Wang Yuanyuan

BACK in 1981, when Dr. Larry Donnithorne, president of Colorado Christian University and former professor of the United States Military Academy at West Point, first came to Shenzhen, he could never have foreseen that the small and undeveloped town would become an impressive metropolis one day.

At that time, he was on holiday with his wife in Hong Kong. They were so curious about the mysterious mainland China that, knowing that China had recently opened to Westerners like them, they decided to go for a one-day trip to Shenzhen to see what life was like on the mainland.

Donnithorne came back to Shenzhen with his wife May 25 this year, 27 years after his previous "adventure," for a seminar about leadership at Shenzhen Graduate School of Beijing University.

"When I arrived in Shenzhen the second time, I saw dramatic and stunning changes in this city. I could not believe that it was the small, undeveloped town I had been to 27 years ago," he said.

The city was no longer full of black bicycles, which dominated the Shenzhen streets 27 years ago and left a strong impression on Donnithorne, but a city of cars. "There are so many cars running on the street now, just like Hong Kong and black bicycles have all disappeared," he said.

There is no difference between Hong Kong and Shenzhen now, from his point of view. People are busy working everyday and walk fast all the time.

Narrow and dirty roads have been replaced by clean and wide streets and greenery can be seen everywhere in the city. "I am especially impressed by the beautiful architecture of the city, quite different from 27 years ago," he said.

"I've been here twice and both times were just a one-day trip. I could get a general picture of the whole town 27 years ago, but this time I could not. I even had no idea if I had been to Luohu this time, because it is totally different from the Luohu I saw 27 years ago," he said.

"I did not buy anything the first time I was here, because there was nothing to buy at that time. But this time, I went shopping after the seminar with my wife and have filled up our suitcases," he said.

In Donnithorne's mind, there is no difference between shopping in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. They bought many electronic products because of the wide range and reasonable prices. They were also surprised by the giant shopping malls in the city.

"I know that China has become more developed during these 27 years. When I went to Shanghai and Beijing, I was not so surprised at their development and modernization. But changes in Shenzhen really amazed me, because I've been here before and I know what it was like 27 years ago. It's stunning to see how people have grown and changed in just 27 years," Donnithorne said.