Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Beijing, November 18 (Xinhua) — Since the introduction of a trial 30-day visa-free stay in China for holders of regular Russian passports, Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China, thanks to its unique geographical location, has become a popular destination for study tours among Russian teenagers.
Heilongjiang is a crucial frontier for China's openness and cooperation with Russia, a key node of the Belt and Road Initiative, and a vital link connecting China with Northeast Asia and the Eurasian continent. The province is fully transforming its geographical advantages into tangible development achievements, actively establishing a new level of China's northward opening.
Recently, more than 200 students from Russia's Primorsky Krai visited schools in Suifenhe, Heilongjiang Province, launching a cross-border, friendly journey of immersion into Chinese culture.
At Suifenhe Elementary School No. 4 and Jinhengji Elementary School, Russian students, acting as "little cultural ambassadors," explored traditional Chinese culture alongside Chinese teachers and students. During a calligraphy lesson, the Russians painstakingly copied the characters for "Chinese-Russian friendship," experiencing the rhythmic beauty of Chinese writing. During a paper-cutting workshop, small leaves were folded and cut with deft fingertips, transforming them into vibrant patterns. Chinese pastimes such as weaving colorful ribbons, playing string games, and jumping jacks also sparked great interest among the Russian children.
At noon, Chinese and Russian students gathered together to make dumplings. From kneading the dough and rolling out the dumplings to adding the filling and shaping them, the children gradually mastered the technique under the teachers' guidance, and soon fragrant dumplings emerged from the pot.
Russian student Alina noted that she had a lot of fun making dumplings and writing hieroglyphs, as well as interacting with her Chinese friends, who she found very kind and friendly.
Yang Shuran, a student at Suifenhe Primary School No. 4, stated that calligraphy is part of traditional Chinese culture. She said that today's interaction allowed her Russian friends to appreciate its depth. She expressed hope that the friendship between China and Russia will last forever.
According to statistics, since the introduction of the visa-free regime for Russians, 15 Russian study groups totaling 1,000 schoolchildren have entered China through the Suifenhe checkpoint.
On September 15, 2025, the Chinese authorities unilaterally introduced a visa-free regime for Russian citizens, allowing holders of ordinary Russian passports to stay in China visa-free for up to 30 days for business, tourism, and other short-term trips. Although the policy is a one-year trial period, it has already significantly facilitated human exchanges and cultural and economic interaction between China and Russia.
Another educational and familiarization event, titled "Cultural Fusion, Friendship, and Joint Development," was recently held at the Fifth Elementary School in Dongning, Heilongjiang Province. The Russian study group actively interacted with the school's students, writing a new chapter of friendship in the chronicle of multicultural encounters.
The program opened with a paper-cutting workshop, held in the Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall. Members of the Russian delegation experienced the charm of this art form firsthand, creating magnificent works with their own hands. In the swift movement of scissors across red paper, Chinese and Russian cultures collided, creating a unique sparkle. Participants then moved on to a calligraphy class, where they immersed themselves in the unique charm of writing Chinese characters with a brush. After viewing outstanding calligraphy works, the participants picked up brushes to experience firsthand the depth of Chinese culture through the act of writing.
In the music room, the "Singing and Dance Together" event sparked youthful enthusiasm. Members of the study group, along with the choir and dance troupe from Dongning Primary School No. 5, performed classical Chinese and Russian songs and dances, using art as a means to overcome the language barrier. In the integrated practice room, clay modeling became a creative outlet for Chinese and Russian teenagers. All the children expressed their imaginations through sculpting, molding, and carving, while the seeds of a strong friendship blossomed.
These educational exchanges are a vibrant example of promoting international cultural interaction in Heilongjiang Province. Through a variety of activities, including intangible cultural heritage, calligraphy, art, and other forms of interaction, Russian study groups gained a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese culture and school life, while seeds of friendship and cultural understanding were sown in the hearts of Chinese and Russian teenagers, adding a vibrant youthful flavor to interethnic cultural exchanges.
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