Russian tourist arrivals in Harbin surge following recent visa-free policy

Russian arrivals in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, have climbed sharply since China introduced visa-free entry for ordinary passport holders from Russia in mid-September, according to local authorities and travel platforms. The surge is reshaping tourism patterns in the city and at nearby border crossings.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry policy will be in effect until Sept 14 next year. Under the rule, Russian citizens can stay for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchanges, and transit.

One such tourist is 53-year-old Inna Klochko from Vladivostok, who has visited Harbin twice since the policy began on Sept 15.

"I can feel a sense of familiarity with the European-style architecture while strolling along Central Avenue, while I never missed tasting the classic guobaorou (sweet-and-sour pork or beef) at Laochujia Restaurant," Klochko said. "The highlight of my trip, however, is a relaxing soak at the hotel."

For Klochko, applying for a visa used to be a hassle. But under the new policy, she can submit an electronic declaration via an app on her phone. Passing through customs now takes her less than five minutes.

According to online travel platform Ctrip, the number of Russian tourists visiting Harbin has surged by 136 percent year-on-year, with consumption increasing by 150 percent, Harbin Daily reported.

Air travel has become the primary mode of transport. Data from the Harbin immigration station shows that from Sept 15 to Nov 25, the number of Russian passengers entering through the Harbin Airport port has reached over 10,000, a year-on-year increase of 56.1 percent.

Among them, the proportion of visa-free entry passengers was 87.6 percent.

By using the express channel, the average clearance time per person has been reduced to 10 seconds.

Harbin's Central Avenue and the Chinese-Baroque Historic and Cultural Block remain top destinations for Russian tourists.

The Maple Leaf Village Hot Spring Resort, another top attraction, has been particularly popular among Russian tourists. According to the hotel, it has received over 5,000 Russian visitors over the past two months.

"The maximum number of customers in a day reaches 1,000, with Russians making up half of the visitors," said Zhang Hongxing, the hotel's vice-general manager. "With the addition of the surrounding lighting effects, the hot spring pool has become the top choice for taking photos and posting on social media."

Over the past two months, Harbin Trip of Garden International Tour Co has received over 400 Russian tourists, a year-on-year increase of 30 percent.

"Most visitors come from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk," said the company's vice-general manager Wang Taixiang. "After arriving in Harbin, they often choose tourist routes to popular cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an in Shaanxi province, Luoyang in Henan province, and Zhangjiajie in Hubei province."

"With the ice and snow season approaching, I believe more Russian tourists will extend their stay in Harbin," he said. "They really like the unique 'double-flavor hot pot pool'— the hot spring pool which is half filled with milk, fruits and vegetables, and half with chili peppers."

Heihe, a border gateway between China and Russia, has also benefited, seeing increased inbound traffic and consumption. From Sept 15 to Oct 15, Heihe's border crossing recorded a year-on-year increase of 25.8 percent to reach 49,700 entries, 24,100 of which were Russian tourists, a rise of 76.4 percent.

About 90 percent of Russian visitors chose Heihe as their main stop, staying in the city for two to four days, with some visiting the Wudalianchi Scenic Area for one to two weeks.

The city has published the "Russian Tourist Guide to China", upgraded and promoted the intelligent service platform, trained over 2,000 industry personnel, and organized over 30 themed travel circuits, including dental tourism, health and wellness travel, and study tours.

In line with the visa-free policy, Heihe has implemented a joint handling model that reduces the processing time for cross-border temporary driving permits from three working days to 20 minutes, provides a reference for foreign-related government services, and creates a favorable environment for the development of the car rental and related industries.