Economic Zone.

May 1980: Shenzhen Designated as the First SEZ in China

In May 1980, the Central Committee designated Shenzhen as the first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in China, as part of China's reform and opening-up policies.

July 1980: Extreme High Temperature

On 10 July 1980, Shenzhen recorded an extreme high temperature of 38.7 °C (102 °F).

1980: Establishment of Shenzhen as SEZ

From the establishment of Shenzhen as a SEZ in 1980 to 2007, Hong Kong has been Shenzhen's largest trade partner.

March 1981: Shenzhen Promoted to a Sub-Provincial Division

In March 1981, Shenzhen was promoted to a sub-provincial division, marking its growing importance and autonomy.

October 1981: Bao'an County Re-established

In October 1981, Bao'an County was re-established, with its region now based outside Shenzhen.

1981: Legislative Powers Granted to Shenzhen

In 1981, the National People's Congress (NPC) granted legislative powers to Shenzhen and other Special Economic Zones, allowing the city to make its own laws and regulations.

June 1983: Districts Re-established as Management Areas

In June 1983, the districts were dissolved and re-established instead as five management areas.

1983: Opening of Shenzhen Normal School and Shenzhen University

In 1983, Shenzhen Normal School opened to train primary school teachers, and Shenzhen University became Shenzhen's first comprehensive full-time higher educational institution.

1983: Erection of the Second Line Border in Shenzhen

In 1983, to enforce law and order, the Shenzhen government erected barbed wire and checkpoints, known as the second line border, between the SEZ and the rest of China.

October 1989: Houston and Shenzhen Sister Cities

In October 1989, Houston became the first sister city of Shenzhen.

January 1990: Management Areas Merged to Form Districts

In January 1990, the city merged Shekou Management Area and Nantou Management Area to form the Nanshan District, renamed Shangbu Management Area to the Futian District, and merged Luohu Management Area and Shatoujiao Management Area to form the Luohu District.

October 1990: First McDonald's in Mainland China Opens in Shenzhen

On October 8, 1990, the first McDonald's restaurant in mainland China opened in Shenzhen's Luohu District, bringing American fast food to the city.

December 1990: Shenzhen Stock Exchange Established

In December 1990, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange was established to provide a platform for centralized securities trading, under the authority of the China Securities Regulatory Commission.

1991: Captured Border-Crossers Statistics

In 1991, there were 16,000 captured border-crossers into Shenzhen.

February 1992: Shenzhen Granted Power to Make Local Laws

In February 1992, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) granted the government of Shenzhen the power to make local laws and regulations.

December 1992: Bao'an County Dissolved and New Districts Established

In December 1992, Bao'an County was dissolved again, with its area taken by Shenzhen and split into two new districts: Bao'an District and Longgang District.

1996: Shenzhen Guesthouse Hotel Hosts Provisional Councils of Hong Kong

In 1996 and early 1997, the Shenzhen Guesthouse Hotel in Shenzhen hosted the Provisional Legislative Council and Provisional Executive Council of Hong Kong in preparation for the handover of Hong Kong in 1997.

1996: Shenzhen High-tech Industrial Development Zone Established

In 1996, the State Council approved and established the 11.5 km (4.4 sq mi) Shenzhen High-tech Industrial Development Zone, helping to develop Shenzhen's high-tech industry in areas such as electronics and information technology.

1997: Shenzhen Guesthouse Hotel Hosts Provisional Councils of Hong Kong

In 1996 and early 1997, the Shenzhen Guesthouse Hotel in Shenzhen hosted the Provisional Legislative Council and Provisional Executive Council of Hong Kong in preparation for the handover of Hong Kong in 1997.

March 1998: Yantian District Created

In March 1998, Shenzhen's government created the Yantian District from the eastern portions of the Luohu District.

1999: Establishment of Shenzhen Virtual University Park

In 1999, the Shenzhen Municipal Government set up the Shenzhen Virtual University Park in the Science and Technology Park, where teachers from China's top universities taught graduate students.

