Shenzhen is located in the very south of Guangdong Province. Overlooking Hong Kong to the south and bordering Kowloon, this area is commonly referred to as Hong Kong's "backyard". So it is convenient to have a day trip from Hong Kong to Shenzhen.

The city is actually divided into three parts, the Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Shenzhen City and Shenzhen County.

Shenzhen Economic Zone was established in 1980. It is the largest economic special zone apart from Hainan Province. Shenzhen is a city of immigrants. Most of the population comes from other cities in China.

The new city is neat and beautiful all around the year. The local government had developed many tourist attractions integrating natural beauty with man-made architecture. The highlight of Shenzhen's tourism is the man-made scenic spots. The excellent theme parks are hot spots for tourists around the world.

Shenzhen's fortunes are inextricably linked to its geographical location. Bordering the Hong Kong SAR, it functions as a sort of gateway for the world's fastest growing economy. Shenzhen brings in more in export revenue than any other city in China and its largest international trading partner is Hong Kong. Consequently, thousands of Hong Kong businesses have moved or expanded their operations into Shenzhen and everyday Hong Kong's residents cross the border to shop, eat and drink. Some even live in Shenzhen and commute to work in Hong Kong each morning. This high-level economic integration has fuelled speculation about future possibilities of administrative integration, but for now the two cities remain separate yet closely linked.

Shenzhen's economic fame has drawn millions of migrants from China's hinterland. The city captures the imaginations of the rich and the poor, the ambitious and the desperate. Everyday newly arrived hopefuls can be seen stepping off trains and long-distance buses, eager to get as big a slice of the pie as they can. In the meantime, Shenzhen is moving from an economy heavily based on textiles, light-industry and services and pushing itself into the high-tech sector. The phenomenal success of the last 25 years shows no sign of waning. For Shenzhen, history has only begun.

Being China's wealthiest and one of its youngest cities, the fact that it exists is a true reflection of the extent of the economic metamorphosis that China has been experiencing since the 1980s. Where there was a small fishing village 25 years ago, a metropolis of around 10 million people now stands. From the laid-back resort feel of Shekuo to the teeming hustle and bustle of Dongmen, Shenzhen is both glitzy and seedy at the same time. Arguably, there is nowhere that the excesses of rapid economic change that are gripping China, with the resultant rampant consumerism and extremes of wealth and poverty, are more evident.

Locals will sometimes complain that the city's cultural attractions don't match up to its status as a major financial center. True, Shenzhen has by no stretch of the imagination next to near the cultural draws of China's older cities. After all, it is a new city. This lack of culture is somewhat made up for by its tremendous energy and spirit, which derive from the diversity of its population, 90% of whom comes from other parts of the country. The full plethora of China's accents and dialects can be heard on the streets of Shenzhen and visitors can enjoy the culinary delights of every corner of this country in its restaurants. The city's migrant population injects it with an industrious vigor that is almost palpable in its lively shops, restaurants and clubs, which stay open and busy late into the night.

This "spirit" is easily lost on travelers who pass through Shenzhen on their way to other destinations. At first glance the city may not hold much appeal. However, if you venture away from the train station and explore its streets and alleys, you might just discover, behind the glow of the neon, the plush shopping malls and the unabashed commercialism, a unique city is taking shape.