The Shenzhen-themed tram runs in Italy. The official WeChat account “文旅深圳” (SZ culture and tourism)
Italian netizens have recently shared videos of a Shenzhen-themed tram traveling through local streets. The tram's exterior, which is covered with posters of iconic cityscapes, both highlights the city's cultural and tourism appeal and showcases Shenzhen's vibrant culture.
These visuals bring Shenzhen's landmarks, such as Shenzhen Bay Park, the Ping An International Finance Center, the Civic Center, and the Bay Glory Ferris Wheel, to life, sparking attention and admiration from locals in Milan and Florence.
The stunning images have also resonated with Chinese students abroad, who shared their pride and warmth on social media platforms like TikTok. Many students posted videos of the tram, especially moved by the bold words "China Shenzhen" as Chinese New Year approaches.
Known for its innovation, Shenzhen has long captivated global audiences with its unique charm. Similarly, Milan and Florence, Italy's cultural and fashion capitals, are equally renowned worldwide. The debut of the Shenzhen-themed tram marks another step in strengthening cultural and tourism ties between these vibrant regions.
Shenzhen established a sister-city relationship with Milan in 2018, fostering collaboration in fashion, culture, and tourism. Since then, Shenzhen has participated in Milan Fashion Week for four consecutive years, and in 2022, Milan hosted the first international promotion for Shenzhen Design Week and the Global Design Awards.
The Shenzhen-Milan passenger flight route was launched last year.
Shenzhen and Florence have also been expanding their cooperation in culture, education, and business. In 2023, the Shenzhen base of the Shanghai-Florence Sino-Italian Design Exchange Center was inaugurated, creating a link between Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Florence. This partnership has fostered deeper exchanges in art, design, and cultural creativity between China and Italy.
With Shenzhen's promotional posters now on Italian streets, the initiative aims to attract more European tourists to Shenzhen while promoting richer cultural exchange and mutual understanding. This effort is set to open up new opportunities for international tourism collaboration between the two regions.