China first opened its doors to foreign investment in the 1980s with the establishment of the first Special Economic Zones in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou and Xiamen. Since then many other SEZs have been opened, and a number of other designations have been created to encourage different types of investment.

One of the busiest ports in China and one of the fastest growing cities in the world, Shenzen Municipality has an official population of 13 million, 6 in the city itself.