Shenzhen: The China Speed Story — 4 Days
The most extreme city in modern history
In 1980, Shenzhen was a fishing village of 30,000 people.
Today it has 17 million. It produces 90% of the world’s electronics. It’s home to DJI (70% of global drones), Tencent (WeChat), Huawei (5G), BYD (the world’s biggest EV maker), and thousands of companies you’ve never heard of that built the device in your pocket.
No city on earth has changed faster. This tour takes you inside the companies that did it.
The companies you’ll actually see
| Day | Company | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | DJI | Floating-glass HQ + product test zone |
| 3 | BYD | Driverless SkyShuttle monorail ride |
| 4 | Huawei | R&D campus + tech showroom |
| 2 | Startups | Inside a hardware incubator |
Why this matters for understanding China
Shenzhen is the proof that China’s economic model can produce results no other system has matched. You’ll see the factories, the headquarters, and the people who are rewriting what “made in China” means. Seeing it up close changes how you read every China headline afterward.
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1
Day 1: Arrival & The Skyscraper Forest
Arrival at Shenzhen's futuristic high-speed rail station. Evening view from Ping An Finance Centre — at 599m, China's second-tallest building. The skyline you'll see didn't exist 25 years ago.
- 2
Day 2: Huaqiangbei & Hardware Startup Incubator
Walk Huaqiangbei — the electronics market where a new gadget can go from idea to factory floor in two weeks. Afternoon inside a hardware startup incubator: meet founders building the next DJI.
- 3
Day 3: DJI Sky City & BYD SkyShuttle
Morning at DJI's floating-glass headquarters — test-fly the latest drones at the indoor test zone. Afternoon: ride BYD's driverless SkyShuttle monorail through the city. Two companies, two revolutions.
- 4
Day 4: Huawei Dongguan 'European Town' & Departure
Day trip to Huawei's massive R&D campus built as 12 replicas of European cities — where 25,000 engineers work. See Huawei's tech showroom. Return to Shenzhen, airport transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Was Shenzhen really a fishing village? +
Yes. In 1980 it had 30,000 residents. Today it has 17 million. It was designated China's first Special Economic Zone, and the experiment worked beyond anyone's expectations.
Can we actually visit DJI and Huawei? +
DJI's Sky City lobby and product showroom are open to the public. Huawei's Dongguan campus and exhibition hall welcome visitors with advance booking. We arrange all access in advance.
What's BYD's SkyShuttle? +
A driverless straddle-beam monorail built by BYD (the world's largest EV maker). It runs above traffic on a fixed guideway with no driver. You ride it like any public transit — a glimpse of urban transport's future.
Is Shenzhen safe for foreigners? +
Extremely. It's one of the most modern, surveilled and immigrant-friendly cities in China. English is more common here than almost anywhere else on the mainland.
Why is Huawei's campus built as fake European towns? +
Founder Ren Zhengfei wanted to inspire engineers with iconic architecture. The 190-hectare campus recreates Heidelberg, Verona, Paris and more, connected by trams. It's surreal — and very real.