2000: Shenzhen River Restoration Project Began

In 2000, Shenzhen began a project to restore the city's rivers from water pollution.

2000: Captured Border-Crossers Statistics

In 2000, as a result of Shenzhen's increasing economic prospects, increasing numbers of migrants from mainland China chose to go to Shenzhen and stay there instead of trying to illegally cross into Hong Kong. There were 9,000 captured border-crossers in 2000.

2000: Mangrove Ecopark Established

In 2000, the Mangrove Ecopark was established in the Futian District, becoming the smallest national park in China at that time.

May 2001: Shenzhen Hosts Second Senior Officials' Meeting of APEC China 2001

Around May 2001, Shenzhen hosted the second Senior Officials' Meeting of APEC China 2001 in its southern manufacturing center and port.

2001: Shenzhen Software Park Established

In accordance to the National Plan in 2001, the Shenzhen Software Park, integrated within the High-tech Industrial Development Zone, was established for software production and assists in the development of the city's software industry.

December 2002: Zhao Yucun sentenced for bribery

In December 2002, the Shenzhen People's Intermediate Court sentenced Zhao Yucun, former Commissioner of Shenzhen Customs, to life imprisonment for taking bribes of 9 million RMB.

November 2003: Wang Ju sentenced for bribery and abuse of power

In November 2003, the Guangzhou People's Intermediate Court charged former Shenzhen Deputy Mayor Wang Ju with bribery and abuse of power and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

2003: Establishment of "Library City" concept

In 2003, Shenzhen's municipal government established the "Library City" concept to create a library network through construction, service improvement, and a comfortable reading environment.

2003: Plans to Develop Shenzhen as a Cultural City

In 2003, the municipal government announced plans to turn Shenzhen into a cultural city by promoting design, animation, and library construction.

November 2004: First Shenzhen International Cultural Fair

In November 2004, Shenzhen hosted the first Shenzhen International Cultural Fair, an expo specializing in the world's cultural industries.

June 2005: An Huijun sentenced for accepting bribes

In June 2005, the Shenzhen People's Intermediate Court charged and sentenced Luohu District Public Security Director An Huijun to 15 years in prison for accepting bribes.

2005: Ranked as World's Fourth-Busiest Container Port

With rising trade increased cargo shipments in 2005, the Port of Shenzhen was ranked as the world's fourth-busiest container port.

2006: Establishment of Public Park System

In 2006, Shenzhen established an extensive three-level public park system, categorizing parks as natural, urban, and community parks.

August 2007: Guangming New District Established

In August 2007, the Shenzhen government established Guangming New District as part of the guanwai.

2007: Hong Kong Largest Trade Partner Until 2007

From the establishment of Shenzhen as a SEZ in 1980 to 2007, Hong Kong has been Shenzhen's largest trade partner.

May 2008: State Council Approves Promotion of Shenzhen SEZ

In May 2008, the State Council approved the Shenzhen SEZ to promote Shenzhen's administrative management system, economic system, social field, independent innovation system and mechanism, system and mechanism for opening up and regional cooperation, and resource conservation and environmental friendliness.

December 2008: Shenzhen Designated United Nations Design Capital

On 7 December 2008, UNESCO approved Shenzhen's entrance into the Creative Cities Network, and awarded the Shenzhen the title of "United Nations Design Capital."

June 2009: Pingshan New District Established

In June 2009, the Shenzhen government established Pingshan New District as part of the guanwai.

2009: Establishment of Holy Confucian Church

In 2009, Shenzhen hosted the headquarters of the Holy Confucian Church.

2009: Shenzhen Pilots New-Energy Vehicle Program

In 2009, Shenzhen was chosen as one of thirteen cities to pilot a national new-energy vehicle program.

July 2010: Second Line Border Dissolved and SEZ Expanded

On 1 July 2010, the second line border was dissolved, and the Shenzhen SEZ was expanded to cover the entire city.

July 2010: Dissolution of the "Second Line" and Expansion of Shenzhen SEZ

On July 1, 2010, the State Council dissolved the "second line" and expanded the Shenzhen SEZ to include all districts, increasing its size fivefold.

