In 1979, Shekou, Nanshan District firstly implemented the reform and opening-up policy, establishing Shekou Industrial Zone, the first industrial zone open to the outside world in China, and highlighting the themes of the era that "Empty talks would lead the country astray, and hard work can rejuvenate the nation" and "Time is money while efficiency equals to life." Thereafter, reform and opening-up has been the base of Nanshan.

After the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping firstly paid a visit to Nanshan, Shenzhen with inspections to Qianhai and Tencent. Over nearly 40 years since the reform and opening-up, Nanshan has been keeping in line with the national strategy and the trend of the times in developing the National High-tech Zone, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Demonstration Zone, Qianhai Shekou Pilot Free Trade Zone and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Nanshan District ranked first among the top 100 districts of cities in China in terms of high-quality development, according to a report released by CCID Consulting on its official website in August 2021.The report showed Nanshan District topped the list for the fourth straight year.

Nanshan’s GDP in 2020 exceeded 650 billion yuan (US$100.29 billion).

In terms of science and technology innovation, Nanshan was home to 4,101 State-level high-tech enterprises at the end of 2020, accounting for 22.1 percent of the city’s total.

The number of Nanshan’s Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) international patent applications reached 72,917 in 2020.

In the first half of the year 2021, Nanshan GDP reached 365 billion yuan.