The Creative Express is about to depart!

Creative enthusiasts who previously complained about tight deadlines, we have good news! To ensure you catch this year’s creative train, we’ve extended the departure time to October 28th. Now you have plenty of time to board!

Current passengers already on board include: a robot that writes love poems, an “AR time traveler” who puts the ancient Dapeng Fortress into augmented reality glasses, and a “future architect” who’s installing an AI engine into Shenzhen’s character and preparing for a spectacular launch at the Bay Area Eye on December 5th!

But the doors haven’t closed yet! We depart promptly at 24:00 on October 28th. Jump on board now and your project could take center stage at the Bay Area Eye on December 5th! If you miss this, you’ll have to wait until next year’s 22nd edition!

Previous Creative December event activities

This Year’s Theme is Incredibly Cool

「AI·Shenzhen Future」= AI brings Shenzhen to the future!

We’ve even created the official English name: AI ShenZhen Time～

(Say it quickly and it sounds like “I Love Shenzhen Era” – romantic enough?)

Here’s How You Can Participate

Make Wing Chun perform algorithmic moves in the metaverse

Transform intangible cultural heritage lion dance into AR filters that dance when you blink at your phone

Design “Shenzhen Gift” souvenirs that make friends want to relocate immediately

Build a robot that writes love poems and confess under the “Bay Area Eye”

Projects can focus on digital technology-driven cultural industries, artificial intelligence, digital technology, robotics, cultural heritage development, Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation, innovation frontiers, and creative design. Categories include design planning, crafts and arts, intangible cultural heritage, cultural creative displays, art technology, and urban creativity.

No format restrictions – just be innovative, exciting, and quintessentially Shenzhen!

Official Benefits

Center stage at the Bay Area Eye opening ceremony for your showcase

Free weekend creative market stalls throughout December – sell your original creations while having fun

Citywide media coverage, trending topics, and subway screen exposure – becoming famous is inevitable!

Previous Creative December event activities

Since its establishment in 2005, Shenzhen’s “Creative December” has hosted hundreds of creative activities rich in cultural and technological elements each year. It has become a public celebration where citizens pursue cultural trends, enjoy creative concepts, and participate in creative design, while significantly driving the rapid development of Shenzhen’s cultural creative industry.

This year’s “Creative December” adopts “AI·Shenzhen Future” (English: AI ShenZhen Time) as the annual theme, with “Carnival of Public Design” as the direction, emphasizing the “new public design” concept to promote universal creativity, participation, and sharing. The event also focuses on the 45th anniversary of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, the rapid development of Shenzhen’s film industry, deepening Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation, dual-zone development, cultural innovation and entrepreneurship, cultural heritage development, and building innovation frontiers.

After the collection period ends, the Shenzhen “Creative December” organizing committee will select key projects from the applications and provide certain subsidies.

Key Timeline

From now until October 28th, cultural creative parks, cultural enterprises, and artistic organizations across Shenzhen can showcase their innovative ideas! Projects with novel perspectives, high public participation, significant influence, outstanding innovation, and strong feasibility are all welcome to apply!

– Project Collection: Now – October 28

– Key Project Announcement: November

– Application Platform Website:

– Application Notes: Projects should原则上 be held in Shenzhen during December 2025

Complete the form in 3 minutes, and you could

Dapeng Fortress

Dapeng Fortress is a well-preserved Ming Dynasty coastal defense fortress located in Shenzhen, China. It was constructed in 1394 to defend the region against pirates and played a significant role in coastal protection for centuries. Today, it stands as a national cultural heritage site, offering a glimpse into ancient Chinese military architecture and history.

Bay Area Eye

Based on the name, “Bay Area Eye” appears to be a modern optometry practice or vision care center located in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a contemporary business, it does not have a significant historical background like a cultural landmark. Its “history” would simply be its establishment and operation, providing eye care services to the local community.

Wing Chun

Wing Chun is a Chinese martial art that originated in southern China approximately 300 years ago. According to legend, it was developed by the Buddhist nun Ng Mui as a system that could be mastered quickly to effectively combat larger and stronger opponents. It is characterized by its economy of movement, close-range combat techniques, and its most famous practitioner, the late martial arts film star Bruce Lee.

Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a major modern city in Guangdong Province, China, adjacent to Hong Kong. It was designated as China’s first Special Economic Zone in 1980, transforming from a small fishing village into a global hub for technology, manufacturing, and finance. This rapid development has made it a symbol of China’s economic reform and opening-up policy.

Shenzhen Special Economic Zone

The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was established in 1980 in Guangdong Province, China, as a pioneering experiment in market-economic reforms. It was transformed from a small fishing village into a global hub for manufacturing, technology, and innovation, serving as a model for China’s rapid economic growth. Its success demonstrated the effectiveness of China’s “reform and opening-up” policy, attracting foreign investment and fostering unprecedented urban development.

Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation

The Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation is a strategic partnership between the Chinese mainland city of Shenzhen and the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong. This collaboration, which intensified after Hong Kong’s 1997 handover, has been pivotal in developing the Greater Bay Area, focusing on economic integration, infrastructure links, and technological innovation. It has transformed Shenzhen from a fishing village into a global tech hub while reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as an international financial center.

Creative December

I am unable to provide a summary for “Creative December” as it does not appear to be a widely recognized place or established cultural site. The term may refer to a specific local event, festival, or initiative, but without more specific context, I cannot confirm its history or significance.

intangible cultural heritage lion dance

The lion dance is a traditional Chinese performance art with roots dating back over a thousand years to the Tang Dynasty. It is performed during festive occasions, such as Lunar New Year, to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, it combines martial arts, music, and acrobatics in a vibrant display of cultural symbolism.