Shenzhen's robot craze becomes star attraction of May Day holiday

05 06, 2026

Shenzhen, often referred to as the "City of Innovation" in South China's Guangdong province, has showcased its unique charm during the May Day holiday, with a series of captivating robot-themed events across the city.The Robot International Workers' Day event was held on May 1 at the robot 6S store in Longgang district, Shenzhen.The robot 6S store in Longgang district, claimed to be the world's first of its kind, serves as a one-stop shop for robot and component sales, maintenance, leasing and customized services. The location became a hub of immersive robot experiences, offering both a technological and culinary feast.The first robot restaurant experience store in Shenzhen opened its doors on May 1 on the fourth floor of the robot 6S store, featuring over 10 types of robots managing everything from welcoming guests to cooking and bartending. The simultaneous launch of the Robot International Workers' Day event included high-tech attractions like kung fu shows and piano performances, providing entertainment for the visitors.The first robot restaurant experience store in Shenzhen opened its doors on May 1 on the fourth floor of the robot 6S store, featuring over 10 types of robots managing everything from welcoming guests to cooking and bartending.During the holiday, the Shenzhen Talent Park in Nansha district and the areas adjacent to China Resources Tower, a landmark in the city, emerged as popular destinations for locals and tourists. The robot shows held in these locations captivated audiences, allowing individuals to experience the allure of AI up close during their leisure time.Robot show captivates audiences in Shenzhen during the May Day holiday.May 1 also marked the first anniversary of the Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum. This cultural landmark welcomed about 4 million visitors in its inaugural year and hosted nearly 10,000 public science activities. The anniversary celebrations featured a series of robot performances, further enhancing the city's reputation for embracing artificial intelligence and technological innovation.

Shenzhen Design Week 2026 kicks off on April 27

04 30, 2026

The Shenzhen Design Week 2026 commenced at the Longgang International Arts Center on April 27. The 10-day event features a host of activities, including the prestigious Kunpeng Global Design Awards, which have gathered 6,282 submissions from 20 countries and regions.The APEC China Year Shenzhen – City of Design Initiative was launched at the opening ceremony of the Shenzhen Design Week 2026 on April 27.Aligning with the priorities of the China Year of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation – "openness, innovation and cooperation", the event aims to create an international platform integrating technological innovation, industrial collaboration and cultural exchange.A major highlight of the opening ceremony was the launch of the APEC China Year Shenzhen- City of Design Initiative, which saw participation from multiple metropolises that have been dubbed City of Design to promote enhanced international design cooperation among APEC member economies.The 2026 Kunpeng Global Design Awards announced the gold award winners in the categories of Urban Design, Industrial Design, and Visual Communication.With a total prize pool of 4 million yuan ($584,000), the Kunpeng Global Design Awards cover five categories, including urban design, industrial design and digital design. This year’s submissions show an increase of over 1,000 entries from the previous year, with AI technology emerging as a notable highlight.The Shenzhen Design Week 2026 commenced at the Longgang International Arts Center on April 27.In a significant move, Shenzhen signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the London Design Festival to support the global expansion of the "Shenzhen Design" brand. The event also includes a Global City of Design Roundtable Dialogue, a Global Designers Conference and five industry matchmaking conferences.As China's first "City of Design" recognized by UNESCO in 2008, Shenzhen continues to drive industrial upgrades and urban development through design innovation. This year's design week leverages the APEC meeting to foster international exchange and industry collaboration, reinforcing its international standing as a "City of Design."

Shenzhen Design Week opens at Longgang's new cultural landmark

04 28, 2026

The 2026 Shenzhen Design Week and the Global Design Award "Kunpeng Award" opened on April 27 at the Longgang International Art Center. This newly unveiled cultural landmark embodies the city's "technology plus art" vision.Longgang International Art Center, a newly emerging cultural landmark in Shenzhen.The center boasts a total floor area of 110,000 square meters and is recognized as a benchmark for smart cultural venues in the Greater Bay Area. It features a 1,500-seat opera house, a 554-seat theater and a 305-seat concert hall, all equipped with 5G-enabled immersive technologies. In addition, the venue includes the 17,000-square-meter D+ Digital Art Gallery, which comprises five signature spaces that offer LED giant screens, holographic imaging and real-time interactive experiences.The audience is enjoying the integrated performance in the holographic space.Powered by HarmonyOS, the center — China's first "Harmony Theater" — features augmented reality navigation, virtual reality seat selection and 8K live streaming capabilities. Its design integrates indoor and outdoor spaces, anchored by a 5,000-square-meter "urban living room" that connects to a neighboring park.The center itself serves as the most compelling exhibit of the design week. At its entrance, a permanent art relief combining Eastern and Western music history welcomes visitors. With its boundary-free public spaces, the center exemplifies Shenzhen's commitment to incorporating design into everyday urban life.The artistic relief wall depicts the historical trajectory of music from both Eastern and Western cultures.The Kunpeng Award received over 6,200 entries from 20 countries and regions this year, with AI technologies now forming a mature backbone of many submissions. During the ceremony, a strategic partnership with the London Design Festival was signed, underlining Shenzhen's global design ambitions. The event runs through early May.

