Shekou is a busy, bustling, and vibrant community within Nanshan District, in the southwest part of Shenzhen, China. Located right at the mouth of Shenzhen Bay, it lies right across the Hong Kong-Shenzhen border.

 

Home to a large but close-knit group of resident foreigners, also known as expatriates or simply expats for short, about 6,275 out of 43,919 people who have emigrated to Shenzhen from overseas reside in Shekou. Many are attracted to Shekou, since it is a subdistrict in Shenzhen’s special economic zone. Since this makes it a good business environment, businesses and travellers from far and wide settle in Shekou to work. Overall, there is a large variety of industries to work in in Shenzhen, the most prominent being electronics and petroleum.

 

There are also a number of migrant workers from other regions in China present in Shenzhen. Sadly, these migrants are not as well-off as the aforementioned expatriates, and many of those who are from poorer backgrounds have to work long hours in demanding professions like urban labour. SIS Strings Initiative hopes to do our part by giving the children of these migrant workers the invaluable gift that is music. As Shekou is known to be one of the “wealthier” communities in Shenzhen, there are less migrant workers in this area. However, some are still present, living and working in the Shekou Industrial Area.

 

Something unique about Shekou is it accommodates its foreign population remarkably well. Western tastes have influenced aspects of the community like housing, shopping, dining, and education. Western-style condominiums and villas (landed properties) are common in the area, as well as international schools, such as SIS, to cater to children from foreign backgrounds. Shopping malls and places of entertainment are also influenced by Western culture, notable examples being Sea World, a tourist attraction and shopping centre with a landlocked ship, Minghua, at its heart; as well as MixC Shenzhen Bay, a lifestyle-oriented commercial district.

 

To end off, Shekou is truly an incredible community, known for its diversity, economic success, and lively atmosphere.