【Text by Observer Net, Wang Yong, Editor: Zhao Qianjin】

Since the implementation of the visa-exemption policy for Russia in China (as of October 16), more than 46,000 Russian travelers have entered China through the Heilongjiang ports, with a year-on-year increase of 28.4%, among which 43,000 were tourists who entered without a visa.

According to reports from Russian news agencies, BRICS TV, "Russian Digest", and other media, since the implementation of the visa-exemption policy for Russian citizens in China on September 15, the number of Russians traveling to China has steadily increased. It is expected that by the end of 2025, over 2 million Russian tourists will visit China. China has become the second most popular holiday destination for Russians.

Russian tourists entering via Heihe port, Heilongjiang Daily

Maya Lomidze, Executive Director of the Russian Tourism Association, said, "The number of Russian tourists traveling to China is rising steadily. The introduction of the visa-exemption policy has increased tourist traffic to China by 40% in September and October."

A report from the news service of the Russian Tourism Industry Association stated that since the implementation of the visa-exemption policy for Russian citizens in China, interest in booking flights and hotel accommodations in China has doubled, and the demand for travel groups to China has increased by more than 60%.

According to related information, on the first day of the implementation of the visa-exemption policy for Russia (September 15), multiple ports in Heilongjiang such as Heihe, SuiFenHe, and Dongning welcomed Russian travelers entering without a visa. To cope with the influx of travelers, border inspection stations specifically arranged Russian-speaking volunteer teams and bilingual translators at the foreigner entry card filling areas, allowing arriving travelers to be inspected immediately and pass through efficiently.

In the reasons for Russian tourists entering without a visa, 98.3% were for sightseeing and leisure. Among them, nine ports including Heihe, SuiFenHe, Dongning, Harbin, Misha, Raohe, Luobei, Tongjiang, and Fuyuan had Russian tourists entering without a visa, showing significant policy effects.

According to the aforementioned media reports, in addition to Heilongjiang, about 80% of the tourist flow was concentrated in Hainan Island. A relevant official from a Russian travel agency said that this year, many Russian tourists have chosen Sanya, Hainan as the starting point for their travels in China, and the demand for winter warm-weather tourism has been increasing significantly.

The report mentioned that Hainan Island is often called the "Hawaii of the East," attracting tourists from around the world with its natural landscapes, tropical forests, well-developed hotel networks, beaches, and a 1,900-kilometer coastline.

By August 2025, the number of Russian tourists visiting Hainan reached 301,000, an increase of nearly 200% compared to the previous year. In just August, 40,000 Russian citizens traveled to Hainan for vacation, and after the implementation of the visa-exemption policy, this number continued to rise. It is expected that by the end of 2025, approximately 500,000 Russians will travel to Hainan.

Currently, there are more than 10 direct flights per week between Russia and Sanya, Hainan airport, connecting 20 Russian cities and 14 Chinese cities, initially building an air route that radiates across Europe and Asia.

According to related information, Shenzhen is also a popular tourist destination for Russian tourists. One month after the implementation of the visa-exemption policy for Russian citizens in China, the number of Russian passengers at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport surged by 43%. On October 15, about 180 passengers arrived on a one-way flight from Moscow, and many travelers said that the new policy is "very convenient" for both tourism and business.

According to statistics from the General Station of Exit-Entry Inspection in Shenzhen, this year, more than 35,000 Russian individuals have entered and exited or transited through the Shenzhen airport port, an increase of 10.2% compared to the previous year.

A relevant person in charge of the Russian Travel Agency Association (ATOR) recently told BRICS TV that Russians also like destinations such as Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, as well as Henan Province, home to the Shaolin Temple. The official said, "The number of foreign tourists entering China continues to grow strongly, which is largely due to China's continuously expanding visa-exemption policy."

This article is an exclusive work of Observer Net. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7564724045070074420/

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