Shenzhen’s tech rise captivates global scholars, experts

September 11, 2026 (MLN): Shenzhen’s rapid transformation from a small fishing settlement into a global technology and financial center has impressed an international delegation, highlighting China’s ability to combine technological advancement with its cultural heritage.

The delegation, comprising international scholars, experts and other guests, visited several prominent locations across Shenzhen during an international symposium to explore the city’s technological achievements and cultural development.

During the visit, Pakistani researcher Zoon Ahmed Khan, a research fellow at Tsinghua University, experienced an exoskeleton robot in Shenzhen and said the city’s transformation over the decades was difficult to imagine in advance, according to APP.

She noted that many technologies developed in China are focused on addressing practical challenges in everyday life, adding that such innovations not only demonstrate Shenzhen’s technological progress but also provide inspiration to international visitors.

The delegation visited the 116th floor of the Ping An Finance Center, home to the world’s highest glass-floor cantilevered observation deck. An exhibition there featured a range of Chinese technological developments, including DJI drones, Tencent’s AI office solutions, HONOR’s embodied robots and Hypershell exoskeleton robots.

Rami Khalil, an Armenian expert at Sichuan International Studies University, highlighted China’s domestically developed Hualong One nuclear reactor, while emphasizing the importance of green energy and the integration of technology with environmental principles.

The visitors also toured the Eyes of the Greater Bay Area, described as the world’s largest physical book mall. Nathan Bonar, a research fellow at the Institute for Postmodern Development of China, purchased books and a calligraphy copybook focused on Ci poetry from the Song Dynasty.

Bonar praised the venue for creating a space that goes beyond book sales by allowing visitors to read, relax and engage with others.

The delegation further explored Nantou Ancient Town, a nearly 1,700-year-old historical site where traditional alleyways now feature cafes, restaurants and art galleries.

Bruno Guigue, a research fellow at France’s University of Reunion, said Shenzhen demonstrated that modern technology and traditional culture can develop alongside each other.

He pointed to the city’s transformation from a fishing village into a major center for innovation and finance as an example of China’s modernization.

Fouzia Amin, a research fellow at Pakistan’s Understanding China Forum, said China’s cultural heritage remains closely connected with its pursuit of modernity, describing reading and the pursuit of knowledge as important links between civilization and technological progress.

Gustavo Sabino Vaca Narvaja, former Argentine ambassador to China and director of the Center for Sinology Studies at the University of Buenos Aires, described the “Shenzhen Moment” as a new phase of productivity driven by technological progress and the integration of tradition with modern development.

He said China’s technological and economic growth without abandoning its cultural identity represents an important strength of its modernization model and could create opportunities for countries across the Global South.

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