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How Cool Is Shenzhen? Just Ask Global Journalists Who Come to See It

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SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — “Shenzhen may well be the world’s No. 1 innovation hub. And together, Shenzhen and Hong Kong form the perfect endpoint of the modern Silk Road.”

That was the glowing verdict American economist Jeffrey Sachs delivered in Shenzhen just over a month ago, effectively giving the city one of the highest-profile stamps of approval in the world of development economics.

Sachs is hardly an ordinary commentator. One of the world’s most influential authorities on sustainable development, and for years a special adviser to the UN secretary-general, he knows a thing or two about how cities and economies grow.

In a recent exclusive interview with Zhi News (from Shenzhen Media Group), Sachs shared his in-depth views. The following is the full report:

when representatives from APEC economies come to Shenzhen, they are bound to be impressed. They will discover that the city is not merely a great place to find capital and business partners, but also a window into entirely new models of development—and perhaps a glimpse of what the future could look like.

After decades of trailblazing development, Shenzhen has more than earned that kind of academic attention. It is, after all, a city built on miracles and a straight-A student in the school of urban development.

The more you admire Shenzhen, the more you begin to understand why it deserves admiration. That, to me, is precisely where the real significance of Shenzhen’s development lies: not simply in what the city has achieved, but in what its experience tells us about where the world may be heading.

As a journalist, I would put it this way: Shenzhen is a mother lode for anyone trying to understand China. For global academia, and perhaps even more so for the world’s media, it is a gold mine of stories, ideas and opportunities.

Over the past year or two, a curious phenomenon has swept across Western social media and, increasingly, Western society itself: China-maxxing, sometimes jokingly described as “becoming Chinese.”

“You met me at a very Chinese time in my life.”

Yes, that viral internet phrase borrows its punchline from the Hollywood classic Fight Club. Earlier this year, The New York Times offered a wonderfully tongue-in-cheek description of the trend in one of its features:  If you drink hot water, wear slippers indoors or shop at Asian supermarkets, you may be Chinese, according to the internet.

But here is what caught my attention.

When it comes to Shenzhen—and China more broadly—Western mainstream media can sometimes be surprisingly slow on the uptake. Take China-maxxing. It only became a mainstream media story, splashed across newspapers and television screens, earlier this year—more than six months after a Twitter user, @Girl_virus, first posted about “becoming Chinese.”

To put it bluntly, China-maxxing was not exactly handed down to the mainstream media from above. The world’s netizens pushed it up there.

The New York Times even framed the provocative question this way in a headline: From Labubu to “becoming Chinese,” has China become cool?

Well, if the Times’ reporter comes to Shenzhen, I’ll make a pretty safe bet: he or she will come away thinking, Shenzhen is super cool.

So here’s my advice to my fellow journalists around the world: follow the lead of those pioneering scholars. Get closer to Shenzhen. Walk into Shenzhen. Stay a little longer. Look a little deeper. And then go farther afield.

There are simply too many fascinating stories here waiting to be told—and too many forces behind those stories waiting to be decoded.

And here’s the best part.

More than two decades ago, Shenzhen residents already had the confidence to put it into one unforgettable slogan:

“Once you come, you’re a Shenzhener.”

I suspect foreign correspondents arriving in Shenzhen today may discover their own version of that old Shenzhen experience:

Come for the story. Stay for the experience. Leave having become, at least a little bit, a Shenzhener.

And trust me, it’s going to be quite an experience. 

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SOURCE Shenzhen Media Group

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Agoda Unveils South Korean Travelers’ Top Domestic and International Destinations for Chuseok Holiday

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September 6, 2026

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– Fukuoka, Tokyo, Osaka, Da Nang, and Nha Trang topped overseas destinations, while Jeju, Busan, Seoul, Sokcho, and Gyeongju led domestic hotspots  

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — With the Chuseok holiday around the corner, South Korean travelers are already making plans to make the most of the four-day break. According to digital travel platform Agoda, accommodation searches for international and domestic destinations have increased by 38% and 160%, respectively, compared to two weeks before the holiday period.

Based on accommodation searches made by South Korean travelers between May to mid-August 2026, Agoda found that Japanese destinations dominated the list of the most-searched overseas destinations for the Chuseok holiday. Fukuoka ranked first, followed by Tokyo and Osaka. Beyond Japan, Vietnamese destinations also proved popular, with Da Nang and Nha Trang rounding out the top five. The findings highlight South Korean travelers’ continued preference for short- and mid-haul destinations, where they can enjoy a combination of cultural experiences and seaside leisure.

Due to its proximity to South Korea with an average flight time of just 1.5 hours from Seoul, Fukuoka is one of the most accessible Japanese destinations for South Korean travelers. The destination is expected to become even more accessible with Eastar Jet’s expanded services on the Incheon–Fukuoka route through October 24, and the Busan–Fukuoka route from August 29 to October 24, covering the Chuseok holiday period.

For those making travel plans closer to home, Jeju ranked as the most-searched domestic destination, with a 131% increase in travel interest, followed by Busan (147%), Seoul (64%), Sokcho (324%), and Gyeongju (222%). Sokcho, which recorded the strongest growth in search interest among the top 5 domestic destinations, saw tourism expenditure by South Korean travelers increase by 8.2% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. The high growth in interest in Sokcho’, driven by its diverse mix of mountains, beaches, lakes, culinary experiences and cultural attractions, suggests that the destination could see continued visitor demand through the second half of the year, including during the Chuseok holiday period.

Gyeongju, which ranked fifth, continues to attract South Korean travelers with its historic sites and rich cultural heritage. The city’s appeal could be further boosted by expanded KTX and KTX-Eum services scheduled to begin in September, offering travelers improved rail connectivity during the autumn travel season.

