'Miracle' metropolis now a global magnet

"Shenzhen is made possible by being inclusive," she said.

Gao, the technician, said skilled technicians once were not considered part of the city's highest tier of talent. Now, their experience is receiving greater recognition, and craftsmen like him can exchange ideas with leading scientists, who also listen to their suggestions.

Shenzhen, he said, welcomes both celebrated entrepreneurs and people who have worked their way up from the grassroots.

He describes the relationship between the city and those who settle there as a two-way journey: Shenzhen offers people opportunities to succeed, while their work, skills and ambitions help the city grow.

"If Shenzhen's past four decades were a movie, then every ordinary person in this city would have a part in it," Gao said.

Chen Hong in Shenzhen contributed to this story.