Inaugural national AI operator testing competition concludes in Shenzhen

04 27, 2026

The inaugural national artificial intelligence operator testing competition was held on April 25 and 26 at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Shenzhen University of Information Technology in Longgang district of Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong province.Participants of the inaugural national AI operator testing competition, which was held in Longgang district of Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong province on April 25 and 26, pose for a group photo.The competition attracted 751 teams comprising 1,057 students from 311 universities nationwide. After rigorous selection, approximately 70 elite teams advanced to the finals for a showdown.Ultimately, 36 outstanding teams emerged victorious. A team from Tianjin University won the grand prize with an award of 15,000 yuan ($2,192), while teams from Guangzhou University, Anhui Normal University, Nanchang Hangkong University, and China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), among others, won first prizes of 10,000 yuan each.The finals of the inaugural national AI operator testing competition is in progress.Operators, intelligent systems that orchestrate AI agents and workflows to boost business automation and efficiency, are the "cornerstones" of AI applications. This competition aimed to identify and cultivate top-tier foundational software talent capable of overcoming critical technological challenges, thereby injecting momentum into the sustainable development of China's AI computing ecosystem.Participants engaged with cutting-edge AI technology, utilizing Huawei's Ascend AI processors and the CANN (Compute Architecture for Neural Networks) software platform to conduct in-depth testing, defect localization, and performance analysis of key operators.An AI achievements exhibition is held in Longgang district of Shenzhen.The decision to host the finals in Longgang district was of strategic significance, as the district boasts comprehensive ICT industrial chain – from chip design and semiconductor manufacturing to smart terminals and industrial internet.Currently, Longgang is vigorously advancing its "All in AI" strategy, with over 12,700 AI and robotics companies forming a complete industrial chain, thus offering abundant "test fields" for AI technology.

Global AI Entrepreneurship Competition to kick off in Shenzhen's Longgang district

04 24, 2026

Poster of 2026 WAIC Future Tech OPC Independent Pioneer Challenge.A flagship artificial intelligence competition designed for the era of "solo entrepreneurs" is set to take off in Longgang district, Shenzhen, with the district securing the hosting rights for the 2026 WAIC Future Tech OPC Independent Pioneer Challenge South China Division.The event, overseen by the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) Committee, is tailor-made for "one-person companies" and "super individuals." It breaks away from traditional startup contests by removing barriers such as mandated full teams and lengthy business plans. Participants need only submit a demo showcasing an original AI product's usability and commercial potential.Shenzhen Longgang Data, the official division host, will leverage the competition to implement the district's "ALL in AI" strategy. The event features a streamlined three-stage path: an online screening round in April to select 200 global semi-finalists, the South China division finals in Longgang this May, and the national grand final in Shanghai in July.A comprehensive incentive package valued at over one million yuan awaits contestants nationwide. Exclusive benefits for the Shenzhen division include three months of free computing power, up to 18 months of subsidized office space, two months of free accommodation, and talent settlement subsidies of up to 100,000 yuan ($14,630).These benefits are further complemented by Longgang's local "AI Ten Measures" policy, which offers extra computing subsidies, open public data access, and significant cost reimbursements on hardware and digital tools.To help candidates prepare, Longgang Data will host briefing sessions and entrepreneurship talks in the coming weeks, aiming to build a fast track for South China's AI innovators onto the global stage.

UNESCO honors Shenzhen school as Asia-Africa AI exchange pilot

04 23, 2026

Students from Kewai compete at the National Youth Communications Technology Innovation Competition.Shenzhen Longgang Science and Technology City Foreign Language School ("Kewai") in Longgang district of Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong province has been recognized as a pilot school for Asia-Africa youth AI education exchange by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.The announcement was made at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France on March 27, when the 2026 UNESCO AI Day concluded. This prestigious event brought together leading figures in global AI education.At the event, Kewai showcased its educational philosophy and achievements in AI education. As an exemplary case of AI education in China, Kewai's story was prominently featured at the 2026 UNESCO AI Day International Summit on AI Education, sharing China's advancements in AI education with the world.Being selected as a pilot school and an exemplary case signifies authoritative recognition of the school's educational success. It also grants Kewai priority participation in future official UNESCO activities. UNESCO will continue to organize various domestic and international exchange and innovation activities for the faculty and students of pilot schools.In recent years, Kewai has focused on innovation education, developing a comprehensive curriculum system. This includes over 10 specialized courses such as graphical programming, Python programming, robotics, future engineering, and invention creation.In the past year, the school received multiple accolades, including being named "2026 Shenzhen Primary and Secondary School AI Education Application Experimental School" and "2025 Longgang District Outstanding Innovation Education School."

