Inbound tourism in Suifenhe City, at the China-Russia border in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, has seen a continued robust growth, with many Russian visitors coming in for shopping tours buoyed by the resumption of visa-free group tours between China and Russia in September 2023.
In the early morning, Chinese tour guide Zhao Liyan was already waiting at the entry hall of the Suifenhe highway port, anticipating the arrival of her Russian clients who had departed from Pogranichny.
She said Russian citizens now can enjoy visa-free stays of up to 15 days in China for tourism as part of a tour group.
"Travel agencies from both China and Russia are included in the List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption. Registering one day in advance, they can enter China the next day. It's very convenient," explained Zhao.
Situated on the China-Russia border, the city is just a 16-kilometer drive from Pogranichny. On weekends, inbound buses arrive about every half an hour, and it usually takes Russian tourists about 10 minutes to complete customs clearance.
"I love Chinese food so much, including stir-fried eggplant, potato and peppers as well as fried pork in scoop. I have been to many Chinese cities myself, such as Harbin, Beijing, and Shanghai. I particularly like Shanghai. I like your festivals, such as the Chinese Spring Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival," said a tourist.
According to Zhao, many of Russians coming to Suifenhe, are regular visitors and are already familiar with this city. In 2013, the city was authorized as China's first pilot zone where the Russian ruble can be officially used alongside the Chinese yuan. Local merchants are generally capable of speaking some Russian, facilitating direct communication.
"Over the past decade, I've been doing businesses with Russians. As I hear what the Russian speakers say every day, I can speak some Russian too, just like what we would say in Chinese," said Wang Yan, a merchant.
Russian woman Elena Posevkina, who met her Chinese husband Yang Ning in Suifenhe six years ago and settled down there, also said that more and more Russians come to China to travel, live, study and work.
"China is very close to Russia. It's very convenient to come here. The country is very nice, beautiful and safe. Nowadays, many Russians are learning Chinese, starting from a young age," she said.
China's Suifenhe sees thriving inbound tourism
