Summary of the Key Points
This article reflects on the author's transformation through more than half a year of traveling around the world, from an external perspective. She observes that the pragmatic, rational, and modern conveniences of Shenzhen have become ingrained in her way of thinking. Although Shenzhen may seem lacking in distinct cultural characteristics (such as a local dialect or strong cultural identity), it is actually a pure embodiment of the globalized, technological era of the 21st century. The author's sense of nostalgia is not for a traditional rural idyll but rather for the cyberpunk-inspired future that Shenzhen represents.
Detailed Analysis
1. Using Shenzhen as a Reference Point During Travel
The author subconsciously uses Shenzhen as a benchmark for observing the world during her travels:
- In London, she finds the transportation system to be seamlessly integrated, similar to what she is accustomed to in Shenzhen (a skill she developed since childhood).
- When seeing house prices along the Thames River, she compares them to those in Shenzhen and thinks they are reasonable.
- In Dubai, she immediately recognizes the electric bikes used by delivery riders as ones similar to those near her home.
- Upon seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time, her initial reaction is that it resembles the version from the Window of the World (a place she has passed by many times as a child).
These details indicate that Shenzhen has become a reference point for her understanding of the world; wherever she goes, she uses her familiar experiences in Shenzhen to interpret new environments.
2. What Shenzhen Has Taught Her: Approaching Tasks Like Project Execution
The author approaches her travel plans with a rigorous, project-like approach:
- She applies for multiple visas at the beginning of the year (even if she is not sure whether she will use them, just to secure the spots), such as adding Cambodia to her itinerary last-minute.
- She keeps her plans low-key and does not announce them until just before departure, believing that secrecy leads to success while disclosure can lead to failure.
- She planned her entire travel for the first half of the year (Asia, Africa, Europe) in February, focusing on risk management (such as purchasing insurance and controlling chronic health issues), budgeting, and achieving specific outcomes (including writing this article).
She believes this is a lesson from Shenzhen: just get it done and let the results speak for themselves. She acts like a scientist or engineer, concerned only with the smoothness of the process and whether the goal is achieved, without dwelling on why it needs to be done or whether someone has already attempted it.
3. Is Shenzhen Lacking in Characteristic Features? Perhaps That Is Its True Strength
Shenzhen is often labeled as a “cultural desert” with a strong sense of conformity, but the author argues:
- The lack of a local dialect and the slogan “Once you’re here, you’re a Shenzhener” reflect the city’s inclusiveness, allowing everyone to integrate without the need for cultural display.
- Shenzhen is like a smartphone: convenient and indispensable in daily life.
- It does not have the historic landmarks that need to be preserved (like London’s skyline regulations) and is willing to evolve with the times, making it a pure carrier of modern global culture.
This apparent lack of distinctive features is actually what makes Shenzhen unique, reflecting the spirit of the 21st century rather than any particular regional tradition.
4. My Nostalgia Is Not for a Rural Idyll, but for Shenzhen’s Cyberpunk Future
Traditional Chinese nostalgia revolves around rural landscapes, but the author’s longing is for a cyberpunk-inspired future:
- She feels a cultural resonance in increasingly modern, minimalist, and atomized environments (for example, she had a visceral reaction to the opening theme of “Ghost in the Shell”).
- Dubai, which she imagined as the archetype of a modern city, disappointed her.
- The strict, highly modern rules of Shenzhen make her see it as a prototype of a future civilization; her longing is not for the past but for a yet-to-be-realized future.
This sense of futuristic nostalgia is the deepest impression Shenzhen has left on her. It does not indulge in tradition but represents a constant state of progress, reflecting the forefront of the times.
Conclusion
This article does not discuss Shenzhen’s economic data or policies; instead, it uses personal experiences to show how the city shapes one’s way of thinking and its unique value as a carrier of the times. Although it may not be the city with the most cultural heritage, it is certainly one of the cities that best represents the present and the future.