Special Economic Zones have played a crucial role in China’s reform and opening up as many of the country’s new policies and practices were first tried out in these test zones. Shenzhen, the first economic zone, has become an economic powerhouse in less than 40 years, transforming itself from a small fishing village to a first tier city. It has cultivated high-tech giants like Tencent and Huawei as well as many startups. But what led to this so-called Shenzhen Miracle?

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