Guests take photos at Shenzhen Bay Cultural Park.
For a group of young poets from China and the Arab world, Shenzhen was more than just a stop on their cultural tour. It was a chance to see how China imagines the future—where technology, culture and city life are closely connected.
On May 11, more than 100 poets, writers and literary scholars participating in the 2026 International Youth Poetry Festival (China-Arab States Session) visited the southern Chinese tech hub. Known for its fast pace and innovation, Shenzhen offered a very different stage for poetry.
The visit brought together two worlds that rarely meet: poetry and technology.
At Tencent and Huawei, the group explored how artificial intelligence, digital communication and smart city systems are being used in real life. Many visitors were experiencing this technology up close for the first time.
Guests visit Huawei.
They saw how AI can help preserve cultural heritage, including the digital reconstruction of historic sites such as the Mogao Caves. They also learned how 5G and smart devices are already part of daily life in Chinese cities—from communication to public services.
But Shenzhen is not only about technology.
At the Bay Area Store of Shenzhen Book City, also known as the "Eye of the Bay Area", the poets entered one of the largest bookstores in the world. The space is designed to combine reading, art, exhibitions and public events. Some poets browsed international poetry books, while others simply sat and reflected on how literature connects different cultures.
Nearby, at Shenzhen Bay Cultural Park, the group experienced another side of the city. The waterfront park combines public art, design and open urban space. Many poets stopped to take photos with art installations inspired by Chinese calligraphy. It became a quiet moment in a busy city, where art and poetry met in everyday life.
Guests take photos at the Bay Area Store of Shenzhen Book City.
The Shenzhen visit is part of the wider 2026 International Youth Poetry Festival, which runs from May 8 to 17 across Guangdong and Beijing. The festival brings together poets and scholars from China and Arab countries for readings, discussions and cultural visits.
On May 12, the group will return to Guangzhou. They will visit Sun Yat-sen University and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies for campus poetry events with students. In the evening, they will gather on the Pearl River for a poetry night cruise, where they will share new works inspired by their journey through Guangdong.
After that, the festival will move to Beijing on May 13, continuing the cultural exchange in China's capital.
Reporter: Li Muzi
Photo: Nanfang Plus
