A major land port on the China-Russia border welcomed the arrival of Russian travelers without a visa after China started to extend visa-free travel to ordinary passport holders from Russia on Monday.
To further facilitate cross-border travel for Chinese and foreign nationals, China has decided to expand its list of visa-free countries. From September 15, 2025, to September 14, 2026, ordinary passport holders from Russia will be allowed to enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, and transit stays of up to 30 days.
On early Monday morning at the Manzhouli port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the first batch of Russian tourists arriving in China simply presented their ordinary passports, then quickly completed entry procedures after border inspection officers verified their passports and biometric information.
"Customs clearance was very fast and the entry procedures were very convenient. We completed it very quickly," said a Russian traveler who planned to visit the Hulun Buir grasslands with her two friends.
To ensure the smooth implementation of the visa-free policy, the Manzhouli border inspection station formulated customs clearance plans and optimized the customs clearance process.
"We have launched a group reservation customs clearance model, kept in touch with travel companies in advance to gain information of people entering and leaving China and their itineraries, and provided passengers with efficient and convenient customs clearance services," said Yang Xu, a customs officer.
As of 12:00 on Monday, the Manzhouli port had handled more than 300 visa-free entries by Russian passengers.
China's land port welcomes visa-free entry of Russian travelers
Licensed merchandise for China's 15th National Games has generated more than 680 million yuan (about 96 million U.S. dollars) in sales, as events continue across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
With demand surging for products featuring the Games' dolphin-themed mascots, "Xiyangyang" and "Lerongrong", inspired by the Chinese white dolphin, have emerged as top sellers and helped drive a boom in cultural and creative products.
Retail outlets for the National Games and the National Paralympic Games have reported heavy foot traffic in recent days, with several popular items selling out.
In Guangzhou, staff at a local manufacturer were preparing batches of the "Joy Pack" on Sunday, a backpack printed with the mascots and designed as a commemorative item for the opening ceremony.
The product, now part of the official licensed merchandise lineup, has quickly gained traction for its design and practicality.
"Our 'Joy Pack' went live on our official online store on Nov 14, and sales topped 10,000 in just 30 minutes. With respect to such high demand -- a concern of consumers -- we're taking urgent actions. The Greater Bay Area has a well-established industrial supply chain, and we're working overtime on packing and shipping," said Liu Lu, deputy general manager of a licensed merchandise operator for the Games.
Organizers have released more than 2,800 licensed products across 20 categories. Guangdong has opened over 500 offline retail stores and more than 70 online shops, helping drive strong merchandise sales.
"I bought this earphone case, a blind box, and a volunteer-style backpack. The dolphin is so cute, and the products that blend traditional culture look great and are really worth it. As a Guangdong native, I feel proud -- the National Games only come once every four years, and this year they're being held right here in the Greater Bay Area. I wanted to experience the atmosphere," said Yuan Jiahui, a consumer.
The National Games, held every four years, is China's largest national multi-sport event. It opened on Nov 9 in Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province, and runs through Nov 21 this year.
Sales of China's National Games merchandise top 680 million yuan