August 2010: Overall Development Plan for Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone Approved

On 26 August 2010, the State Council approved the "Overall Development Plan for Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone" to solidify ties between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

August 2010: Approval of Development Plan for Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation Zone

On August 26, 2010, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen SEZ, the State Council approved the "Overall Development Plan for Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone."

2010: Religious Demographics Survey

According to a 2010 survey by the University of Southern California, approximately 37 percent of Shenzhen's residents were practitioners of Chinese folk religions, 26 percent were Buddhist, 18 percent Taoist, 2 percent Christian, and 2 percent Muslim.

2010: City's Permanent Population Increase

From 2010 to 2020, the city's permanent population increased by 7,136,088, for an average annual growth rate of 5.35%.

2010: Tourism Industry Increase

In 2015 the tourism industry's total revenue was 124.48 billion RMB (US$17.6 billion), a 98.1 percent increase from 2010. In that year, Shenzhen received 11.63 million tourists, a 51 percent increase from 2010.

May 2011: Xu Zongheng sentenced to death penalty

In May 2011, the Zhengzhou Intermediate Court sentenced former mayor Xu Zongheng to the death penalty with a two-year reprieve for accepting bribes up to US$5.4 million.

August 2011: Shenzhen Hosts 26th Summer Universiade

In August 2011, Shenzhen hosted the 26th Summer Universiade, a multi-sporting event for university students.

October 2011: Longhua and Dapeng New Districts Established

On 27 October 2011, the Shenzhen government established Longhua New District and Dapeng New District.

2011: Sports Venues Constructed for Summer Universiade

For the 2011 Summer Universiade, Shenzhen constructed several sports venues, including the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center and the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre.

2011: Shenzhen Bay Park Opens

In 2011, Shenzhen Bay Park, including the nearby Mangrove Park, opened along the city's coastline.

2011: Shenzhen Hosts the 2011 Summer Universiade

In 2011, Shenzhen hosted the Summer Universiade, a major international multi-sport event for university athletes.

2011: Establishment of Southern University of Science and Technology

In 2011, the Southern University of Science and Technology was established in Shenzhen.

2011: Shenzhen-Shantou Special Cooperation Zone Approved

In early 2011, the provincial government of Guangdong approved the establishment of the Shenzhen-Shantou Special Cooperation Zone in the city and SEZ of Shantou, Guangdong, for economic development.

2014: Shenzhen Had Spent 30 Billion RMB to Restore Rivers

From 2000 to 2014, Shenzhen spent 30 billion RMB to restore the city's rivers from water pollution, constructing 33 sewage treatment plants and laying almost 4,300 kilometres of sewage pipes.

2014: Severe Water Pollution in Shenzhen Rivers

In 2014, Shenzhen experienced severe water pollution in its rivers, with 173 of 310 rivers in "critical" condition. The city then initiated a campaign to restore the rivers by building more water pipes and sewage treatment plants.

April 2015: Integration of Shekou Industrial Zone and Qianhai Zone

In April 2015, the Shekou Industrial Zone and the Qianhai Zone were integrated within the newly established Guangdong Free-Trade Zone.

June 2015: Border Structures Demolished

Since June 2015, the existing unused border structures have been demolished and are being transformed into urban greenspaces and parks.

2015: Education Institution Count

As of 2015, Shenzhen had 12 higher educational institutions, 335 general secondary schools, 334 primary schools, and 1,489 preschools.

2015: Shenzhen Sister City Relationships

As of 2015, Shenzhen has established sister city relationships with 25 cities in the world.

2015: Construction of Ping An Finance Centre Completed

Built in 2015, the Ping An Finance Centre, standing at 599 meters (1,965 ft) high, was completed and became the second tallest in China and the fifth tallest building in the world.

2015: Shenzhen Public Libraries Total 620

By the end of 2015, Shenzhen had 620 public libraries, including city-level, district-level, and grassroots libraries, along with notable libraries such as the Shenzhen Library and the Shenzhen Children's Library.

