Internet Tiger Shenzhen Report 2004: Shenzhen at the Crossroads: Shenzhen at the Crossroads

Author: Lao Heng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: China's first "Urban Blue Book"! Powerfully crafted by Shenzhen's renowned think tank "Internet Tiger"! A collision of thoughts from over 30 Shenzhen issue opinion leaders! What direction is Shenzhen heading? If the era from the founding of the Special Economic Zone to the end of Liang Xiang's era in 1988 was Shenzhen's "ruthless era," and the nearly 10 years from 1989 to 1997, the Hong Kong handover and the dismissal of Li Youwei, were Shenzhen's "leaping era," then the period from 1998 to 2003 could be called Shenzhen's "confused era." In these five or six years, Shenzhen remained in economic terms, with its GDP total rising from 128.928 billion yuan in 1998 to 286.051 billion yuan in 2003, more than doubling. Its position among Chinese cities was solidified as the "Fourth City"; in terms of urban form, Shenzhen's city functions became increasingly perfect, transforming from a Special Economic Zone and industrial base into a comprehensive regional central city. However, the rapid economic growth could not hide Shenzhen's unclear identity and lack of confidence. After the Hong Kong handover, what role would the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone play on China's grand chessboard? This city of 7 million people, sandwiched between Hong Kong and Guangzhou, should play what kind of role in the Pearl River Delta region? How long could this city of one-night wonders, nurtured by millions of migrants from all over the country, maintain its rapid development? Would its sudden rise lead to a sudden fall? As the Special Economic Zone, which originally served as a pioneer for China's reform and opening-up, could it still attract top talent from inland China to continue its entrepreneurial endeavors after becoming increasingly localized? Many questions hang in the hearts of every Shenzhen resident. No one can give us the exact answers. We are busy yet confused, confused yet anxious, and anxious yet unwilling to accept it. Yet, whether we are willing or not, we are destined to go through this confused era. What has passed is history, and after it, we see its inevitability. This inevitability, whether faced by mayors, Party secretaries, or every citizen of Shenzhen, can only be endured. Don't say it's unlucky—this is the price of maturity.