Reform pioneer celebrates far-reaching progress over 43 years

Special economic zone transforms small fishing village into modern metropolis

Zhong Zhenhua's trip to Shenzhen, Guangdong province, more than 40 years ago was quite an eye-opener for him. He little realized how his journey would eventually lead him to the heart of China's economic transformation.

"It was only by coming to Shenzhen that I realized I lived in a really tiny place. The energy and ambition I witnessed left an indelible mark on me. It was a wake-up call that inspired me to think bigger and aim higher in my pursuits," said Zhong, 66, who owns an electronics trading company in the city.

In 1980, China was on the cusp of a new chapter in its history. Economic reforms were gradually sweeping across the nation, marking the end of decades of a planned economy and heralding the dawn of a new era of opportunity.

Zhong, a demobilized soldier from Hubei province, decided to venture into the unknown in Shenzhen, which at the time was a small fishing village poised to become a symbol of China's modernization.

He was armed with a deep curiosity and thirst for adventure.

Zhong said, "Going to Shenzhen was, for many like me searching for opportunities, a chance to see the outside world in this burgeoning landscape."

Zhong witnessed this transformative time in many ways and has been amazed by the way in which Shenzhen has developed so dramatically.

On Aug 26, 1980, the 15th session of the Standing Committee of the Fifth National People's Congress, China's top legislature, approved the establishment of Special Economic Zones in Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shantou in Guangdong, and Xiamen, Fujian province. Shenzhen was the first to launch such a zone, with the other three following in the next two years.