Shenzhen, once part of Bao'an county, was transformed by Deng Xiaoping's reforms in the 1980s, becoming China's first special economic zone thanks to its proximity to Hong Kong.
In thirty years, it has become a major technological, commercial and financial centre, with a GDP exceeding that of Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and a population of 12.5 million.
Shenzhen is home to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, one of the world's largest stock exchanges by capitalisation.
The city is ranked Alpha- by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network and is the eighth most competitive financial centre in the world.
It has the seventh largest number of head offices of Fortune Global 500 companies in the world, behind Beijing and Shanghai in China.
With a large number of billionaires and skyscrapers, Shenzhen is also a centre of scientific research, ranking 19th in the world.
Its notable educational institutions include Shenzhen University and the Southern University of Science and Technology.
Known as China's Silicon Valley, Shenzhen is home to technology giants such as Huawei, Tencent and DJI.
It hosts major events such as the 2011 Summer Universiade and the China High-Tech Fair.
The city attracts migrants from all over China, with a population that is younger than the national average.
Shenzhen has an ancient history, with evidence of human activity dating back more than 6,700 years.
During the Qin dynasty, it was part of the Nanhai Commandery.
During the Ming dynasty, it was known for pearl production and its Mazu temple.
During the Second World War, Shenzhen was occupied by the Japanese.
In 1953, the Bao'an county government moved to Shenzhen to take advantage of its booming economy.
In 1979, the State Council transformed Bao'an into the city of Shenzhen, which became an export industrial zone and the first special economic zone in 1980.
Today, Shenzhen, with a GDP of 3.24 trillion RMB in 2022, plays a key role in the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st century, linking China to Europe via India and the Suez Canal.