Shenzhen celebrates 45th anniversary of Special Economic Zone with spectacular drone show

Shenzhen celebrated the 45th anniversary of its Special Economic Zone on Monday with a spectacular 12,000‑drone and light show, underscoring the city’s rise as one of China’s top innovation hubs.

Drone Spectacle Over Two Venues

Starting at 8:26 p.m., a nod to the SEZ’s founding date, synchronized drones lit up the skies above Civic Square and Talent Park. The half‑hour show featured a giant scroll, the mythical Da Peng bird, and an ox symbolizing hard work.

The display highlighted Shenzhen’s transformation into a global technology powerhouse, with scenes depicting skyscrapers, drones, smartphones, electric vehicles, and robots. Tech giants Tencent, Huawei, BYD, and DJI were honored, while a moment showing cartoon dragon “Nai Long” touching a robot symbolized the dawn of the AI era.

From Fishing Village to Economic Powerhouse

Approved in 1980 as one of China’s first four SEZs, Shenzhen has grown from a fishing town into an economic engine. GDP has soared from 270 million yuan in 1980 to 3.6 trillion yuan (US$495 billion) in 2024 — a more than 13,000‑fold increase — ranking the city third nationwide.

Shenzhen’s rapid expansion in the 1980s gave rise to the term “Shenzhen speed,” describing skyscrapers rising at the pace of one floor every three days.

In a commentary, Xinhua News Agency said that at 45 years old, Shenzhen remains “a very young city” and predicted it would continue to drive Chinese‑style modernization in the decades to come. 

(XINHUA)