A multimedia guide that aims to ease expats’ life and work in Shenzhen was jointly launched by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shenzhen Municipal Government and EyeShenzhen, the city’s official multilingual portal, in Futian District on Thursday. The launch ceremony was brimming with technological elements including an AI-powered digital MC, real-time translation, and an interactive experience with EyeShenzhen’s Chatbot.

Over 60 representatives from various local units and institutions, including the foreign affairs office, talent affairs bureau, commerce bureau, and public security bureau, as well as Shenzhen Global Communication Ambassadors and expats residing in the city attended the event.

EyeShenzhen’s AI-powered digital MC Alvin is the host of the ceremony. Photos by Liu Xudong

The three-part guide provides expatriate residents, international talent, and overseas visitors with comprehensive information that helps them better navigate the city and enjoy their lives and work here. The first part is comprised of several immersive videos powered by creative technology. The second is a series of videos that show expats and international tourists how to handle issues related to taxation, medical services, public transportation, obtaining a bank card, purchasing a SIM card, booking cultural and sports venues, and volunteering. The final part is “A Foreigner’s Guide to Shenzhen,” a multilingual handbook that includes an overview of Shenzhen, tips for newcomers, sightseeing advice, and other useful information.

This all-encompassing combination provides expat residents and tourists in Shenzhen with essential and practical information, as well as service details that are necessary for their work, daily life, and travel. Furthermore, the information is presented in a clear, convenient, and visually appealing manner to help foreign friends quickly adapt to life in Shenzhen.

Marina Vilchinskaia from Russia shakes hands with a UBTech robot.

The videos and the electronic version of the foreigner’s guide will be launched on the official WeChat account of the foreign affairs office and the EyeShenzhen website soon.

The ceremony also marked the launch of a partner program aimed at transforming Shenzhen into a city with a world-class business environment. This initiative invites relevant units and organizations to work together to promote Shenzhen’s city image and facilitate its efforts towards internationalization.

Gabriela Cojocaru from Moldova is among the attentive listeners at the event.

Representatives of the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats, the Shenzhen Tax Service, the Shenzhen Culture, Media, Tourism, and Sports Bureau, and the People’s Bank of China Shenzhen Branch were invited to share their efforts to better serve the city’s foreign residents by building one-stop, expat-friendly service systems and streamlining operations.

“The guide launched by EyeShenzhen is very good for informing foreigners about coming to Shenzhen,” said Matteo Convertino, one of the seven Shenzhen Global Communication Ambassadors present at the ceremony.

“When I first arrived here, such a guide was probably not available, making it more difficult for me to get the information I needed. If I were to move here now, it would be easier because I would at least know the general framework of how things work,” he added.

Launched on June 10 last year, EyeShenzhen has ushered in a new era of international communication. With versions available in nine languages — English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, and Portuguese — it has made Shenzhen the first city in China to host such a multilingual official portal website.