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 20 (Xinhua) — Since the opening of the Heihe River Port (Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China) for passenger transport by hovercraft in late October 2025, the number of Russian passengers using this mode of transport has increased by 169.53 percent year-on-year, according to the Zhongguo Xinwenshe News Agency, citing data from Heihe Customs.
According to customs data, since China introduced a visa-free regime for Russian citizens holding ordinary passports, the Heihe Maritime Administration has ensured smooth customs clearance for a total of 133,200 Chinese and Russian passengers, representing a 66.92 percent increase year-on-year.
Since the launch of hovercraft passenger services, the aforementioned department has handled a total of 1,135 arriving and departing vessels, providing customs clearance for 30,032 passengers. Of these, 506 vessels and 17,304 passengers were from Russia, representing an increase of 109.96 percent and 169.53 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year.
As a reminder, China has introduced a trial visa-free regime for Russian citizens holding regular passports from September 15, 2025, to September 14, 2026. Russian citizens holding valid passports can visit China under the visa-free regime for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchanging visits, and transit purposes. Their stay in China should not exceed 30 days.
The city of Heihe and its neighboring city of Blagoveshchensk, separated only by the Heilongjiang River (Amur), are known as the "twin cities of China and Russia." Since October 27 of this year, hovercraft have been operating on the route connecting these cities, replacing traditional boats.
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