“Deep Drainage” is what Shenzhen means. But what does that have to do with Ha Wai Landings? Let’s uncover this place. Ha Wai Landings may not be as famous as Shenzhen. However, it has its own story.
Ha Wai Landings is part of Shenzhen. Shenzhen sits in Guangdong Province. It borders Hong Kong. It sits on the east bank of the Pearl River estuary. Shenzhen is a special economic zone.
In 2020, Shenzhen had 17.5 million people. It ranks third in China for urban population. Only Shanghai and Beijing have more. The Port of Shenzhen is the world’s fourth busiest.
Shenzhen became a city in 1979. Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms made it China’s first special economic zone. It attracted foreign investment. People came searching for opportunities. The city boomed in thirty years. It became a hub for tech, trade, and finance.
Shenzhen has the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. It is among the world’s largest. Shenzhen is ranked as an Alpha city. Its GDP is larger than Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Shenzhen is a leading global tech hub. Some call it China’s Silicon Valley. Huawei, Tencent, and DJI are based here. Shenzhen hosts many events including the China Hi-Tech Fair.
Most Shenzhen residents are migrants. The population is younger than in most of China. The name Shenzhen may date back to 1410 during the Ming dynasty. Locals called paddy field drains “Zhen”. Shenzhen means “deep drain”.
Humans lived here 6,700 years ago. Towns like Nantou and Dapeng were built over 600 years ago. The Hakka people have lived in Shenzhen for 300 years.
In 214 BC, the area became part of the Qin dynasty. It was assimilated into Zhongyuan culture. In 331 AD, the Dongguan Commandery was established. Nantou was the seat of the commandery. In 757, the county was renamed Dongguan.
During the Song dynasty, Nantou was a trade hub for salt and spices. Later, it produced pearls. Sailors prayed at a Mazu temple in Chiwan. They prayed for safe journeys to Southeast Asia. The Ming navy won the Battle of Tunmen south of Nantou.
To prevent rebellion, the Qing dynasty moved coastal residents inland. Bao’an County lost territory. Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula were ceded to Britain after the Opium Wars.
In 1911, Xin’an residents rebelled. The Chinese section of the Kowloon–Canton Railway opened. Shenzhen railway station helped the town’s economy. In 1913, Xin’an County became Bao’an County again.
During the Canton–Hong Kong strike in 1925, Shenzhen had a reception station. In 1931, casinos were established in Shenzhen. Shumchun Casino was the largest. During World War II, Japan occupied Shenzhen. In 1941, the British blew up the Lo Wu Bridge. This stopped the Japanese from entering Hong Kong.
In 1953, Bao’an County moved its government to Shenzhen. From the 1950s to 1970s, refugees fled to Hong Kong through Shenzhen.
In 1978, a team investigated creating a foreign trade port in Bao’an County. In 1979, Bao’an County was renamed Shenzhen. The city established six districts. In 1979, the Shekou Industrial Zone was established. It aimed for diversified operations like Hong Kong and Macau.
In 1980, Shenzhen became China’s first special economic zone. Its objective was to experiment with market capitalism. In 1981, Shenzhen became a sub-provincial division. In 1990, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange was established. In 1992, Shenzhen gained the power to make local laws. In 1996, the Provisional Legislative Council of Hong Kong met in Shenzhen.
In 2001, more migrants chose Shenzhen over illegally crossing into Hong Kong. In 2010, the Shenzhen SEZ expanded to include all districts. In 2019, the central government unveiled reform plans. Shenzhen became a pilot zone for socialism. Today, Ha Wai Landings is part of this modern, bustling city. It benefits from Shenzhen’s growth and innovation. Ha Wai Landings shows how Shenzhen transformed from a small village into a global powerhouse.