The Shenzhen Phenomenon

"Shenzhen’s growth from a fishing village to a global metropolis of more than 13 million people and $350 billion in economic output is one of the world’s great economic miracles. But this miracle is the result of an intentional and purposeful growth strategy. Richard Hu explains Shenzhen’s remarkable growth and unveils the strategies that have brought it about in this detailed and important book."

Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class

"Richard Hu’s detailed chronicle of the rise of Shenzhen tells the story of how rapid urbanisation is possible through political will, entrepreneurship, planning and institutional innovation. It is a must-read for every student and professional involved in city building. While Shenzhen was the first of the new planned cities in China, it was not the last. Hu concludes this valuable book by explaining how the cumulative experience of Shenzhen has helped inform the planning and development of Xiong’an, the country’s most recent example of a new city."

Gary Hack, Emeritus Professor of Urban Design, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania; author of Site Planning: International Practice

"Richard Hu provides the long overdue in-depth examination of the birth and evolution of China’s ‘urban phenomenon’, Shenzhen. Conceived by Deng Xiaoping as a window to the global economy, Shenzhen has become in its own right a ‘global knowledge city’, now running close on the heels of Beijing and Shanghai. Hu’s definitive assessment of Shenzhen helps to explain China’s economic miracle."

Christopher Silver, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Florida