Expats marvel at refurbished Minghua ship

Video by Zhen Jianhong

Recently, the Minghua ship at Sea World re-emerged in a stunning new guise, injecting fresh energy into the cultural development of Qianhai. On the afternoon of Nov. 17, the 18th “HiQianhai” event took place in Qianhai. A dozen or so foreign guests from countries including France, Spain and Russia gathered at Qianhai’s Shekou area to explore the Minghua, feel the vibrant pulse of cultural and artistic growth across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and experience Qianhai’s unique appeal as a hub for cultural innovation.

Participants pose for a group photo in front of the Minghua ship in Sea World. Zhen Jianhong

Tracing historical traces 

During the ship tour, visitors climbed the Minghua’s staircase — with its distinctive French charm — each step seeming to pluck a string of time. The century-old steel structure bears the weight of past decades; the finely crafted details speak to the ingenuity of the industrial era. Here, French elegance and industrial aesthetics staged a dialogue across time, and guests listened attentively, immersed in this distinctive cultural atmosphere.

Participants listen as a staffer of the Minghua ship introduces the refurbished ship. Zhen Jianhong

Inside the exhibition hall, artifacts and carefully arranged historical displays spanning more than 60 years acted like messengers of time, instantly transporting the guests into a tangible “museum of time.” These precious exhibits not only bear witness to the ship’s history but also encapsulate the sweeping story of Shenzhen’s reform and opening up.

Participants on a tour of the ship. Zhen Jianhong

A new driver of Qianhai’s cultural consumption

After 1,000 days of renovation and transformation, the Minghua reopened this October in all-new form, becoming a new driver for cultural consumption in Qianhai. The upgrade re-imagined the space from a conventional commercial venue into a consumption destination centered on performing arts and commerce, gaining traction through its artistic credentials. The revamped Minghua injects fresh vitality and creativity into the cultural-consumption market of the GBA and exemplifies Qianhai’s innovative approach to integrating culture and commerce.

An aerial view of the Minghua ship and Shekou area. Photo from WeChat official account "ShenzhenLook"

Stanislau Kulaha from Belarus excitedly shared that this was his first time inside the Minghua. “Today I not only learned the ship’s legendary story, but also gained a deeper understanding of Shenzhen’s reform and opening-up history and China’s path to the world — all in a fun way. The commercial spaces on board are spacious and beautiful; the atmosphere here is very different from ordinary shopping centers and left a deep impression on me.”

Original production brings immersive experiences

Following the renovation, the Minghua premiered China’s first original immersive physical theater piece, "The Deal." The production boldly breaks away from traditional proscenium staging and uses a promenade format that turns one-way sightlines into a multi-dimensional sensory experience. Audience members are no longer passive observers but participants — moving with the actors through different scenes, interacting closely with performers and co-creating the story.

Scenes from "The Deal," which is China’s first original immersive physical theater piece. Photos courtesy of the event organizers

The themes and values of "The Deal" resonate strongly with Shenzhen’s DNA. As a witness to reform and opening up, the Minghua itself embodies the spirit of Shenzhen. As audiences move through the ship, they don’t just follow theatrical conflict — they touch emotional memories and feel the city’s developmental trajectory and cultural legacy. 

Maria Petrovskaia, a seasoned theater lover from Russia, was moved: “I’ve seen many performances in Shenzhen, but 'The Deal' was different for me because of its immersive experience. Even without translation and despite the actors using different languages, I could still follow the plot,” adding that it was wonderful to see this cast from all over the world come together to perform, just like their international group gathered in Qianhai for an in-depth exploration.

Booming cultural industry, deeper international exchanges

This year has been a milestone year for Qianhai’s cultural development, with a steady stream of new projects and initiatives. Landmarks such as Qianhai Snow World, Shenzhen Book City Bay Area Store, Happy Theater, and K11 ECOAST have been completed and opened. Projects including the Minghua ship at Sea World and the Guiwan section of Qianhai Stone Park have been revitalized. A string of popular IP exhibitions — from the Nailoong to the B.Duck — has attracted large numbers of visitors and residents and helped spur innovation in Qianhai’s cultural trade. From January to October this year, revenue for Qianhai’s culture, sports and entertainment businesses above the designated size rose by 26% year on year.

Qianhai Snow World. File photo

Benefiting from its status as a Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation zone, a pilot free trade zone, and a comprehensive bonded zone, and drawing on Nanshan’s tech innovation and Bao’an’s advanced manufacturing, Qianhai’s cultural industry has delivered clear results. From January to October this year, revenue in Qianhai’s culture, sports, and entertainment sectors above the designated scale rose 26% year on year.

Since its launch in May last year by the Qianhai International Cooperation Center, the “HiQianhai” series has attracted nearly 800 foreign participants from more than 30 countries. The program’s varied activities — cultural experiences, sports and social events, entrepreneurial exchanges, signage optimization, storytelling sessions and book salons — provide international residents with a rich, practical way to understand and integrate into Qianhai.

By involving international guests in the English-signage optimization event, foreign residents contributed to shaping Qianhai’s international environment and strengthened their sense of participation in its development. Activities such as Lunar New Year crafts, international sports exchanges for talent, and coffee-culture salons brought people together across cultural and social lines, helping foreign residents feel closer to the community and better integrated into Qianhai’s international neighborhood. These efforts are building a more attractive, cohesive international development environment for Qianhai.