2015: Registered Residents Increase Start

From 2015 to 2020, Shenzhen experienced an increase of 2.178 million (58.9 percent) registered residents in the city.

2015: High-Tech Industry Value

In 2015 the high-tech industry had a value of 585.491 billion RMB (US$82.9 billion), a 13 percent increase compared to last year.

2015: Tourism Industry Revenue

In 2015 the tourism industry's total revenue was 124.48 billion RMB (US$17.6 billion), a 98.1 percent increase from 2010. In that year, Shenzhen received 11.63 million tourists, a 51 percent increase from 2010.

2015: RoboMaster Competition Started by DJI

In 2015, RoboMaster, an annual intercollegiate robot competition based on autonomous moving target shooting, was started by DJI.

2015: Border Crossing Traffic

In 2015, Shenzhen was busiest in China when it comes to border crossings, with people entering and exiting the country through the city and Hong Kong reaching 239 million. In the same year, a total of 15.5 million vehicles crossed the border in Shenzhen.

2015: Cultural Industry Contribution to Economy

In 2015, the cultural industry contributes to 5.8 percent (102.116 billion RMB) of Shenzhen's economy.

2015: Financial Industry GDP Contribution

In 2015, the financial industry accounts for 14.5% of the city's nominal GDP (254.282 billion RMB), which was a 15.9% increase over the previous year.

2015: Logistics Industry Contribution to GDP

In 2015, the logistics industry accounts for around 10.1 percent (178.27 billion RMB) of the city's nominal GDP, which was an increase of 9.4 percent.

2015: Import/Export Volume to Hong Kong

In 2015, the total import and export volume of Shenzhen Port to Hong Kong was 1.1 trillion RMB.

September 2016: Nine Crossing Points Between Shenzhen and Hong Kong

As of September 2016, there are nine crossing points on the boundary between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, six of which are land connections.

October 2016: Longhua and Pingshan New Districts Re-organized as Districts

On 11 October 2016, with approval of the State Council, Shenzhen re-organized Longhua New District as Longhua District and Pingshan New District as Pingshan District.

2016: Total Assets of the Financial Industry

By the end of 2016, the total assets of the financial industry amounted to 12.7 trillion RMB, making Shenzhen's financial industry the third largest in China.

2016: Population Target Overshot

Due to Shenzhen's population overshooting the 14.8 million population target for 2016 to 2020, the Shenzhen justice bureau announced it would make it harder to earn a hukou to live in the city in May 2021.

2016: Skyscraper Completions

In 2016, more skyscrapers were completed in Shenzhen than in the whole of the US and Australia combined.

2016: Shenzhen GDP Growth

Shenzhen's GDP growth between 2016 and 2017 of 8.8% surpassed that of Hong Kong and Singapore, with 3.7% and 2.5% respectively.

2017: Shenzhen's Population in 2017

As of the end of 2017, the resident population of Shenzhen was 12,528,300, of which the registered population was 4,472,200, the actual administrative population was over 20 million.

2017: Shenzhen Offers Subsidies for Electric Buses

In 2017, Shenzhen offered 3.3 billion RMB in subsidies for electric buses and the construction of charging facilities.

2017: Shenzhen GDP Growth

Shenzhen's GDP growth between 2016 and 2017 of 8.8% surpassed that of Hong Kong and Singapore, with 3.7% and 2.5% respectively.

January 2018: Barbed Wire Fence Removed

On 15 January 2018, the State Council approved the removal of the barbed wire fence set up to mark the boundary of the SEZ.

May 2018: Guangming New District Re-organized as Guangming District

On 24 May 2018, Guangming New District was re-organized as Guangming District, therefore becoming their own jurisdictions.

November 2018: Shenzhen Stock Exchange Market Capitalization

With a market capitalization of US$2.5 trillion as of 30 November 2018, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) is the 8th largest exchange in the world.

2018: Airport Passenger and Cargo Traffic

In 2018, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport handled 49,348,950 passengers, 355,907 aircraft, and 1,218,502.2 cargo, making it the 5th busiest airport in China in terms of passenger traffic.

