Comments on: Shenzhen http://mattschiavenza.com/2008/11/12/shenzhen/ From the Dragon to the Apple- A Sinophile in New York Tue, 22 May 2012 05:30:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: RYErnest http://mattschiavenza.com/2008/11/12/shenzhen/comment-page-1/#comment-42063 RYErnest Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:04:57 +0000 http://mattschiavenza.com/?p=383#comment-42063 Nice post u have here :D Added to my RSS reader Nice post u have here :D Added to my RSS reader

]]> By: chriswaugh_bj http://mattschiavenza.com/2008/11/12/shenzhen/comment-page-1/#comment-39111 chriswaugh_bj Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:41:21 +0000 http://mattschiavenza.com/?p=383#comment-39111 I don't think it's right to say "Thirty years ago, Shenzhen literally didn't exist; it was a typically stagnant Chinese village that happened to border Hong Kong. Now, it is a city of ten million, none of whom are from here. There are no old buildings in Shenzhen and I'm unsure if there are any old people. The city exists for one reason only: to do business and to make money. There is scant culture, no history, and little charm; unless greed counts as charm." As you admit in that very paragraph, there was a village there 30 years ago- actually the city probably gobbled up several villages. I often wonder about those original villages, their people, language, culture and history. I suspect they're all still there for those who know where to look. Still, I do find it a little odd when I find myself in a city that is younger than me. Crossing from Hong Kong to Shenzhen is a hell of a shock! HK, too, was largely a city of immigrants, but they've been there longer and are more settled and- those from other parts of China, at least- were assimilated a long time ago. It's all Cantonese and traditional characters, it feels settled and solid. Then Shenzhen is suddenly good Putonghua, simplified characters, and rootless. I don’t think it’s right to say “Thirty years ago, Shenzhen literally didn’t exist; it was a typically stagnant Chinese village that happened to border Hong Kong. Now, it is a city of ten million, none of whom are from here. There are no old buildings in Shenzhen and I’m unsure if there are any old people. The city exists for one reason only: to do business and to make money. There is scant culture, no history, and little charm; unless greed counts as charm.” As you admit in that very paragraph, there was a village there 30 years ago- actually the city probably gobbled up several villages. I often wonder about those original villages, their people, language, culture and history. I suspect they’re all still there for those who know where to look. Still, I do find it a little odd when I find myself in a city that is younger than me.

Crossing from Hong Kong to Shenzhen is a hell of a shock! HK, too, was largely a city of immigrants, but they’ve been there longer and are more settled and- those from other parts of China, at least- were assimilated a long time ago. It’s all Cantonese and traditional characters, it feels settled and solid. Then Shenzhen is suddenly good Putonghua, simplified characters, and rootless.

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