Shenzhen, as the most developed city in south China, has become a center of electronics and innovation. First time I came to Shenzhen was in 2012, when I was still at university. First impression of Shenzhen is very impressive, clean, alive and modern. Again I came to Shenzhen in spring 2017, plant to stay for years seeking a better career. Here are five reasons why Shenzhen is adorable.

1. Clean

Compared with heavily polluted north China and my hometown middle center China, Shenzhen has much better air. The sky is always very blue.

A normal street

A street near my office

Shenzhen dameisha beach

2. Young and passionate.

Compared with long history cities like Shanghai, shenzhen is very young. Before 1980s, it was a small village. The people coming from all across the county has built the city, most of them are from Guangdong, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi. The average age of people in Shenzhen is around 30. Every year, graduates from other cities come here to pursue their dreams. It is a city for career, very fast life pace. Frankly not comfortable for the elderly and people get used to a slow life.

Night view of central area

3. Fair

The majorities of business here are private companies, different from many other cities where giant state-owned companies ruling the market. Frankly China is not a true market economy, the governmenthas been controlling and interfering market too much, just like the famous guanxi. To get job of a state-owned enterprise or government facility, to have some guanxi (know somebody who is powerful, also normally need to pay them) is much more important than your quality.

While in Shenzhen, if you have good quality and work hard, can make a difference one day, even without any guanxi. For most people who don’t have a rich or powerful father, still can compete fairly.

Another aspect is treating local people and migrants fairly. China has a population management system called hukou, which basically separate local residents from migrants. Local residents who have hokou can enjoy much more society resources like education, medical treatment. For e.g. if you are a Beijing local with hukou and have a $1,000 hospital treatment fee , the Beijing government will pay $900 for you. But if you don’t have a hukou, government may only pay around $100 for you if you have bought social medical insurance.

4. Morden

As a young city with numerous young people, definitely Shenzhen is very modern. New ideas come out everyday, and people are very open to new things. No matter who you are, where you come from, you can find your group in the 120 million residents city. People are pursuing changes, very bravely and passionately.