British scholar launches new book decoding Shenzhen

British academic Alan Macfarlane speaks at the launch ceremony of his new book “The Shenzhen Mystery” at the Shenzhen Book City CBD Store on Monday. 

Prominent British academic Alan Macfarlane presented his new book, “The Shenzhen Mystery,” at a forum in the city Monday evening, offering an international perspective on Shenzhen’s meteoric rise from a humble fishing village to a global tech hub.

Video by Liu Qianyu

The event, part of the Shenzhen Reading Forum, was held at the Shenzhen Book City CBD Store and featured Professor Macfarlane, an anthropologist and fellow of  King’s College at the University of Cambridge and fellow of the British Academy.

Macfarlane, who has worked at the University of Cambridge for over 40 years and previously chaired the university’s Department of Social Anthropology, recounted his long-standing connection with Shenzhen.

He mentioned that since his first visit over a decade ago, this marked his sixth visit to the city. The transformation of Shenzhen has “deeply amazed” him and prompted his quest to understand the secrets behind the success of the special economic zone.

Alan Macfarlane (C) presents his book "The Shenzhen Mystery" during the launch event Monday.

During the sharing session, Macfarlane described Shenzhen, now home to over 20 million people and corporate giants like Huawei, Tencent, BYD, and DJI, as a “city of miracles” and crucial force in China’s future.

He emphasized that the city serves as a vital window for observing China, arguing that its reforms and opening-up have “unleashed the potential of private enterprises, market economy, and individuals.”

To unravel the “Shenzhen Mystery,” Macfarlane applied a detective’s mindset — forming and testing hypotheses — inspired by his previous studies of the British Industrial Revolution and Japan’s modernization.

The event also highlighted a panel session. Hosted by Sun Jin, editor-in-chief of Shenzhen Daily, the session featured a lively discussion among Macfarlane, two other co-authors of the book, and two renowned architects who were interviewed for the book.

Copies of "The Shenzhen Mystery" on display during the book launch event.

“The Shenzhen Mystery” was co-authored by Macfarlane, Xun Xiaoya, a young scholar from Shenzhen University with master’s and doctoral degrees from Cambridge, and Qin Yuchen, a writer and translator.

The book moves beyond traditional narratives, using a detective-like approach and in-depth interviews with six key figures from various sectors in Shenzhen. It aims to provide an internationally relevant, deeply researched resource for understanding China’s urbanization, modernization, and reform era through the lens of Shenzhen’s 45-year ascent.

Read Shenzhen Daily's exclusive interview with Alan Macfarlane:

Unraveling ‘Shenzhen Mystery’ with Macfarlane 和剑桥人类学家一同破译“深圳之谜”

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