2018: Shenzhen Ledman F.C. Disbanded

In 2018, Shenzhen Ledman F.C. of China League Two was disbanded.

2018: Shenzhen Hosts NHL Game

In 2018, Shenzhen hosted a pre-season National Hockey League game between the Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins.

2018: Acceptance Rate of Secondary Schools

In 2018, Shenzhen secondary schools had an acceptance rate of 35,000 slots available for almost 80,000 applicants.

2018: Retail Sector Contribution

In 2018, retail contributed 43% (616.89 billion RMB) of Shenzhen's tertiary sector added value, a 7.6 percent increase compared to the previous year.

2018: Port of Shenzhen Container Handling

In 2018, the Port of Shenzhen handled 27.7 million TEUs, becoming the third busiest container port in the world.

2018: Establishment of Shenzhen Technology University

In 2018, the Shenzhen Technology University was established.

2018: Life Expectancy in Shenzhen

In 2018, the life expectancy in Shenzhen was 81.25, ranking among the top twenty cities in China.

2018: All-Electric Public Bus Fleet in Shenzhen

In mid-2018, Shenzhen became the first city to roll out an all-electric public bus fleet. More than half of the city's taxi fleet are also electric, with the goal to turn the fleet all-electric.

January 2019: Taxi Fleet Conversion

As at January 2019 conversion of Shenzhen's taxi fleet to electric vehicles reached 99%.

August 2019: Bus System Size

As of August 2019, the Shenzhen bus system encompassed over 900 lines, with a total of over 16,000 electric vehicles.

August 2019: Central Government Unveils Reform Plans for Shenzhen

On August 18, 2019, the central government in Beijing unveiled reform plans covering economic, social, and political sectors of Shenzhen, designating it as a pilot demonstration zone for socialism with Chinese characteristics.

2019: Shenzhen has 1,090 parks

By 2019, Shenzhen had 1,090 parks covering about 39,320 hectares, including 33 natural parks, 152 urban parks and 905 community parks.

2019: Shenzhen Rolls Out All-Electric Taxi Fleet

By early 2019, Shenzhen rolled out an all-electric taxi fleet, with 99% of taxis now electric-powered.

2019: Shenzhen to Host WTA Finals

In 2019, Shenzhen began hosting the WTA Finals tennis tournament, the season-ending championship for women's tennis, with plans to continue hosting until 2028.

2019: Shenzhen Port Container Traffic

In 2019, Shenzhen had 211 international container routes, and the container throughput of the entire Shenzhen port reached nearly 25.77 million boxes, ranking fourth in the world.

2019: Shenzhen dubbed Skyscraper Leader

In 2019, Shenzhen was dubbed by The Guardian as "the world leader completing new skyscrapers."

2019: Ranked Second on Lonely Planet's 'Top 10 Cities to Visit'

In 2019, Shenzhen was ranked second on the list of 'top 10 cities to visit' by Lonely Planet.

2019: School Shortages

In 2019, Shenzhen, with 15 million people, had not built as many primary and secondary schools for its populace as it should have, compared to similarly developed cities in China.

2019: Shenzhen Launches Garbage Classification Program

In late 2019, Shenzhen launched a garbage classification program, sorting waste into recyclables, kitchen waste, hazardous waste, and other waste. Residents following the guidelines receive cash, while those who do not are fined.

2019: Ranked as Top Ten Financial Center

Shenzhen is one of the world's top ten financial centers as of 2019, jumping five places to ninth place.

2020: Shenzhen Ranked as 4th Fintech Powerhouse

As of 2020 the city was ranked as the 4th Fintech powerhouse in the world.

2020: Shenzhen's Population Statistics

As of 2020, Shenzhen had a total permanent population of 17,560,000, with 5,874,000 being hukou holders and Shenzhen is also part of the Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region, which has a population of 78 million according to the 2020 census.

2020: Shenzhen Ranked as an Alpha- City

As of 2020, Shenzhen is ranked as an Alpha- (global first-tier) city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.

