Intl. media delegation tours Bao'an's cultural, tourism landmarks

A delegation of international journalists and social media creators explored Bao’an District's cultural and tourism landmarks on Nov. 28 as part of the 2025 "A Date with China" media tour program.

Their tour included visits to sites such as the Bay Area Store of Shenzhen Book City and the Qianhai Snow World, gaining firsthand experience of the district's cultural tourism offerings.

International media delegation discovers Bao’an Library’s smart book sorting system on Nov. 28. Photos by Lin Songtao

On the morning of Nov. 28, a delegation of international media professionals began their tour at the Bao’an Library and the Bao’an District Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. There, they observed the library's smart book sorting system adapted from logistics technology and learned about the district's development path.

The delegation poses for a group photo at the 'Eyes of the GBA' bookstore. 

Next, the group visited the Bay Area Store of Shenzhen Book City, dubbed the “Eyes of the GBA.” They were impressed by its status as the world’s largest physical bookstore and its modern architectural design.

“I think that’s how innovation meets the future. We saw robots that are arranging books. After, I visited the ‘Eyes of the GBA’ and it’s really mind-blowing,” said Mohammad Hashem, a content creator from Afghanistan based in Shanghai.

He added, “Even for some people who don’t like reading, they will fall in love with it because the architecture and the design are very comforting. Inside the bookstore, there are a lot of facilities and different kinds of books in different languages. I am pretty impressed by it.”

The delegation then explored Qianhai Snow World, certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest indoor ski center. Although many participants were not skiers, they were excited to experience the facility.

“I have never skied before. I'm very excited and I'm thrilled that I'm doing it here at this facility. I've been very comfortable, very safe here, and I think it's gonna be a great opportunity to ski for the first time. This is a fantastic facility. I've thoroughly enjoyed being here. I think it's great fun for all ages,” said Eoin Ruddy, who runs a YouTube account (@Eoin and Aisling) with over 53,000 followers.

Aisling Ruddy experiences skiing at Qianhai Snow World on Nov. 28.

His partner, Aisling Ruddy, shared the sentiment: “Neither of us have ever actually been skiing before, so that's why I'm so excited to be here. This is also a good experience for people living in Shenzhen to be able to get away from the hot climate outside. I think this facility will definitely improve people’s lives and they will have a lot of fun.”

Emre Aytekin with Anadolu Agency in Turkey gets a look at Insta360’s action camera during a tour to Bao’an District Urban Planning Exhibition Hall on Nov. 28. 

Emre Aytekin, a journalist with Anadolu Agency in Türkiye, appreciated the city's strengths in technology, robotics, AI, and the low-altitude economy. “I think, with this integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen — with its young population and technological, innovative mindset — will be an important center in the future,” noted Aytekin.

The Shenzhen leg of the 2025 "A Date with China" media tour program ran from November 26 to 28, allowing participants to explore the city's unique blend of nature, technology, cultural tourism, and tradition.