In Zhongshan, a growing number of young returnees are channeling their hometown pride into cultural and creative ventures, forging new paths in entrepreneurship.

Xie Zhensen, born in 1998 and now a Zhongshan resident, attended high school in Australia and graduated from the University of Technology Sydney. His five years abroad gave him a global outlook.

In 2020, he turned down overseas career prospects and returned to Zhongshan. In 2023, Xie and his partners launched EMOECHO, a cultural and creative company focused on fully customized services.

A turning point came in 2024, when Xie's alma mater commissioned a custom project for its 20th anniversary. After three months of work, Xie's team unveiled a themed gift box titled "Lighting the Future," designed to evoke campus memories and mark the milestone.

Since then, EMOECHO has taken on custom projects for multiple universities, secured overseas orders for bespoke products, and won contracts for culture and tourism projects across China.