Lung Hang

“Did you hear about the Shenzhen mayor who tried to launch his own currency?” I ask the group, a mischievous glint in my eye as we stand overlooking Lung Hang bay. “It’s true! Back in the 1980s, as Shenzhen was booming, they considered having their own money. Imagine exchanging Hong Kong dollars for…Shenzhen yuan! It ultimately didn’t happen, but the story speaks to the audacious spirit of this place.” Lung Hang, this beautiful bay nestled on the eastern edge of Shenzhen, offers a tranquil escape from the city’s hustle, yet its story is inextricably linked to Shenzhen’s meteoric rise. Before Shenzhen became China’s Silicon Valley, it was mostly small villages and farmland. Lung Hang was simply a quiet inlet on the coast of Bao’an County. Then, in 1980, Deng Xiaoping declared Shenzhen a Special Economic Zone. The “Shenzhen speed” became legendary. The quiet bay of Lung Hang witnessed the transformation firsthand. As skyscrapers shot up and factories hummed to life, this serene bay remained a constant. It offered a breathing space, a reminder of the natural beauty that underpinned the burgeoning metropolis. The city expanded rapidly, drawing migrants from all over China. They came seeking opportunity, adding their own flavors to the melting pot of Shenzhen’s culture. Lung Hang, while geographically on the periphery, became part of a larger narrative. It’s a piece of the Pearl River Delta megacity, a vast urban area stretching across nine municipalities and boasting a population of over 78 million people. Shenzhen’s success story also includes its efforts toward sustainability. Remember the polluted rivers of the early 2000s? Shenzhen tackled that head-on, investing billions in water treatment plants and sewage pipes. Today, Lung Hang benefits from these initiatives, its waters cleaner than they have been in decades. As you stand here, with the gentle breeze whispering through the trees and the sunlight dancing on the water, take a moment to appreciate Lung Hang. It’s a pocket of serenity within a dynamic, ever-changing city, a quiet testament to Shenzhen’s remarkable journey from a small village to a global powerhouse.