Witnessing Shenzhen's transformation

My connection with Shenzhen goes back further than my time at the university. I actually first passed through the city in 1976, although I didn’t even realize I was in Shenzhen then — I simply took a train from Hong Kong, got off, crossed a bridge, and boarded another train. It was only years later, when I joined CUHK-Shenzhen, that I began to appreciate what the city has become.

Shenzhen’s transformation from a small fishing village into a global industrial powerhouse has been nothing short of extraordinary. Much of this success stems from the local government’s forward-thinking commitment to research and education. I find that Shenzhen’s recognition of the importance of building a world-class university is stronger than anywhere else I know.