Since Shenzhen vowed to accelerate its development as an international consumption center, replete with world-class business districts and pedestrian streets, Luohu has made significant efforts to lead the charge.
More specifically, the district’s popular Dongmen pedestrian street has established itself as a beacon of the city’s transformation into an internationally renowned symbol of commerce and consumption.
Last year, Dongmen was earmarked as part of the second batch of pedestrian street pilot projects across the country. The Luohu district government hopes that the renovation of its oldest commercial street, with a history of more than 300 years, will help improve people’s consumption experiences, diversify its consumer business models, and kickstart a new wave of inclusive retail for younger residents.
Zhang Feimeng, director of the Shenzhen Bureau of Commerce, said that it will take about two years to renovate the pedestrian street following a step-by-step plan, a complex undertaking that protects the area’s historical sites while balancing the needs of businesses.  
Similarly, Liu Luyu, a researcher with China Development Institute (CDI) in Shenzhen, suggested that the renovation project should highlight the characteristics of Dongmen, and it should uphold the experience of traditional commercial streets, while at the same time following the trends of smart commerce development.
Experts point out that although it has many famous shopping malls and commercial streets, Shenzhen should expedite the renovations of its core business districts to make them powerful engines of growth, effectively solidifying Shenzhen’s status as a leader of international consumption trends.
Cao Zhongxiong, executive director for new economic research from CDI, said Shenzhen should not only capitalize on quality global consumption resources but also realize its own strengths and potential in science and technology innovation.
Given that the city has a competitive edge in industries such as information technology, Cao believes that Shenzhen needs to set the stage for its homegrown brands. What’s more, the city should merge elements and characteristics of Hong Kong and Macao’s consumer habits to develop a model that is unique to Shenzhen’s consumption culture.