Shenzhen's Buji sub-district set to launch tourism IP 'FUN'

04 22, 2026

The Buji sub-district in Longgang district of Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong province is set to unveil its new tourism brand IP, "FUN Buji: The Place of Interest", as the city will host the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in November.A poster for the new tourism brand IP, "FUN Buji: The Place of Interest", to be launched by Buji subdistrict of Longgang district in Shenzhen.This initiative, centered around the theme of "FUN", seeks to reconstruct the city's "interesting" memories by integrating tourism resources, designing a cohesive visual system, and introducing smart tourism elements, making "a fun life in Buji" a daily reality for residents.The IP is built on the core concepts of "Felicity (F), Unique (U), and Nature (N)". "Felicity" focuses on the vibrant street life by integrating Buji ancient street, the night market on Buli road, and Changlong food street, based on the existing Longgang "OH YEAH" Night Market IP, to create a lively demonstration street where happiness is found at every turn.Wenbo Palace."Unique" emphasizes the local cultural heritage, featuring the cultural charm of Wenbo Palace, the artistic growth of Dafen Oil Painting Village, and the historical memories of Buji Pass. A "Cultural + Scenic + Commercial" ticket package will be launched to create a "Fun" travel loop.Dafen Oil Painting Village."Nature" highlights ecological beauty with micro-vacation models in the parks and waterfront ecological corridor along the Buji river, introducing trendy activities like outdoor concerts and art exhibitions.Buji's transformation into a vibrant district with more convenient transportation, an enhanced ecological environment, and renewed scenes is now underway. The upcoming launch of the new tourism IP, along with a new tourism VI visual system, cultural routes, and the establishment of Buji Cultural Tourism Business Alliance, promises to offer residents a rich tourism experience right at their doorstep.

Shenzhen gears up for APEC 2026 with citywide upgrading drive

04 21, 2026

Screens at Shenzhen Airport broadcast APEC-themed content, creating a warm welcome for the upcoming summit.Seven months ahead of the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2026, Shenzhen has placed event preparation high on its agenda. All districts are acting on the vision of "Hosting a major gathering to upgrade the city" with coordinated, district-specific measures.Centered on "boosting the city through the event", local authorities are advancing industrial upgrading with targeted strategies.Futian is strengthening its dual strengths in technology and finance to build a world-class urban hub. Nanshan is utilizing its industrial and technological edge to connect with global innovation networks. Longgang is supporting local firms in expanding their global reaach through AI-enabled platforms, financing support and legal safeguards. Longhua is planning an APEC digital technology center to deepen digital economic cooperation, while Pingshan and the Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone are scaling up foreign trade via competitive industrial clusters.Meanwhile, districts including Bao'an, Luohu, Yantian and Dapeng are are upgrading urban environments, bilingual signage and international reception services in line with global standards. Multilingual volunteer teams have been organized to foster an inclusive, international atmosphere.Through coordinated efforts, Shenzhen is turning the window period of APEC preparation into a golden opportunity for urban upgrading, setting a benchmark for development driven by international events.

2026 TEDx Longgang Live debut to explore global ideas and local vitality

04 20, 2026

The CIC Innovation and Creativity Center, the venue for TEDxLonggang Live, in Longgang District.TEDxLonggang Live, themed"All of Us: Voices Gathered Here", will hold its first annual event on April 25 from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the CIC Innovation and Creativity Center, Longcheng CC Creative block, Longgang district.The event will broadcast cutting-edge speeches by 10 world-leading scholars and practitioners via high-definition audio-visual systems, covering artificial intelligence, consciousness science, space exploration and educational equity.Distinguished speakers include Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, OpenClaw founder Peter Steinberger, probability computing architect Vikash Mansinghka, neuroscientist Anil Seth and renowned Silicon Valley venture capitalist Bill Gurley.Two roundtable dialogues will gather six guests from architecture, design and tech entrepreneurship to discuss human development in the AI era and breakthroughs in tech innovation.Three interactive sessions will be held to boost public engagement, including a large-scale co-creation workshop, a flash mob activity and an open-mic challenge.As a major industrial and innovation hub in Shenzhen, Longgang is accelerating tech-culture integration. The event will bridge global insights and local practices, injecting intellectual vitality into the district’s long-term development.