Humans of Shenzhen
Our Series
These stories focus on specific groups and populations, exploring their unique identities, experiences, and challenges in daily life. From urban village residents facing gentrification and urban renewal to garment workers losing jobs to factory relocations, read about the lives of those that live around you, one story at a time.
These are the stories of Shenzhen's garment workers. A labor-intensive industry, clothing production offered millions of jobs for migrant workers seeking economic opportunities in China's growing cities in the 1990s through 2000s. They produce what we wear every day, yet their stories are rarely heard...
China's urban villages --- called "villages surrounded by cities" in Chinese --- consist of old, shoddily-constructed small apartments often rented to migrant workers at low price. High crime rates, growing rental price, unsanitary environment, lack of infrastructure, and urban renewal initiatives continually pose challenges to the residents of urban villages.
Read the 10 stories from Shenzhen's taxi drivers Shenzhen had documented over 340,000 licensed drivers by 2025, most of whom are not directly employed by gig platforms but contracted to third-parties, making them especially vulnerable to exploitation. With heightening competition amid inadequate labor protection, drivers face steep socioeconomic challenges...
Read the 7 stories from Shenzhen's Service Center for the Disabled, where I worked as a volunteer for 4 years. In 2021, the Center offered extensive rehabilitation services, providing 1,041 disabled individuals with assistive devices while subsidizing vocational training for 1,584 disabled children. Social workers are central to this system, delivering personalized rehabilitation, psychological services, and community-based family support.