Gujarat Magazine

Shenzhen, China – September 1, 2026 – Recently, the “Dream Pursuers in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area — Shenzhen APEC Tech Discovery Tour,” initiated and hosted by the flagship program “GenZ Pop Quiz” of Southern Finance Media Corp., was successfully held in Shenzhen.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/KesdNwJO_Vw

Youth from Four Places Gathered for a Two-Day Tech Discovery Journey

Over the two-day program, around 20 young people from Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan embarked on a journey of site visits and in-depth exchanges, exploring Shenzhen’s technology companies and cultural landmarks. They gained first-hand experience of the robust innovation vitality of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), as well as the vast development opportunities and prospects brought by Shenzhen hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2026.

The youth delegation visited high-tech enterprises including Unilumin and Kenqing Technology, getting an up-close look at cutting-edge achievements in LED displays, exoskeleton robots, and artificial intelligence. They also toured the SHENZHEN FOUNDATION MODEL AIECO-HUB, where they learned about AI startup incubation ecosystems and youth entrepreneurship support policies. At the Shenzhen Library, they explored an APEC-themed exhibition, tracing over 30 years of Asia-Pacific cooperation through historical materials.

The journey concluded with a sharing session at Lianhuashan Park, where participants gathered for in-depth discussions.

Young Entrepreneurs Shared the Growth Code for Start-Ups in the GBA

At the sharing session, young entrepreneurs compared notes on entrepreneurship opportunities in the GBA and pathways for youth growth. Wei Siyuan, CEO of Sixing Zhiyuan Technology, shared his entrepreneurial journey — starting his first business in high school, he ventured into drones, skiing, and pet products, with passion always being his primary driver. He recalled the challenging early days: even after the company gained traction, funds remained tight, and he once worked part-time as a food delivery rider to cover office expenses. His advice to aspiring young entrepreneurs was practical and candid: “If you have an idea, start by executing it as a project. Only after the project has been validated by the market should you consider starting a business.”

Pan Danying, Co-Founder and COO of ADI, and a graduate of the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University, summarized her entrepreneurial philosophy in one sentence: “Done is better than perfect.” After graduation, she and her Tsinghua classmates developed an AI design model, focusing on providing AI-powered creative design services for trendy toys, cultural and creative products, and consumer goods. In the early days of her startup, she truly understood the weight of this philosophy — ideas alone are not enough; you must turn AI-powered design concepts into tangible product prototypes to show investors the real market potential. In her view, Shenzhen’s greatest strengths lie in its openness, inclusivity, and mature supply chain. “If we want to build a product, we have upstream and downstream manufacturers available here; if we want to build technology, software, or internet products, we can find everything we need. Shenzhen is that kind of place — once you’re here, you’re a Shenzhener, and you never feel out of place.” With “Innovation” being one of the three priorities for APEC 2026, the experiences of Wei Siyuan and Pan Danying serve as vivid examples of innovation-driven entrepreneurship in Shenzhen.

Zhang Shaoqun, a content creator from Taiwan, China (also known as “Hanguoren”), described Shenzhen as “the future.” “Shenzhen is a place that dares to try anything new. Drone delivery, autonomous driving — these aren’t just slogans. Shenzhen is actually turning them into reality,” he said. Speaking of the APEC summit coming to Shenzhen, he believes it is an opportunity for the world to see the real China. He noted that China’s vision of shared prosperity is realized through technological innovation and cooperation. For young people aspiring to become content creators, he suggested participating in competitions first, where they can learn from outstanding peers and gradually gain market attention through their work.

“World Café” Workshop: Co-Creating a Vision of Shenzhen’s Tech Landscape

Following the sharing session, the “World Café” workshop brought together youth from Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan to co-create around the theme “Shenzhen’s Tech Opportunities Through My Eyes.” Divided into groups, they sketched their visions of Shenzhen’s technology landscape on large sheets of paper. After that, participants moved around to see what the other groups had created, leaving sticky notes with additional comments and ideas. These drawings not only captured observations of Shenzhen but also bore witness to the growing rapport among the four groups of young people.

From Abstract Concept to Tangible Reality: Understanding Shenzhen’s Innovation Ecosystem

From exhibition halls to book houses, from visiting to co-creating, this tech discovery journey brought together young people from Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, transforming Shenzhen’s innovation ecosystem from an abstract concept into a tangible, palpable reality.

During the program, many participants shared their genuine thoughts and feelings about the experience. Zhang Zhaoyan, Producer & Cinematographer (U.S. unit) for the documentary “Teochew” and Photographer and AI opening sequence director for the film “Dear You,” sees Shenzhen as a city brimming with energy. “Everything new can take root, grow, and bear fruit here,” he said. At the Unilumin showroom, he felt proud of China’s breakthroughs in LED display technology. Speaking of AI’s role in the film industry, he believes the technology is giving creators equal access to tell their stories and realize their dreams. With digital economy and AI being key focus areas for APEC this year, Zhang Zhaoyan’s use of AI in film production exemplifies how this trend is taking root at the industry level.

Guan Jin’an, a youth from Macao, was deeply impressed by “Shenzhen speed”: “Concepts we only heard about three or four months ago have already become products we can experience today.” He noted that Shenzhen’s AI capabilities could empower Macao’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to promote their brands overseas. The digital transformation of SMEs is also one of the key focus areas of this year’s APEC summit.

So Mei Fong, Chamber Executive of JCI Hong Kong, China, also expressed her amazement at Shenzhen’s technological development, which far exceeded her expectations. She looks forward to leveraging the geographical advantages of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to bring more young people from Hong Kong and beyond to Shenzhen, helping them realize their dreams.

Youth as a Bridge: Connecting the GBA with APEC’s Future Opportunities

Young people are a vibrant force driving the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In recent years, as policies supporting employment and entrepreneurship for young people from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan have continued to expand, more and more young people are choosing to come to Shenzhen and build their careers and lives in the Greater Bay Area. They are not only participating in the region’s technological innovation and industrial upgrading but also building cross-regional bridges of communication through their interactions, showing more young people the boundless opportunities the GBA holds.

From the historical archives of the APEC-themed exhibition to the entrepreneurial dreams inside AI incubators, from the effortless mobility enabled by exoskeleton robots to the visual splendor of LED displays, what the young participants from Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan took away from this tour was not just photos and memories, but a renewed understanding and genuine expectation for the city of Shenzhen.

About GenZ Pop Quiz

“GenZ Pop Quiz” is an original Chinese-English bilingual street interview program launched by Southern Finance Media Corp. in 2024. Focusing on trending social topics that international audiences are curious about regarding today’s youth, the program conducts fast-paced street interviews with Gen Z youth across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Through lively, short-form video content, the program showcases the vibrant spirit of the GBA’s youth in the new era.

Media Contact
Company Name: Southern Finance Media Corp.
Contact Person: Henry Hoang
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Country: China
Website: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmUPHS7Qrkxq8muom2w0JfA