Special Supplement: Shenzhen to 'start here' for the 2011 Universiade

It is a city born from the miracle of China's economic development. Many have headed here in search of a real-life fairy tale over the last three decades.

Shenzhen, a coastal city in South China, is located in southern Guangdong province and eastern riverbank of the Pearl River. It covers 1,952.84 sq km, including 395.81 sq km designated as the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.

Being southern China's major financial center, Shenzhen is home to Shenzhen Stock Exchange as well as the headquarters of numerous hi-tech companies. Shenzhen is also the second busiest port on the mainland, second only to Shanghai.

Its novel and modern cityscape is the result of the vibrant economy made possible by the reform and opening-up policy that began in the late 1970s, when it was but a small fishing village. It is now reputedly one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

As the Olympic Games approach, Beijing is attracting increasingly intense attention. When visitors from all over the world gather in the capital to share the enthusiasm of sports, they would also like to see China's "fairy tale".

During the Games, a one-month long city theme exhibition will be launched in Beijing. The exhibition, organized by the Shenzhen information office, will show how a small village has been developed into a metropolis within just 28 years.

Starting this weekend, the city theme exhibition will cover serious topics in Shenzhen's growth and the city's development strategies during the past three decades.

The one-time fishing village of Shenzhen, singled out by Deng Xiaoping, chief architect of China's reform and opening-up policy, has become the first of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in China. The SEZ was created to be an experimental ground of "socialism with Chinese characteristics".

Actually, the concept proved successful, propelling the further opening up of China and continuous economic reform.

Shenzhen eventually became one of the largest cities in the Pearl River Delta region, which has become one of the economic powerhouses of China as well as the largest manufacturing base in the world.

As China celebrates the 30th anniversary of its reform and opening up this year, Shenzhen, which best epitomizes the achievements of the policy, will also take stock of its miraculous boom.

Shenzhen: Start Here!

The one-month long city theme exhibition also features Shenzhen's preparations for the 26th Universiade in 2011.

Last year, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) announced that Shenzhen won the right to host the 26th Summer Universiade, becoming the youngest city to host the competition.

Since then, Shenzhen began its preparation works for the Universiade, and it chose "Start Here" as the catchphrase of the 2011 Universiade.

"The slogan 'Start Here' shows the value of Shenzhen as a pioneer city in China in the face of globalization. It also shows the status of Shenzhen as the vanguard and experimental field of China's reform and opening-up policy," Shenzhen Vice-Mayor Liang Daoxing said, explaining the meaning of the catchphrase.

FISU President George Killian said: "Shenzhen is a new city of only 28 years old. They have done fantastic work and have a good plan. We have faith in them (to have a successful Games)."

Xu Zongheng, mayor of Shenzhen, said the Olympic Games aims for athletes' competitive limits to be faster, higher and stronger, while the Universiade is a platform for university students to have sporting communication and experience the charm of sports competitions on this basis.

"The young Shenzhen is opening its warm arms to embrace the Universiade and the students from all over the world to meet here, as well as the grand sports event to be celebrated here in this great city," he said.

(China Daily 08/02/2008 page10)