ISTANBUL -- China evacuated 504 nationals Monday night in three chartered flights from strife-torn Libya to Istanbul, the largest city of Turkey.

This was the first time that Chinese evacuees from Libya made transit in Turkey.

The first chartered flight landed at the Sabiha Gokcen International Airport at 22:05 local time (2005 GMT) while the rest two lights arrived at late night.

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The Chinese nationals took the flights, which were chartered by the Chinese embassy in Turkey, from the southern Libyan city of Sebha, and most of them are from east China's Anhui province.

They were greeted at the airport by Chinese Ambassador to Turkey Gong Xiaosheng, Chinese Consul-General in Istanbul Zhang Qingyang and other Chinese diplomats.

The Chinese diplomats made careful preparations for their arrivals, distributing meals and mineral water to all of them while making food and lodging in five local hotels.

Gong expressed thanks to the Turkish government for rendering timely help and support in the Chinese evacuation action, which demonstrated the friendly bilateral relations between China and Turkey and deep friendship between the two peoples.

He said that there would be six more chartered flights from Libya to Turkey on Tuesday, carrying Chinese evacuees.