'Eyes of the GBA' shows Shenzhen's cultural strength

On the eastern edge of the coastal green axis in Shenzhen's Bao'an central district, a twin-circle structure rises from the Qianhai waterfront. From above, it resembles a pair of luminous eyes, hence the name: "Eyes of the GBA."

Foreign media members pose for a photo at the "Eyes of the GBA" complex in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Sept. 3, 2026. [Photo/China.org.cn]

The facility, which opened on Sept. 26, 2025, is the world's largest physical bookstore and a landmark cultural tourism destination in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Operated by Shenzhen Publishing Group, it has attracted over 7.6 million visits to date and hosts nearly 1,000 cultural events annually.

A group of international media members toured the complex on Sept. 3 as part of the Asia-Pacific Media Forum, which opens in Shenzhen on Sept. 5 under the theme "Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action."

Lee Huay Leng, editor-in-chief of the Chinese Media Group at SPH Media, said during the tour that Shenzhen is making cultural strides beyond its technological achievements. 

She also noted she has seen the Shenzhen-produced film "Dear You." As a Teochew descendant, she said everything in "Dear You" felt familiar to her. The film, she said, not only introduced overseas audiences to the "Qiaopi" — letters and remittances sent by overseas Chinese to their families — but also helped people in northern China learn about the stories and emotions of the south.

"Dear You" has grossed more than 2 billion yuan in China and over 100 million yuan overseas for its sincerity and resonance, and has appealed to overseas Chinese when it hit the overseas markets. The film is set to be released in North America on Sept. 4, 2026.

Members of an international media group visit a bookstore at the "Eyes of the GBA" complex in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Sept. 3, 2026. [Photo/China.org.cn]

"Shenzhen's cultural activities are much richer than I imagined," said Yoo Sangchul, director of the China Studies Center at Korea JoongAng Daily. He said culture plays a significant role in the development of a country and a city, "because culture shapes people's spiritual ethos, and only with a good spiritual vitality can there be better development."

Spanning 131,000 square meters across two zones, with two floors above ground and two below, the complex earned a Platinum Winner award at the 2024 Muse Design Awards for integrating architecture into the coastal green axis.

In addition to housing more than 100,000 book titles, the complex features a 20,000-square-meter Starry Sky Garden, a 10,000-square-meter Folk Culture Center, and a 2,000-square-meter professional theater. It also hosts several first-of-their-kind attractions, including the country's first IP-centric immersive social experience space in partnership with Yuewen Group, a Three-Body virtual reality experience center, the first store outside Beijing for the Prince Kung's Palace Museum and the world's largest 3D printing flagship store.

A bird's-eye view of the "Eyes of the GBA" in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Reflecting Shenzhen's commitment to innovation and sustainability, the facility also features a 545-square-meter exhibition showcasing the city's technological achievements, and a photovoltaic park with 392 kWp of solar capacity generating 250,000 kilowatt-hours annually.

For Lee, Shenzhen's rapid development mirrors China's broader transformation. "The changes I have witnessed here reflect earth-shaking changes across China," she said. "It is truly rare and remarkable."