Introduction. Migration issues currently play an important role in the modern world. The history of migration and its causes are of great interest. A large Russian diaspora developed in China in the first half of the twentieth century. Shanghai was one of the main migration centers in China. The purpose of the study is to analyze and identify the features of the adaptation process of the Russian Diaspora in Shanghai in the period 1917–1939.
Materials and methods. The research is based on a wide range of scientific publications, including works by Russian and Chinese authors. Special attention should be paid to the analysis of memoirs and memoirs written by direct participants in the events of 1917–1939, devoted to the study of Russian emigration in Shanghai. The methodological basis of the research is comparative descriptive, chronological and comparative historical methods that contribute to solving the tasks set.
Results. The study found that Russian emigration to Shanghai can be described as an independent and viable socio-cultural education that has preserved its identity and culture. The adaptation and integration of Russian emigrants in China significantly depended on the specific conditions of the region. Specifics of the adaptation of Russian emigration in Shanghai in 1917–1939, revealed in the analysis of cultural interaction between Russian emigrants and local population, showed what factors contributed to or hindered the integration of Russian emigrants into Chinese society.
Conclusion. The process of adaptation of Russian emigration in Shanghai was difficult. In Shanghai, it was much more difficult for Russians to adapt to local conditions, as a result of the great competition with foreign citizens. The heyday of activity and active urban life of Russian society in Shanghai occurred in the mid-1920s, closer to the 1930s. It is difficult to fully assess this process. There is reason to believe that the level of adaptation and integration into the host society depends on specific cases and situations.