Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

WHEN Russian Maxim Sotnikov first arrived in Shenzhen as a young adult, he never imagined the city would become the backdrop of his life’s defining milestones — owning his own business, raising a family, and witnessing his own growth mirror the city’s relentless transformation.

Looking back on his journey, Sotnikov feels that he grew with the city and is very proud of being part of its development.

Sotnikov first learned about Shenzhen from one of his friends. According to him, Shenzhen was not popular among foreigners at that time. With limited knowledge, he researched the city online and found it very new and beautiful. In 2010, he decided to move to the city to study Chinese at Shenzhen University (SZU).

Career journey

Sotnikov said that he is the type of person who would rather explore new places than work in an office all day. After graduating from SZU, thanks to his ability to speak both Chinese and Russian, he worked as an interpreter assisting Russians doing business in Shenzhen. Later, he became a tour guide, helping visitors explore the city.

Suddenly, the pandemic halted international travelers’ entry into the city in 2020, prompting him to start filming videos about Shenzhen. Now, after nearly five years, his Instagram and YouTube accounts — both named Masenshen — have over 240,000 and 180,000 followers, respectively.

“After I started filming videos, more foreign friends got to know about Shenzhen. At the same time, I met more new people and became more influential online. My life has changed a lot,” said Sotnikov.

Once, a French vlogger with over 1 million fans reached out to Sotnikov and invited him to be his tour guide in Shenzhen. They took a ride on a low-altitude aircraft, and Sotnikov helped the vlogger record a video.

When it comes to becoming a vlogger, Sotnikov doesn’t think it is an easy career path, but one that requires a lot of hard work — from finding topics to editing.

He attributed his achievements to his deep love for Shenzhen and China. “I think as long as you do something out of love, people will feel it the same way,” Sotnikov added.

Fertile ground for content creation

Much of his content on Instagram centers around new technologies and new tech products. Sotnikov observed that Shenzhen, renowned for its tech development, is fertile ground for creating videos.

One of his videos about using the palm of your hand for payments in Shenzhen went viral online, helping him gain lots of attention and new followers. “New technological things are very interesting content. People like things they have never seen before,” he said.

Sotnikov’s mission is to show his audience the real Shenzhen. He not only appreciated the city’s dynamism but also its cozy corners, its stunning natural environment, and the warmth of its people.

“I think I will continue to film videos about Shenzhen — not only about skyscrapers and factories but its soul, parks, people, amazing food, and, of course, the technology that you can touch. I dispel myths and show possibilities,” said Sotnikov.

SZ as motivation

Sotnikov remembers arriving in Shenzhen in 2010 and taking a small bus from the airport to SZU. Recalling the city’s development over the years, he described it as fast and amazing — something that has been motivational for him. “Whenever I see new things occur on the street, for example, a new building, I would ask myself what I have achieved. If I didn’t do anything, I would feel very upset, and then I’d push myself to work harder and harder to keep up with the city’s development,” said Sotnikov. “It’s an incredible feeling to live at the forefront of progress.”

“I felt that Shenzhen is where the pulse of future technology beats. I wanted to be a participant, not just an observer. I wanted to feel and be a part of the greatness of a new technological city. Shenzhen gave me that opportunity,” said Sotnikov.

“I think Shenzhen is a good place for those who aim to achieve their dreams. The city provides a lot of opportunities, but at the same time, it requires people to have strong capabilities. Countless people come and go. The city only welcomes those who would like to fight, dream, and never give up,” said Sotnikov.

To Sotnikov, Shenzhen has become his home. “I have to admit that not every moment of my life in Shenzhen is sweet, but the city shaped me and made me who I am today. So, I want to thank the city for the motivation and opportunities,” he said.