SEZ - Special Economy Zone (2007)

One of Deng Xiaoping's most renowned reforms was the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) along China’s south-eastern coast, particularly in Guangdong Province. These SEZs are characterised as foreign trade-oriented regions, where global capital investments are welcomed with minimal oversight from the central government. Investors benefit from tax incentives and reduced customs duties, making these zones attractive for international business. The economic transformation that lifted China out of the hardships of the Maoist era is, in many ways, closely tied to the establishment of such zones in strategically chosen locations across the country.

Supported by Fundação Oriente, this body of work explores the unique landscapes of these areas, as well as the living conditions of the workers who helped establish China as the “factory of the world.”

All photographs were taken in Guangdong Province (primarily Shenzhen and Zhuhai) during 2007.

Words and photographs © Pedro Guimarães.