Wang Haolan

holly_cn@163.com

MOSCOW launched a cultural festival in Shenzhen on Wednesday, showcasing its cultural, tourism and business opportunities to the city and, through the upcoming APEC summit, to the rest of the world.

The event was organized by the Moscow City Government with support from the Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office and the Embassy of Russia in China.

The festival, promoted as the “Moscow Seasons” program, includes the launch of China’s first Moscow-themed train, a series of cultural events, and meetings between business and tourism industry representatives.

On Wednesday, a “Discover Moscow”-themed train was launched on Line 11 of Shenzhen Metro at Gangxia North Station and will run for one month. The train’s design presents Moscow as a multifaceted destination combining historical heritage, contemporary architecture, cultural events and a wide range of leisure experiences.

Featuring a vibrant red color palette, the carriages showcase Moscow landmarks including the Kremlin and Red Square. QR codes allow passengers to scan and learn about the city. A separate section is dedicated to the Chinese New Year in Moscow festival, inviting Chinese tourists to visit Moscow in 2027.

“We hope people can experience a virtual trip to Moscow on the train in Shenzhen,” organizers said.

On Wednesday and Thursday, two grand shows were held at the newly opened Shenzhen Cultural Center in Longhua District. “The Magic of Russian Ballet” gala, performed by leading dancers from Russian ballet firms, and the “Cantata of the Future” concert by Moscow-based composer and artist Nikola Melnikov with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra drew enthusiastic responses from audiences.

A Moscow book corner also opened in the cultural center’s library. The collection includes 47 works of Russian classical and contemporary literature in Chinese, as well as issues of Discover Moscow magazine covering the capital’s history, culture and tourism.

In early December, Moscow-themed pavilions will open in Shenzhen, where visitors can discover more about the Russian capital, experience the Moscow Tea Time project and receive additional tourism information.

The “Moscow Seasons” program also includes a series of tourism and business events. A tourism presentation was held in Shenzhen on Thursday to promote Moscow as a tourist destination, and Moscow Zoo and Shenzhen Safari Park signed a cooperation agreement. A roundtable on cooperation in new technologies will be held, where participants will explore opportunities for Russian and Chinese startups to enter each other’s markets and government support mechanisms for innovation.

Shenzhen is the second Chinese city to host a Moscow cultural festival. Last June, “Moscow Seasons in Beijing” was held on Wangfujing Street and attracted 2.85 million visitors.

According to organizers, tourist arrivals from China to Moscow continue to grow. In the first nine months of 2026, more than 370,000 Chinese travelers visited Moscow.