I lived in Beijing for ten years. The city was old, filled with history. There, you met all kinds of people. From the professor walking in the park to the beggar on the street. Each person had a story, a piece of the city’s long history. You felt the weight of the past in every tree, every stone, every cicada’s song. Life in Beijing was about depth. It made you think about culture, history, and what it means to live. Every moment felt worth remembering.
Then, I moved to Shenzhen. A city of the future. Modern buildings, shopping malls, and parks. Life here is about now, about making money, shopping, and enjoying the sun by the sea. People focus overseas rather than nationally. Maybe it is because Shenzhen’s geography sharpens people’s minds to think outside rather than inside. The city is fast, efficient. It gives you comfort, but you miss the soul of Beijing. In Shenzhen, you live better, but you feel less.
In Beijing, you reflect. In Shenzhen, you act. One city teaches you to look inside, the other to look forward. Both leave their mark, shaping how you see the world. And between them, you find who you are.