Since Hong Kong is still (for all practical purposes) not really under full Chinese rule, Beijing is pouring gobs of support into making Shenzhen the world's electronics marketplace.

Fun fact: Shenzhen is home of the 2nd tallest building in the world (after Dubai).

  >> I was motivated enough to spent 7+ months learning basic Mandarin

I have tried learning Mandarin, and found that in the same amount of time that you could be communicating (at a very basic level) in another language (even one considered 'hard' like Japanese), with Mandarin I am still trying to get tones right.