After a three year ban, Shenzhen has now approved new 746 Internet cafes, of which 374 are expected to soon obtain their license.

Following an Internet cafe fire accident in Beijing three years ago, Shenzhen has not approved any new Internet cafes, leaving the city with only 314 Internet cafes to meet consumer demand.

According to a representative from the Shenzhen Municipal Cultural Bureau, Shenzhen has been listed as one of the nine trial cities in China to set up Internet cafe long-term management mechanisms and been approved to develop a total of 1060 new locations.