People choose socks at the Shenzhen Shopping Carnival held in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, January 2, 2011. Many companies and tradesmen offer discounted goods at the annual trade fair. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]
Shenzhen is located at the southern tip of the Chinese mainland on the eastern bank of the mouth of the Pearl River and neighbors Hong Kong.
The brainchild of Deng Xiaoping, the country's first special economic zone was established here by the Chinese Government in 1980. It has been a touchstone for China's reform and opening-up policy since then.