This is a photo taken at the Shenzhen Bay Port on August 10th. In 100 days, the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting will kick off in Shenzhen. Currently, themed flower beds, outdoor screens, and poster boards in Shenzhen are creating a strong APEC atmosphere, welcoming guests and friends from all over the world to Shenzhen. (Photographed by Liang Xu, reporter of Xinhua News Agency)

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Editor' s Note

As we mark the 100-day countdown to the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting slated for November 18–19 in Shenzhen, all eyes turn to this rising metropolis born from a tiny fishing village in the early days of China’s reform and opening-up. Long stereotyped as merely an industrial hub and migrant worker enclave devoid of profound historical and cultural depth, Shenzhen has nurtured a distinctive urban culture of socialist modernity with Chinese characteristics that fully embodies the defining hallmarks of Chinese modernization.

Its pioneering “rainforest cultural ecosystem” underpins this remarkable transformation—a diversified, symbiotic creative system powered by original stage productions, blockbuster films, literary works and cutting-edge digital art. The dance drama Wing Chun serves as a stellar cross-cultural envoy touring five continents, while well-received indie films and AIGC-generated short dramas showcase deep integration between culture and technology. Institutional platforms including Pengcheng academy of arts and letters and AI creation labs embrace professional artists, grassroots migrant creators and tech industry practitioners alike, championing pluralism vital to international cultural dialogue.

Ahead of welcoming APEC delegates this November, Shenzhen’s rainforest cultural framework delivers replicable insights for Asia-Pacific economies. It illustrates how a young industrial city can cultivate robust cultural confidence, weave traditional heritage with digital innovation, and build an inclusive, flourishing cultural landscape. At this pivotal APEC juncture, Shenzhen presents a vivid, tangible interpretation of Chinese modern civilization to global partners across the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

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Over the past two years, Shenzhen has emerged as a powerhouse of original cultural productions, ranging from stage plays and films to TV dramas and literary works. This vibrant cultural scene has laid the groundwork for what is now recognized as the city’s“rainforest cultural model”—an ecosystem thriving on diversity and symbiosis.

At the forefront of this cultural renaissance is the dance drama Wing Chun, a prime example of Shenzhen’s ability to creatively transform and innovate traditional Chinese culture. By integrating dance with martial arts, Wing Chun conveys the virtues of benevolence and morality. It has given 338 performances across 59 cities globally, setting a record for the number of performances by a Chinese dance drama in Europe. After two well-received shows in the Republic of Korea in July, it will embark on commercial tours in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain and Saudi Arabia later this year. These tours will further cement its status as“a cultural ambassador”of Shenzhen and a benchmark for Chinese cultural outreach.

Chang Hongji, the lead actor of Wing Chun and principal dancer of the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theater, shared insights from the global tours. “After performing in dozens of countries and regions, we fully understand that inclusive, open and mutually respectful exchanges are essential for Chinese art to gain global recognition. The pluralistic and inclusive core of the ‘rainforest model’ aligns perfectly with the demands of cross-cultural dialogue we have encountered overseas.”

In the film industry, Shenzhen’s creative vitality is embodied in productions such as Dear You and Kung Fu Soccer. The low-budget film Dear You resonates with audiences through its portrayal of ordinary people’s perseverance during the migration to Southeast Asia.

Grossing over 2 billion yuan ($296.5 million) worldwide, its success underscores the effectiveness of Shenzhen’s support for niche productions. Meanwhile, Kung Fu Soccer, directed by renowned Hong Kong director Stephen Chow, leverages Shenzhen’s technological prowess by integrating motion capture and AI special effects, showcasing the city’s film production capabilities.

These artistic achievements have prompted Shenzhen to develop a systematic“rainforest cultural ecosystem”framework. Sun Lili, chairperson of China Wit Media Company, highlights how this ecosystem provides growth opportunities for all. A pioneer in tech-enabled content creation, the company has launched AIGC Super Creation Lab, which produced the AI-generated short drama Stroke of Genius, which has amassed over 100 million views worldwide. This exemplifies the city’s deep integration of technology and culture.

Beyond blockbuster works, the city continues to refine its cultural ecosystem. The city addresses creative bottlenecks through targeted policies and platforms such as the Pengcheng academy of arts and letters, which explores future literary forms and redefines cultural narratives in the AI era. By advocating “new mass literature” and “urban writing”, Shenzhen taps into amateur creators from high-tech sectors, distilling its development logic and telling its stories with greater depth.

Initiatives such as “I Hear China, I Hear You” further enrich Shenzhen’s artistic diversity, releasing original compositions that build on its legacy of classic thematic songs. Supported by a robust cultural infrastructure and digital foundation, these efforts reflect a practical summary of Shenzhen’s cultural achievements.

As Shenzhen prepares to host the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November, it shines as a beacon of cultural innovation with its unique “rainforest-style cultural ecosystem”. Rooted in a rich tapestry of original literary and artistic works, this cultural ecosystem highlights the city’s commitment to fostering a diverse and symbiotic cultural environment.

When Shenzhen takes center stage at APEC 2026, its“rainforest cultural ecosystem” will exemplify how China’s pilot demonstration zone strengthens cultural confidence and empowers artistic creation with technology. Through high-quality cultural outputs, the city will offer a vivid interpretation of Chinese modernity to partners across the Asia-Pacific and beyond, showcasing a dynamic and inclusive urban civilization.

Source:‘Rainforest ecosystem’ makes Shenzhen a cultural beacon, published on August 9, 2026, China Daily.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of CIIDS.