Shenzhen: It's a Giant, Souped-Up County Town.
-
Always complaining, whether in Hong Kong or Shenzhen. Where's your hometown? Why don't you just go back there?
-
Hey, cross-eyes, less yapping!
-
Sure, Shenzhen has a lot of people, incomes are high, and everyone's eager to make money. But I just don't get why some people think they can set up a small table, sell homemade sandwiches, and they're not even cheap.
-
What I mainly don't get is who actually buys them.
-
It's true Shenzhen has many 'urban villages,' and places outside the former special economic zone like Longgang and Longhua are packed with people and scooters. But there are also plenty of prosperous and beautiful spots. Ultimately, whether you like a place largely depends on your own living environment. With enough money, life is good anywhere because you can afford to live in a nice area.
-
Ha, so true. It's the same everywhere; having enough money to live your own life well is what really matters.
-
What Shenzhen looks like has nothing to do with your monthly salary. What's truly important for you is being able to make a better life for yourself here.
-
Got it. That makes perfect sense, thank you!
-
A futuristic, sci-fi, romantic metropolis—that's where I work.
-
This picture really captures the feeling of a major city.
-
The standard of management is worrying (it wasn't like this before).
-
If you're unhappy wherever you go, why don't you just stay back in your hometown?
-
You go to Hong Kong and complain about being looked down upon, then come to Shenzhen just to scoff. Little do you know, most second-generation Shenzheners are wealthier than you. Even if they were in Hong Kong, they'd likely be able to afford property and wouldn't just have an employee mindset.
-
It's mainly because there are too many migrant workers from smaller towns and rural areas now. Plus, with electric scooters darting all over the place, it's not wrong to say it feels like a county town.
-
...This is a place that has boomed over 40 years of rapid development... It's in its DNA to have both that 'wild growth' spirit and a vibrant, down-to-earth street culture.
-
Shenzhen certainly lacks that 'old-money' or 'aristocratic' vibe of more established cities. On one hand, you have the elites in suits in the tech parks; on the other, the bustling, down-to-earth atmosphere of 'urban villages' with the aroma of rice noodle rolls wafting through the air. The contrast is pretty stark at first glance!
But look at it from another angle, isn't this its unique charm? It carries no historical baggage, having grown from grassroots beginnings into an international metropolis. The innovative companies incubated in its tech parks, the cutting-edge electronics from Huaqiangbei – aren't these all examples of 'sophistication' sprouting from 'local soil'? The urban villages offer a landing spot for young newcomers, while the CBD holds endless opportunities. This eclectic, inclusive mix is something other cities can't easily replicate.