When I was there in 2019 the area looked really sad. All the residential buildings had been built but they were boarded up, partially complete and semi-abandoned. As I said, the place is hopping now . They’re close enough to Shenzhen proper that it makes sense that they would not be part of a general real estate downturn.
It’s nice that the market seems to have found a way to coexist - even if it means their customers are now further away from them.
Anyone go to south China city? That was always an interesting one.
I feel for the people working there. It’s bright enough that I think it will damage their eyesight over time.
It’s interesting to see the drop in density, those 1.5mx1.5m market booths replaced by offices with counters that are more like 4mx2m or bigger.
The stalls were pretty fancy, and the offices to the side were maybe even fancier. I think overall the markets and the city were both better and worse now, but I get slightly depressed thinking about how that still means they are better than anything else regardless.
12 years ago???
6 phrases and a calculator really could get you around Shenzhen 
Some familiar faces and places in this video (that was linked to on the Strange Parts discord).
