Today, August 26, 2026, marks the 46th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
From a small border town to a city of the future, Shenzhen has always forged ahead with the courage to explore and innovate, writing a remarkable chapter of pioneering development. Follow the lens of Shenzhen Release as we take a look at Shenzhen today.
Where the tide rises, the pulse of YANTIAN beats in sync with the world. Cranes sweep gracefully across the terminal, giant vessels are loaded and set sail, and containers are stacked high—carrying intelligent products Made in Shenzhen from here to markets around the globe.
A Deep-Water Port Connecting Shenzhen to the World
Rooted along Shenzhen's eastern coast, YANTIAN has grown alongside the Shenzhen SEZ. From tidal flats to a world-class shipping hub, YANTIAN connects China's vast manufacturing heartland with global markets. It serves as a vital node in safeguarding the security of national industrial and supply chains, while also helping Shenzhen write a new chapter in opening up to the world.
As one of the rare natural deep-water ports in South China, YANTIAN can accommodate the world's largest vessels with a tonnage of up to 200,000 tons, with round-the-clock, two-way navigation. This provides a solid foundation for the smooth flow of mega-vessels and robust port support for the stable operation of foreign trade:
🔹One of the world's largest single container terminals and one of the preferred ports for cross-border e-commerce in South China
🔹Handles more than one-third of Guangdong's foreign trade and over one-quarter of China's exports to the United States
🔹Connected to global markets by more than 100 weekly shipping services with frequent, extensive, shortest, and efficient shipping networks, providing customers with stable, reliable, and efficient logistics support
🔹A continually expanding multimodal transport network, with 38 rail-sea services and 17 feeder services now in operation.
APEC Turns the Spotlight on Shenzhen, with YANTIAN Connecting Shenzhen to the World
As 2026 reaches its halfway point, Shenzhen, China's third city to host APEC, is establishing a new position on the global economic, technological, and cultural map.
In the first half of 2026, Shenzhen's total foreign trade reached CNY2.88 trillion, a record high for the same period, representing a year-on-year increase of 33%. Exports of products from emerging industries continued to grow. Exports of electronic components, computers and their parts reached CNY237.96 billion and CNY182.42 billion, up 45.8% and 19.4%, respectively. Exports of the "new three"—electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products—totalled CNY66.78 billion, an increase of 28.9%.
Innovation, openness, and cooperation have been at the heart of YANTIAN's development for more than three decades, and they closely align with the three priorities of APEC China 2026. As a key node in global supply chains, YANTIAN is leveraging its role as a world-class logistics hub to support and channel Shenzhen's growing trade momentum.
Building on the opportunities presented by the start of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period and the 2026 APEC "China Year", YANTIAN will continue to embrace new quality productive forces and accelerate the digital and green transformation of its terminal operations. Working closely with port supervisory authorities and relevant government departments, YANTIAN will provide stable, efficient, and low-carbon logistics solutions, helping strengthen and expand the real economy. Looking ahead, YANTIAN will continue to contribute to the development of the Shenzhen SEZ, deepen Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation, and support the high-quality development of China's foreign trade.
The journey continues. The future is bright.