On October 14th in Shanghai, the event themed “Shanghai-Hong Kong Integration: Creating a Future Together” officially launched, welcoming 30 young Hong Kong employees for a five-day exploration of the city. This program, part of the “I See·I Know” series aimed at enhancing Hong Kong youth’s understanding of their homeland, offers a deep dive into Shanghai’s red culture, cosmopolitan spirit, and Jiangnan heritage.
Shanghai and Hong Kong, both coastal cities, share a unique bond rooted in their maritime origins. Since the reform and opening-up, Hong Kong residents have been at the forefront of engaging in the development of Shanghai, serving as a bridge for Shanghainese enterprises venturing abroad.
During the ice-breaking activity, Hong Kong participants quickly formed three groups, coming up with creative group names and slogans while designing their logos. One group, led by participant Wang Qi, ingeniously combined symbols of both cities—the magnolia representing Shanghai and the Bauhinia for Hong Kong—branding themselves as “White-Purple Win-Win.” Wang expressed, “We hope that both cities can continue to flourish together.”
The event featured a fun quiz, posing questions about Shanghai’s historical timeline and geographical features, allowing the Hong Kong youth to grasp key aspects of the city quickly. When the discussion shifted to Shanghai dialects, participants had their struggles deciphering local phrases like “pearl rice” and “burial coffin,” along with English loanwords adapted into the dialect. With guidance from the host, many found themselves thoroughly amused and surprised by the richness of the local language.
Dai Zhenhua, Deputy Director of the Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, addressed the group, encouraging them to take full advantage of this experience to learn more about Shanghai, its national context, and to make new friends, all while broadening their horizons to contribute to future Shanghai-Hong Kong collaboration.
Having worked in Hong Kong for a decade, Wang Qi shared his perspective during an interview. “Shanghai is an international financial hub, and many of my clients are based here. Although I have visited numerous times for work, I still don’t know much about the city. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of Shanghai’s history and its new developments through this event. I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences with more friends back in Hong Kong.”
Throughout the program, participants will engage with the theme “Cities Make Life Better” while visiting locations like the Shanghai Jiushi Art Museum and the Baoshan Renewable Energy Utilization Center. They will explore “Light of Science and Innovation, Shanghai Manufacturing” at industry parks and the Shanghai Pharmaceutical Research Management Center. Additional activities include visits to the Shanghai History Museum and the Shanghai Tower, interactive sessions on intangible cultural heritage, and forums focused on the theme “The Beauty of Cities Blending Tradition and Modernity” at the Expo Cultural Park.
