Dec. 8 – Shenzhen has won the UNESCO City of Design award; the first Chinese city ever to be given the recognition.

The city was recognized for its dynamic development, history and young population according to a panel of UNESCO experts. It is now part of the global ranks of the Creative Cities Network that will allow member cities to share experiences in promoting local heritage, creative industries and coping cope with globalization.

“Communicating and cooperating with other members of UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Shenzhen will again be a window to show Chinese design and innovation to the world,” Zhang Xinsheng, director of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO and vice minister of education told Shenzhen Daily. “The award will also have positive influence on the city’s innovative industry.”

According to Shenzhen Mayor Xu Zongheng, the city was given the title because it was the innovative model city in China. He added that Shenzhen would establish state-level creative industrial bases to train design practitioners, along with design exhibitions and competitions to develop international cooperation.

The Creative Cities Network aims to encourage creative industries in such fields as music, literature, design, film, gastronomy and media. The network has 16 members around the world and Shenzhen now joins the ranks of the cities of Buenos Aires, Berlin, Montreal, Kobe and Nagoya. The City of Design award began in 2004 to support social, economic and cultural developments among leading international cities.

Picture of Shenzhen Central courtesy of Arjalvaran.