Marking the 46th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, the documentary "My Answer, My City" premiered nationwide in Shenzhen on August 26. Three years in the making, the film was guided by the Guangdong Federation of Trade Unions and initiated by the Shenzhen Federation of Trade Unions. It was produced by the Shenzhen Modern Light Music Orchestra and undertaken by Caixin Creative (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
The film turns its lens on the everyday workers of Shenzhen, following seven workers from different generations, professions, and stages of life to show how they seek out and pursue their own "answers" through their actions in the city. Huang Xing, a quay crane operator at YANTIAN, is featured as one of the film's seven exemplary figures. Through his story, the growth and transformation of Yantian Port also becomes a vivid microcosm of the development of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.
A Film for the Everyday People of Shenzhen
The film turns its lens on the everyday workers of Shenzhen. Wang Shaohan, the film's director, said, "Over the course of three years, we visited 11 districts of Shenzhen and interviewed nearly 100 people. We ultimately selected seven individuals, ranging in age from 21 to 82, in the hope of telling the stories of everyday Shenzheners from different generations."
At 51, Huang Xing is the only representative from the port industry among the seven featured individuals. His story also brings the growth and development of Yantian Port to the big screen for the first time, giving audiences across China a glimpse into the port's journey and its role in Shenzhen's development.
22+ Years of Accident-Free Dedication at 50 Metres Above Ground
Huang Xing, a quay crane operator at YANTIAN, has received numerous honours, including the National May 1 Labour Medal, the title of National Technical Expert, the Guangdong May 1 Labour Medal, and the Shenzhen May 1 Labour Medal twice.
From a driver's cab more than 50 metres above the ground, he has maintained an exceptional safety record of more than 22 years without an accident. Today, he is passing on his hard-earned expertise to the next generation, taking on the important responsibility of training new quay crane operators. He was also elected by a wide margin as vice chairman of the YANTIAN Trade Union and a representative of union members. He is a true embodiment of the spirit of craftsmanship. His story captures the core values championed by the trade union movement—the spirit of model workers, the spirit of labour, and the spirit of craftsmanship—while showcasing the dedication, professionalism, and pursuit of excellence of industrial workers in their everyday roles.
A Vivid Microcosm of a Port and Its City
Huang Xing's story is never just about one individual. Behind his journey stands Yantian Port, a vivid microcosm of Shenzhen's 46-year journey as a Special Economic Zone.
Nestled along Shenzhen's eastern coast, Yantian Port has grown alongside the city throughout its development as a Special Economic Zone. From tidal flats to a world-class shipping hub, Yantian Port connects China's vast manufacturing hinterland with markets around the globe. It is not only a vital link in safeguarding the security of China's industrial and supply chains, but also a driving force behind Shenzhen's remarkable story of opening up to the world.
Making all this possible are millions of ordinary workers like Huang Xing. Day after day, they dedicate themselves to their respective roles, building a solid foundation for port operations with their own hands and helping propel the city's prosperity and growth.
As Lin Qiuyu, director of the Publicity, Education and Online Work Department of the Shenzhen Federation of Trade Unions, said at the premiere, "Shenzhen's achievements are not found in grand slogans, but in the solid footprints left year after year, day after day, by millions of workers."
Passing on the Spirit of Craftsmanship to Drive High-Quality Industry Development
Generation after generation of people of YANTIAN have shaped the port's story through dedication, ingenuity, perseverance, and innovation, embodying a strong sense of responsibility every step of the way.
YANTIAN has long championed innovation-driven development and actively promoted the spirit of model workers, the spirit of labour, and the spirit of craftsmanship. It encourages more workers, especially younger generations, to pursue excellence through technical skills and put their expertise to work for the nation. By cultivating highly skilled professionals and master craftsmen, YANTIAN is building a strong talent pool to support China's efforts to become a leading transportation power and to pioneer the advancement of Chinese-style modernization.
YANTIAN remains committed to supporting the development of China as a leading maritime and port nation and to cultivating top technical talent for the port industry. To date, it has trained 21 national-, provincial-, and municipal-level technical experts and received 10 national-, provincial-, and municipal-level labour medals.
Looking ahead, YANTIAN will continue to drive the high-quality development of the port industry through concrete action, injecting fresh momentum into regional economic growth and technological innovation while taking on greater responsibility for the industry's future.
🎥My Answer, My City is now showing in cinemas nationwide. Audiences can check showtimes on major ticketing platforms and head to a cinema to discover how a YANTIAN quay crane operator has written his own answer to life from a driver's cab 50 metres above the ground.