In the early 1980s, a typhoon rainstorm flooded the Shenzhen Railway Station, affecting travel. [Photo by Zhou Shunbin/cpanet.org.cn]
The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in South China's Guangdong province was established in August 1980. In the early 1980s, photographer Zhou Shunbin followed a troop of construction workers to enter Shenzhen and experienced the difficulties of working in what was then an undeveloped area.
Every day he went to the construction site under the scorching sun to take photos and write articles about the construction soldiers and workers. He created a series of photos recording the construction's progress and life in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, which are precious historical materials reflecting Shenzhen's urban development.
China started implementing the policy of reform and opening-up in 1978, so this collection of photos also serves as a witness to the changes in Shenzhen after the policy.
Zhou has been a photographer for 40 years, and is now a consultant with the Shenzhen Photographers Association.
The Shenzhen Railway Station in 1998 was a transportation junction linking railway, subway and bus. The Shenzhen government transformed and renovated the railway station many times to better facilitate people's travel experience. [Photo by Zhou Shunbin/cpanet.org.cn]
A view of Dongmen old street in Shenzhen in 1983. Then, it was a small, remote town neighboring Hong Kong with a population of less than 30,000 residents. [Photo by Zhou Shunbin/cpanet.org.cn]
Dongmen in 2009 was a bustling center with high-rises and throngs of people, a must-go site for shopping and traveling. [Photo by Zhou Shunbin/cpanet.org.cn]
The Baishaling area under Bijia Hill in Shenzhen in 1985 was a shanty town for the early construction workers and builders transforming Shenzhen. [Photo by Zhou Shunbin/cpanet.org.cn]
In 1999, at the intersection of Hongli Road and Huaqiang Road, five-star hotels and skyscrapers had completely covered the shanty town. [Photo by Zhou Shunbin/cpanet.org.cn]
The sun bursts through the clouds above the Caiwuwei area in Shenzhen's Luohu district in 1984. The ground was just broken for construction and a new town was going to rise. [Photo by Zhou Shunbin/cpanet.org.cn]
The Caiwuwei area in Shenzhen's Luohu district in 1998 is completely transformed and filled with high towers and skyscrapers. [Photo by Zhou Shunbin/cpanet.org.cn]
The central area of Futian district of Shenzhen was under development in 1996. [Photo by Zhou Shunbin/cpanet.org.cn]
Skyscrapers rise above the formerly flat plain in central Shenzhen in 2009. [Photo by Zhou Shunbin/cpanet.org.cn]