2020: Shenzhen Expanded Water Pipeline Network

By 2020, Shenzhen had laid an additional 3,274 kilometres of water pipelines and completed 13,793 pipeline renovation projects in urban villages and housing estates.

2020: Increase in Registered Residents

From 2015 to 2020, Shenzhen experienced an increase of 2.178 million registered residents in the city.

2020: Hukou Percentage

In 2020, 33% of Shenzhen residents had hukou and quality primary education depends on parent's ability to get their kids hukou.

2020: Shenzhen Bans Consumption of Cats, Dogs, and Wildlife

In 2020, Shenzhen became the first city in China to enact a law mandatorily prohibiting the consumption of cats, dogs, and wildlife.

2020: Tourism Industry Expansion

In 2020, Shenzhen's tourist industry planned to exceed 200 billion RMB and receive 150 million domestic and foreign tourists, as part of the "13th Five-Year Plan for Tourism Development of Shenzhen".

2020: Qianhai Expected Output Value

Tencent estimated that by 2020, Qianhai is expected to create a total output value of 150 billion RMB.

February 2021: Number of Hong Kong Firms in Qianhai

As of February 23, 2021, Qianhai has a total of 11,325 firms from Hong Kong.

May 2021: Hukou Restrictions Announced

On May 25, 2021, the Shenzhen justice bureau announced it would make it harder to earn a hukou to live in the city, due to the population overshooting targets.

May 2021: List of Sister Cities

As of May 2021, Shenzhen is twinned with the following regions, cities, and counties.

July 2021: Skyscraper Count

As of July 2021, Shenzhen was ranked second in the world in terms of the number of buildings above 150 meters, with 297 of them completed.

2021: Metro Ridership

In 2021, the average daily metro ridership in Shenzhen was 5.99 million passengers.

2021: Shenzhen Ranked 8th in Global Financial Centres Index

In the 2021 Global Financial Centres Index, Shenzhen was ranked as having the 8th most competitive and largest financial center in the world.

2022: Shenzhen GDP Surpasses Hong Kong and Guangzhou

As of 2022, Shenzhen has a nominal GDP of 3.24 trillion RMB (HK$2.87 trillion), which surpassed neighboring Hong Kong's GDP of HK$2.11 trillion and Guangzhou's GDP of 2.88 trillion RMB (HK$2.68 trillion).

2022: Star-rated hotels in Shenzhen

As of Q3 2022, there were 314 star-rated hotels in Shenzhen, including international luxury, upper-upscale, and select-service brands, as well as local chains.

2022: Metro System Extent

In 2022, the Shenzhen Metro system reached 419 kilometres of route operating on 12 lines with 290 stations.

August 2023: Fortune Global 500 Headquarters

As of August 2023, Shenzhen has the seventh-most Fortune Global 500 headquarters of any city in the world and the third-most in China.

2023: Electric Vehicle Percentage

As of 2023, 70% of cars in Shenzhen were electric vehicles.

2023: Scientific Research Ranking

As of 2023, Shenzhen has the 19th largest scientific research output of any city in the world.

2023: Increase in Hong Kong visitors

In 2023, an increasing number of Hong Kong residents began visiting Shenzhen during weekends, causing a decline in business for Hong Kong service establishments.

2023: Marisfrolg Pavilion Completion

In 2023, the Marisfrolg Pavilion, featuring an insect exoskeleton design, was completed and became a new landmark in Longhua District.

August 20, 2024: Release of Black Myth: Wukong

On August 20, 2024, Shenzhen-based video game developer Game Science released Black Myth: Wukong, which achieved significant commercial success.

2024: Shenzhen F.C. Dissolved

In 2024, Shenzhen F.C., which used to play at Shenzhen Stadium, was dissolved.

2028: Shenzhen to Host WTA Finals until 2028

Shenzhen is set to continue hosting the WTA Finals tennis tournament, the season-ending championship for women's tennis, until 2028.

2030: Projected GDP Per Capita

According to Oxford Economics, in 2030 Shenzhen's nominal GDP per capita will reach above US$57,000 (ranking first in mainland China), which is comparable to Tokyo and Seoul.