Shenzhen‘s Other Side: Riding Through Yuanfen Village at Sunset | 16 Oct 2023

Описание: 16 October 2023, evening. Exiting Yuanfen Station in Longhua District, my cousin picked me up on his e‑bike and took me to his place. Heading toward Dalang, weaving through streets and alleys. Sunset. Flaming clouds.

Casual footage by the filmmaker of Masters in the Forbidden City and Every Treasure Tells a Story.

———
He didn‘t go to university. Came to Shenzhen in 2010, works in electronics trading.

Lately, business has slowed. In the first eight months of 2023, growth in Shenzhen’s electronics exports moderated—computer parts up 4.8%, mobile phones up 3.9%. Everyone in the supply chain feels the shift.

———
Yuanfen New Village, Dalang Subdistrict, Longhua—next to Yuanfen Station on Metro Line 6.

About 100,000 sq m, 261 self‑built buildings, over 25,000 residents—more than 90% non‑locals. Since 2018, a market‑driven renovation project has transformed over 100 buildings into apartments, serving over 10,000 young residents.

The area now has a new name: “Vtone Youth Community.” Nearly 90% of tenants are under 35. Shared spaces include basketball courts, study rooms, gyms, shared kitchens, community canteens—a “10‑minute learning and fitness circle”. Building exteriors painted in vibrant colors.

———
Shenzhen‘s常住 population is nearly 18 million. Some say 10 million live in places like this—county‑town style urban villages.

The numbers back it up. Shenzhen’s urban villages cover about 320 sq km—one‑sixth of the city‘s total area. Over 1,700 villages, over 13.43 million residents. Seven out of ten Shenzheners live in urban villages. These places give people a foothold in the metropolis.

———
My cousin rode, weaving through narrow lanes.

Sun stretching shadows. Sky painted orange. Renovated colorful apartment buildings next to old, untouched homes. Young workers with takeout boxes heading home, children running through alleys, elderly sitting by doors enjoying the cool.

Shenzhen‘s other side—not finance, high‑tech, Tencent, Huawei—but these earthy, livable places.

———
Where do we begin to understand a city?

With its “other side”—Yuanfen‘s evening streets, flaming clouds seen from an e‑bike.
With its people—my cousin hustling since 2010, the 13 million living in urban villages.
With its warmth—children’s laughter, elders‘ fans, takeout boxes in young hands.

#我在故宫修文物 #如果国宝会说话 #慢下来看世界 #纪录片 #用摄影在街头记录时代 #人间百态 #骑行看世界 #拍出电影感 #在路上 #深圳 #大都市 #听一个城市的声音 #元芬村 #城中村 #龙华区
#MastersInTheForbiddenCity #EveryTreasureTellsAStory #SlowDownSeeTheWorld #Documentary #DocumentingEra #HumanCondition #CyclingTheWorld #Cinematic #OnTheRoad #Shenzhen #Metropolis #ListenToTheCity #YuanfenVillage #UrbanVillage #LonghuaDistrict #WanderingWithYeJun #YeJunsWorld #NotesOfAWanderer #WhereToBegin

2023年10月16日，傍晚。龙华区元芬地铁站出来，表弟骑电动车带我去他的住处。朝着大浪的方向，穿梭在各种街道里。有夕阳，有火烧云。
———
他没有读大学，2010年来深圳工作，做电子贸易。这几年，生意没那么好做了。2023年前8个月，深圳电子信息产品出口增速有所放缓，电脑零部件出口增长4.8%，手机出口增长3.9%。产业链上的每个人，都能感受到这种变化。

———
元芬新村，就在龙华区大浪街道，毗邻地铁6号线元芬站。这里占地约10万平方米，有261栋自建房，居住人口超过2.5万人，其中超九成是外来人口。2018年起，这里开始了市场化统租改造，已完成改造100余栋公寓，累计服务青年住户逾万人。

改造后的村子有了新名字——微棠新青年社区。租户中35岁以下年轻人占比近九成。村里配套了篮球场、自习室、健身房、共享厨房、社区食堂等共享空间，打造“10分钟学习圈、健身圈”。外墙被刷上彩色，五彩斑斓的公寓楼成了元芬的特色。
———
深圳常住人口接近1800万，有人说其中1000万是住在这种县城和城中村一样的地方。

这个数据有它的依据。深圳城中村用地总规模约320平方公里，占全市土地总面积的1/6。城中村数量超过1700个，常住人口超过1343万人。也就是说，在深圳，每10个人中就有至少7个人住在城中村里。这些县城感的地方，给了很多人留在大都市打拼和生活的机会。

———
表弟骑电动车，穿梭在窄巷里。夕阳把影子拉得很长，火烧云把天边染成橙色。经过改造的彩色公寓楼和旁边还未改造的老旧民房交错在一起。有刚下班的年轻人拎着盒饭往住处走，有孩子在巷子里跑来跑去，有老人在门口坐着乘凉。

这就是深圳的另一面——不是金融、高科技、腾讯、华为，而是这些充满生活气息的县城感的地方。
———
我们从何处开始了解一座城市？
从它的“另一面”开始——从元芬村傍晚的街道，从电动车上看到的火烧云。
从它的人开始——从2010年来深圳打拼的表弟，从那些住在城中村里的1343万人。
从它的温度开始——从巷子里孩子的笑声，从门口老人的蒲扇，从刚下班的年轻人手里的盒饭。
#我在故宫修文物 #慢下来看世界 #用摄影在街头记录时代 #换个地方看看人间烟火 #骑行研究所 #拍出电影感 #如果国宝会说话 #在深圳生活是什么体验 #深圳生活打工人真实日常 #在龙华偶遇的人间烟火气