Shenzhen has undergone a dramatic transformation from a small border fishing village to a global megacity, with rapid urban and economic development accelerating especially after the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in 1980. This before-and-after arc is documented across historical overviews, photographic projects, and contemporary analyses.

Brief overview of the changes

• Before: Shenzhen originated as Bao’an County, a modest coastal settlement with limited urban development. The area was primarily rural, with farmland and small fishing communities. Population figures were in the tens of thousands, and infrastructure was minimal compared to modern standards.

• During transition: The early 1980s marked a pivotal shift as Deng Xiaoping launched the policy framework for economic reform and opening up. Shenzhen was designated as China's first Special Economic Zone (SEZ), attracting investment, technology transfer, and rapid industrialization. The city began to attract a large influx of workers and businesses, catalyzing its urban expansion.

• After: From the 1980s onward, Shenzhen transformed into a modern metropolis with massive urban renewal, high-rise skylines, expansive manufacturing and tech sectors, and a population surpassing several millions. The change is frequently described as a “miracle” of urban development, illustrating one of the fastest and most dramatic city-building efforts in history.

Notable perspectives and sources

• Visual documentation: Projects and articles have used paired “before and after” imagery to illustrate the scale of transformation, showing everything from marshy fields to financial districts. These workstreams emphasize land-use changes, infrastructure growth, and the rapid evolution of cityscapes.

• Historical context: Shenzhen’s history extends further back than the SEZ era, with roots dating to ancient times, but modern urbanization accelerates from 1980 onward due to policy reforms and market-oriented development.

• Modern reflections: Contemporary media and academic sources frame Shenzhen as a model of rapid urbanization and economic reform, often citing the SEZ as the turning point that unlocked explosive growth.

If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific aspect (e.g., population growth, infrastructure milestones, or comparison photographs) or pull concise timelines and visual examples from reliable sources.