A post-graduation trip redirects an Italian student's life to Shenzhen

Italian student Gloria D’Andrea never expected that her “post-graduation break” trip to China would change the course of her life. What began as a simple tourist visit has turned into a study journey — she is now learning Chinese at Shenzhen Polytechnic University and plans to pursue a master’s degree in AI, e-commerce, and international trade in Shenzhen.

Gloria D’Andrea (4th, L) and other expats pose for a photo during a trip to Pingshan. Photos courtesy of the interviewee

Originally, the trip was simply a chance for her to leave Europe for the very first time and see the wider world. “I was thrilled only with the idea of taking a plane to come to China and visit around,” recalled D’Andrea. But as her departure approached, practical questions forced a decision: where to go and whether to study or work while abroad.

“I needed to figure out a plan with which I wouldn’t feel totally isolated and overwhelmed,” she explained. After months of searching cultural-exchange websites, she found an agency that could support her stay and combine study with cultural immersion. By August last year, she had three offers in three very different cities — Beijing, Shenzhen, and Chengdu.

Her choice came unexpectedly. After days weighing the pros and cons, she scrolled past an Instagram short video of Shenzhen one evening. The soaring skyline, bustling tech hubs, green corridors, and youthful, restless energy struck her. The city felt like more than a place to visit, but a place to grow with. “I realized Shenzhen could be where I flourish — as a student, as a woman, and as a human being in general,” she said.

Gloria D’Andrea (R) and her classmates pose for a photo with their Chinese class completion certificates.

D’Andrea arrived in Shenzhen as a cultural exchange student, living with a welcoming host family and attending Chinese language classes at Shenzhen Polytechnic University in Nanshan District. The first months were structured and intense: mornings of classes and afternoons with her host family, leaving only tired evenings to herself.

Yet, the city’s vitality was irresistible. “Within three days, I knew for sure that Shenzhen was my city for life,” she said, praising the city’s tech giants, gleaming towers, countless parks, cycling lanes, and, more importantly, large population of young, ambitious people.

“I remembered calling my parents back home and told my mom that I will never leave this country,” said the Italian student, who felt closer to Chinese culture than to her own.

Gloria D’Andrea (C) and other participants showcase their calligraphy works during an event in Shenzhen.

Traveling across Europe since she was 16 had made D’Andrea open-minded and adaptable, and the experience of living in Shenzhen expanded her horizons further. When she realized the cultural-exchange routine no longer made her happy, she made a bold change to become a full-time student.

Her new routine matched the life she had imagined: morning classes, study sessions in local cafés, bike rides or long walks by the sea and through parks, and dinners at neighborhood restaurants. The balance between study and exploration renewed her energy and focus.

Gloria D’Andrea (R) poses for a photo with a friend in Shenzhen on July 26.

Though she is currently focusing on studying Chinese, daily exposure to Shenzhen’s tech ecosystem has shifted her ambitions.

Gloria D’Andrea (L) takes a selfie with other international volunteers at this year's China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair in Bao'an District in May.

Volunteering at the 21st China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF), held at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center in Bao’an District in May, was a turning point for D’Andrea.

She said that her five days at the ICIF — meeting entrepreneurs, traders, and investors — opened her eyes to China’s business culture and helped her build an invaluable network. “A businessman I met told me, ‘In Shenzhen, you don’t wait for opportunities. You build them, even when the blueprint is blurry,’” she said.

After the fair, she messaged her parents, saying, “I know how I want my future to look.” Seeing first-hand how AI, e-commerce, cross-border trade, and green tech interweave in Shenzhen convinced her that the city was the classroom she needed, teaching her to turn what-ifs into I-wills. She said she plans to stay for a master’s degree in AI, e-commerce, and international trade.

Gloria D’Andrea (in yellow) is seen during a visit to the Nanshan Energy Ecological Park.

D’Andrea mentioned that a visit to the Nanshan Energy Ecological Park in mid-July during the Greenwise Xplore Road Trip in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) impressed upon her how sustainability can be a competitive edge, blending environmental protection, art, and community impact.

Gloria D’Andrea (4th, R) and other participants during the Greenwise Xplore Road Trip.

Ten months into a life she never planned but now fiercely lives, D’Andrea says Shenzhen is the place that taught her to dream bigger, work harder, and build a meaningful future. She’s determined to turn the city’s possibilities into her own.