SHENZHEN welcomed its first Russian arrivals Monday after China’s visa?free transit policy for ordinary Russian passport holders took effect. At 12:01 a.m., Russian national Alena Ignateva stepped off a bus at the Huanggang Checkpoint, becoming the first person to benefit from the new policy at that land crossing. “It’s so convenient! As soon as I heard about the visa waiver, I planned the trip,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to see Shenzhen for its tech energy and unique vibe.” Shortly before noon, at 12:12 p.m., an Emirates flight from Dubai landed at the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. Bakytzhan Adylbekov was the first Russian to enter through the airport checkpoint under the policy. “This is my second time in China. With the visa?free entry, immigration took only minutes. I’ll spend 14 days visiting Shenzhen and Yunnan,” he said. By 3 p.m. Monday, six Russian travelers had entered Shenzhen via the Huanggang and Futian checkpoints. Shenzhen border inspection authorities say more than 35,000 Russian nationals have used the airport checkpoint for entry, exit, or transit since January this year — a 10.2% year?on?year increase. A nonstop air route between Shenzhen and Moscow is already in operation, and many Russians also travel to Shenzhen via connections in the Middle East or Southeast Asia. The visa?free transit policy runs until Sept. 14, 2026. Under the measure, ordinary Russian passport holders may enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, or transit stays of up to 30 days. At the Eastern Economic Forum last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would reciprocate with a visa?free regime for Chinese citizens, calling the move “a testament to our friendship” and predicting it will “greatly boost bilateral travel, facilitate business ties, and bring our two nations even closer.” (Li Jing) | 