Gen Zers honored for creative stories

Videos by Lin Songtao

Dozens of guests gathered in Qianhai on Friday for the HiShenzhen & HiQianhai International Community Carnival and the “Amazing Shenzhen” Global Gen Z Creative Story Contest Awards Ceremony. 

During the event, the International Communication Center of Shenzhen News Group also released the “Shenzhen in the Eyes of Gen Z: International Audience Research Report and Index.” The report is designed to provide intellectual support for international communication strategies tailored to different audiences. 

The research was jointly conducted by the International Communication Center of Shenzhen News Group and the Shenzhen Urban Research Center for Communication Innovation. It drew on online surveys and offline interviews with 125 students from over 30 countries, supplemented by nearly 200 additional Gen Z-related samples collected by the Shenzhen Urban Research Center for Communication Innovation.

At the center of the event was the Z10 Club, a youth collective that began as a campus talent search across 10 Shenzhen universities in early 2025. In just one year, the club has organized nearly 20 events.

Shenzhen Daily photographers Lin Songtao and Zhen Jianhong captured highlights from Friday’s gathering.

The team awarded Best Communication of the Year poses for a group photo. Photos by Lin Songtao and Zhen Jianhong

Participants capture memorable moments at the Qianhai event.

Students of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen visit a science and tech exhibition in Qianhai.

Attendees receive commemorative souvenirs during the event.

The audience cheers and applauds for a guest speaker.

A representative of the First Prize winners gives a speech.