Alex Park, Country Director, South Korea at Agoda shared, “As the Chuseok holiday approaches, South Korean travelers are showing strong interest in nearby destinations, with domestic travel seeing particularly strong demand. As a global travel platform, Agoda is committed to supporting travelers with diverse preferences by offering great deals on flights, accommodation, and activities, whether they are looking to explore destinations overseas or closer to home.”

As South Korean travelers finalize their Chuseok holiday plans, Agoda continues to offer a seamless booking experience across more than six million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities worldwide. To find the best deals for autumn travel to Asia and beyond, visit Agoda.com or download the Agoda mobile app. As part of Agoda’s August Mega Sale, travelers can enjoy up to 60% off on hotel bookings during the main sale through 31 August.

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SOURCE Agoda

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TECNO Wins Two IFA Global Product Technology Innovation Awards for Modular Phone and Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS

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September 5, 2026

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BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TECNO, a global AI-driven innovative technology brand, achieved two IFA Global Product Technology Innovation Awards at IFA 2026:

Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS took the Miniaturized Gaming PC Technology Innovation Gold Award, standing out with its Italian aesthetics and exceptional performance in the compact body. The TECNO Modular Phone was honored with the Ultra-Slim Magnetic Modular Technology Innovation Gold Award, praised for its ultra-slim craftsmanship and unique modular magnetic technology.

These awards once again demonstrate TECNO’s sustained breakthroughs in product innovation and industry-leading craftsmanship in design excellence. The Global Product Technology Innovation Awards were established in 2014 by IDG, IFA, and DIHK to celebrate excellence across the global consumer electronics industry. The awards honor products that set new industry benchmarks and drive innovation through intelligent technology and user-centric design.

TECNO Modular Phone: The World’s Thinnest Modular Smartphone

At just 4.9mm, the TECNO Modular Phone is powered by proprietary Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology. It combines a precision magnetic array with pogo-pin connectors, offering a flexible ecosystem for different needs. The host retains a 3000–4000mAh battery, while modules draw power directly for a snap-and-go experience. It also resolves the inherent conflict between rising AI computing demands and limited device space.

The technology has earned over 20 accolades from leading media, with CNET and Yanko Design naming it the Best of MWC 2026, and The Verge recognizing it as the Best Mobile Tech at MWC 2026.

Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS: One of the World’s Smallest Water-Cooling Gaming Mini-PCs

At around 6.36 liters, the panoramic transparent chassis of the Tonino Lamborghini TECNO TAURUS fuses iconic Italian design with raw engineering. Powered by the Intel® Core™ i9-13900HK and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5060 (614 AI TOPS, 145W TGP, DLSS 4), it achieves the pinnacle of performance, providing a high-fidelity gaming experience and high-efficiency AI workstation. The water-cooling system sustains peak frequencies, while 15 ports and WiFi 6E deliver connectivity. It was recognized with Yanko Design’s Best of MWC award.

In addition, TECNO made waves at IFA with the Next-Gen Bezelless Concept Phone featuring a revolutionary 0mm screen bezel, and the convertible laptop MEGABOOK T15 360 Pro. Relentlessly pushing the boundaries of design, performance, and AI innovation, TECNO is pioneering limitless possibilities for futuristic technology.

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Morpho UV Printer Unveiled at IFA with Hands-On Live Creation

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4 hours ago

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September 5, 2026

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BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Morpho, a company specializing in UV printing technology, is showcasing its first desktop UV printer at IFA 2026, Hall 17-196. Visitors are observing Morpho’s colorful, textured prints, and some have the opportunity to print on a range of blank materials provided.

Morpho’s desktop UV printer can print on a wide range of materials, including wood, glass, leather, metal, and more, delivering vivid colors and tactile textures for customized results. At IFA 2026, the booth attracted interest from creators, educators, and technology professionals, who gathered to watch live demonstrations.

Among those who have tried Morpho’s printer, three aspects are most frequently highlighted: print quality, the moving gantry design, and overall ease of use.

Visitors are first drawn to the prints, which feature precise color reproduction and finely detailed textile textures. With G7 Master ColorSpace certification, Morpho ensures consistent tones across different pieces. The same level of precision is evident in the raised textures created by the industrial-grade printhead, which builds fine layers of ink for detailed, tactile surfaces. The printhead maintains fast carriage motion speeds of up to 600mm/s while preserving precise detail.

Attendees have also noted the printer’s compact desktop footprint. With its moving gantry architecture—where the entire gantry moves along both axes—the printer offers a large, fully enclosed print chamber that accommodates various objects while remaining desktop-friendly.

First-time users have given positive feedback on Morpho’s usability. The integrated Stereo Vision Smart Alignment™ System quickly captures an object’s height and contours, while Morpho Studio’s guided workflows help users move from idea to print with minimal setup.

Morpho’s team shared that the program has been in development for several years, with the goal of making UV printers a practical tool for everyday creative use. Founder Mingyu “Brett” Wang, formerly Global VP of R&D at DJI, commented, “We communicate directly with our community, listen to feedback, and make fast improvements.”

Ahead of IFA, Morpho’s Kickstarter campaign surpassed $10 million in support from over 2,800 backers worldwide. The company is committed to further developing its proprietary core technology and delivering reliable engineering for creators, makers, and small businesses.

Visit Morpho’s website to learn more.

About Morpho: Morpho develops desktop UV printers that bring industrial-grade printing and coloring to everyday materials, enabling creators to turn almost any physical surface into a canvas for their ideas.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/morpho-uv-printer-unveiled-at-ifa-with-hands-on-live-creation-302870741.html

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