On Dec. 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing Chinese nationals to enter Russia visa-free for tourism or business purposes for a period not exceeding 30 days, effective immediately until Sep. 14, 2026 (inclusive).
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Dec. 2 that the mutual visa-free arrangement between China and Russia is yet another example of the two nations' mutual goodwill, which will further enhance friendship between the peoples and promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Lin said China "sincerely welcomes more Russian friends who take advantage of the visa-free policy and enjoy spontaneous trips to China", adding that Beijing also looks forward to Chinese travelers "making good use of the new policy and embarking on wonderful journeys to Russia".
Russia's visa-free policy for Chinese citizens complements China's visa-free policy for Russian citizens implemented on Sept. 15 this year, forming a two-way visa exemption. Cross-border tourism and business exchanges between the two countries have now officially entered a "mutual visa-free era," injecting new vitality into bilateral cooperation.
First groups of Chinese travelers depart through two ports in Heilongjiang
On Dec. 2, China's Heihe Port and Suifenhe Port, both located on the China-Russia border in Heilongjiang Province, welcomed the first groups of Chinese tourists departing under the new visa-free policy. The departure hall at Heihe Port was bustling, with long queues forming early in the day. Heihe lies just across the river from Blagoveshchensk, Russia, with the closest distance only 750 meters, making it a vital channel for cross-border exchanges. The implementation of the visa-free policy has attracted a surge of travelers.
Tao Yanming, a tourist from Yantai, Shandong Province, said excitedly, "I was traveling in Heihe when the visa-free policy kicked in, so I decided to make a spontaneous trip to Russia with just my passport. The border crossing was very convenient." Ying Feihu, a tourist from Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, noted, "We didn't know about the visa-free policy at first. We found out when we reached the border. Prices are low, and the customs officers are very friendly. It's so easy for us to travel abroad now."
Mr. Liu, a tourist from Harbin who has been engaged in China-Russia cultural exchange activities for many years, happily told a Wen Wei Po reporter that he had been waiting for this day. "I always find crossing the border from Heihe to be convenient, and I am well-versed in the procedures." But each time, I still had to pay several hundred yuan for an electronic visa. Now the process is not only simpler but also saves me a considerable expense."
Additional police officers deployed to assist outbound travelers: Local efforts to promote cross-border tourism and trade
To ensure smooth border clearance on the first day of the visa-free policy, the Suifenhe joint inspection department has made proactive arrangements to optimize services, upgrade the biometric verification system, and improve emergency plans for special groups using green channels. Guo Weihua, captain of the second duty team at the Suifenhe border inspection station, stated that in response to potential passenger surges, they will continuously optimize duty organization, deploying additional police officers at guidance positions to answer travelers' questions, clarify policies, and address their needs.
Similarly, the Heihe border inspection department has worked in close collaboration to ensure efficient and safe border clearance for travelers. Cao Chunming, captain of the third duty team at the Heihe inspection station, explained that through dynamic monitoring of the port, they have scientifically increased the number of available channels, flexibly adjusted staffing levels, and optimized inspection processes to ensure fast clearance. Considering the characteristics of hovercraft transportation, they have strengthened outdoor patrols and coordinated closely with multiple units. Liu Siqi, from the passenger Inspection, Heihe customs at the Daheihe Island office, stated that leveraging smart supervision, optimizing hardware facilities, and opening additional inspection channels have enabled quick passenger flow. A dedicated consultation service desk has also been set up to provide policy guidance and create a favorable clearance environment.
Local authorities are also implementing multiple measures to boost two-way cross-border tourism. Sun Shan, deputy director of the Suifenhe tourism development service center, stated that the visa-free policy has stimulated growth in both cross-border tourism and trade. The local government is upgrading bilingual signage, improving tourism routes, enhancing supporting infrastructure, and preparing cultural and commercial tourism activities. In the future, they plan to jointly develop two-day and weekend tours with Russia, creating a premium cross-border tourism corridor.
Russian flight booking volume soars nearly fivefold
According to China Business Network, data from Fliggy showed that less than an hour after the announcement of the visa-free policy, searches for flights to Russia on the platform surged eight times compared to the previous day, with bookings increasing by nearly five times. Similarly, the search volume for Russian flights on the Qunar platform also saw a sharp increase.
The report also noted that, compared to other European and American routes, the flight frequency on China-Russia routes has exceeded pre-pandemic levels. According to data from DAST, in October 2025, there were 2,096 round-trip flights between China and Russia, a 24.2% increase compared to 2024 and a 6.1% increase compared to 2019. The top three routes with the most flights in October were Shanghai Pudong—Sheremetyevo (207 flights), Beijing Daxing—Sheremetyevo (169 flights), and Beijing Capital—Sheremetyevo (124 flights).
Several domestic Chinese airlines are significantly increasing their flights to Russia. According to DAST, compared to 2019, Chengdu Airlines has more than doubled its flights, while Hainan Airlines, Air China, and China Eastern have each increased flights by over 100%.
Before this, Russia was already a popular destination for Chinese travelers. In 2024, the number of Chinese Mainland residents traveling to Russia reached 1.0394 million, an increase of 209.3% year over year. Meanwhile, Russia received 1.5035 million visitors from the Chinese mainland, an increase of 115.1% year over year.
According to data from Umetrip, for the period between January 1-3, 2026, flight bookings from the Chinese mainland to Russia have increased by about 32% compared to last year. The main routes are concentrated at major airports such as Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, and Shanghai Pudong International Airport, with Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport being the primary destination.
(Source: Wen Wei Po, English Editor: Zara, Kiki)
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