Shenzhen's relentless innovation enthralls Pakistani PhD student

Editor's note: We have invited foreigners living in China to share their stories about the cities where they live and work. Muhammad Ali Arshad is a doctoral student studying at Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Nanshan district, Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province. While he has explored various Chinese cities, Shenzhen, renowned as an innovation hub in China, holds a unique significance in his heart.

In September 2018, I arrived in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, to pursue a master's degree in computer science and technology at the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. After graduating, I spent nearly three years working in Nanjing before beginning my PhD studies in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in September 2023 — a city that has now become my second home.

Shenzhen is a city with pristine beaches, misty mountains, cutting-edge technology, and a culinary scene as diverse as its population. Whether hiking Meishajian, the third-highest mountain in Shenzhen, where I stood above the clouds, or marveling at the geothermal wonders of Qiniang Mountain, the city's second-highest peak, every moment felt like a dream.

The true magic of Shenzhen lies in its relentless innovation. Its technological ambitions are reflected by the city's futuristic skyline, shaped by landmarks like the 599.1-meter-high Ping An International Finance Center and the twin towers of the Shenzhen Bay Innovation and Technology Center, as well as local cultural institutions.

The new venue of Shenzhen Art Museum in Longhua district features a stunning floating cube design, its cantilevered structure appearing to defy gravity. Inside, digital art exhibitions blend traditional techniques with cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence. The north hall of Shenzhen Library boasts one of China's most advanced digital archive systems, with robotic book retrieval and AI research assistants.

The Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum in Guangming Science City is unparalleled for scientific wonders. Designed by the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, its fluid, biomorphic structure resembles a silver spaceship taking flight, with curved surfaces that seem to ripple like quantum waves.

The building's unique "cellular" facade is made with plenty of glass panels, each uniquely shaped to optimize natural light. Visitors can experience humanoid robots, quantum computing demonstrations, and a full-dome digital planetarium.

Nature meets technology at the Shenzhen Dapeng Peninsula National Geopark Museum, where interactive exhibits use AI to animate fossils amidst terraced architecture mirroring the volcanic landscape. While at Shenzhen Museum, visitors can learn the city's evolution from a fishing village to a global innovation hub through immersive displays.

In Shenzhen, daily life feels like a glimpse into the future — autonomous delivery drones weave between buildings, unmanned vehicles glide down smart streets, and libraries blend technology with tradition. A slogan in Longhua district states, "You are a Shenzhener once you come here". Initially skeptical, I now embrace its truth.

As a PhD student, I've had the privilege of engaging with a number of tech giants shaping tomorrow. At Shenzhen-based drone manufacturer DJI, I explored their cutting-edge drones and got to know a drone rental system rolled out by a startup, which enables high-end aerial technology developed by DJI accessible to small businesses.

At Huawei, also headquartered in Shenzhen, I saw their large language model Pangu generate art and solve complex queries.

At the local AI company Shenzhen Innovation ZTITS, I learned that the company uses AI chips to optimize traffic flow in real time.

My deep impressions of Shenzhen also include the cross-border collaborations at the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone which push the limits of robotics and biotech.

China has gifted me more than an education — it offered me a lifetime of experiences. From the tranquility of Shenzhen's mountains to the hum of its tech labs, every moment has been a lesson in growth.

As a Pakistani student, I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this nation's academic and cultural mosaic. Over the years, I have been privileged to traverse China's vast landscapes, immerse myself in its vibrant cities, and witness its rich cultural tapestry.

My journey here is far from over, and I anticipate the discoveries yet to come.