The story of Shenzhen, a city that transformed from a fishing village to a global innovation hub, aired Thursday on a flagship TV channel of the China Media Group (CMG).
As the first episode of the second season of the documentary series “Records of City Charms,” the Shenzhen chapter explores how the city continues to achieve the seemingly impossible.
Innovation and ‘Shenzhen speed’
The episode highlights Shenzhen’s unique blend of technological innovation and rapid execution. A key feature is the world’s first robot 6S store, which integrates sales, service, leasing and customization to bring robotics into everyday life at the famed “Shenzhen speed.”
Robots are working in front of the world’s first AI 6S store in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, September 28, 2025. /VCG
The city’s Robot Valley showcases breakthroughs in high-tech fields like exoskeleton robots allowing easy lifting of heavy weights and advanced bionic robots. Shenzhen’s leadership in the low-altitude economy was also underscored, with the city accounting for 70 percent of the global consumer drone market.
A smart and inclusive city
Shenzhen’s success is built on intelligent infrastructure and inclusiveness. The Gangxia North metro hub, one of Asia’s largest metro stations, demonstrates high-tech efficiency with touchless entry and fully automated trains. Balancing speed with culture, the Shenzhen Library North Division features a vast underground unmanned book repository.
A view of the Gangxia North subway station in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, June 9, 2024. /VCG
A corner of the automated underground book vault of the Shenzhen Library North Division, November 2, 2024. /VCG
The city’s philosophy – “once you arrive, you’re a Shenzhener” – is reflected through practical support. The Shenzhen Youth Community have provided 15 days of free accommodation for over 210,000 new graduates, helping people establish roots.
This commitment extends to environmental protection, as seen in Shenzhen’s 45.69-percent green coverage rate and the city’s decision to move a major highway to protect a major mangrove reserve.
The episode concludes that the “Shenzhen miracle” is a living reality, proving that near-impossible ideas can be turned into an everyday reality.
