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Shenzhen – A typical benchmark of Chinese rapid urbanization miracle

Cheng, Jiafan / Chen, Mingxing / Tang, Shujuan

Abstract Shenzhen is one of the world's cities with the fastest urbanization and the most astonishing changes, and it is also a typical benchmark of Chinese rapid urbanization miracle. Under the tide of neoliberalism and globalization, the central government gave Shenzhen the priority of reform and experimentation first, then it has been rapidly pushed to the front stage as a test field for China's reform and opening up. Shenzhen has become the world's first-tier city in a short time with its location advantage and high-quality talent attraction, as well as active private economy and scientific and technological innovation. Through the multi-dimensional data analysis of the great changes during Shenzhen's urbanization, and a summary of the advantages of the Shenzhen model, this paper systematically answers the question that why Shenzhen can achieve urbanization so quickly. Furthermore, it concludes challenges of Shenzhen's future development and discusses the inspirations of the Shenzhen model for other cities. Based on the above analysis, this paper constructs an organic framework comprehensively covering achievements, characteristics, challenges, and inspirations of Shenzhen's rapid urbanization model. In the future, Shenzhen needs to transform from “Shenzhen Speed” to “Shenzhen Quality” to realize sustainable high-quality urbanization.

Highlights • The drastic changes of Shenzhen’s urbanization in the past 40 years from three dimensions of population, economy and land. • Five prominent characteristics of Shenzhen's urbanization development model. • Summary of three challenges of Shenzhen’s future sustainable development. • Some inspirations from Shenzhen model for other cities, especially global southern cities, to learn and replicate. • A comprehensive framework covering achievements, model, challenges, and inspirations of Shenzhen's urbanization development.