China-Russia visa-free regime drives record tourist surge
The visa free policy introduced by China for Russian citizens in September last year has led to a sharp increase in tourist arrivals, with flight frequency more than doubling since the measure took effect. When a flight from St Petersburg to Beijing takes just eight hours and a visa is no longer required, the tourist flow between the two countries turns into an avalanche.
The numbers speak for themselves: 130% growth in six months, 270 flights per month instead of 120, and 3.5 million tourists set to break all records. The visa free policy, launched by China for Russians, has become not just a diplomatic gesture but a powerful economic catalyst, opening doors for millions of travellers eager to see the Great Wall, taste Sichuan cuisine and ride a robotaxi in Hubei.
According to China's National Immigration Administration, in the first half of the year Russia ranked second among source countries for inbound tourism to China, with the number of Russian tourists increasing by more than 130 percent year on year. Vera and Vitaly have just returned from China. In their hometown of St Petersburg, they are happy to share their impressions. For their first trip, they chose Beijing, a metropolis that won them over with its high tech conveniences, comfort and hospitality.
The Great Wall made a particularly strong impression on them. "When you step onto the Great Wall, you immediately start to imagine how long it took to build it and how many people have walked along it. It's incredible to realise how many people have been on the Great Wall. It's as if you are transported to another historical era. I don't even know how to describe that feeling, but it was amazing, simply because you can feel the history of China," said Vera.
From the Neva embankment in Russia to the banks of the Yangtze in China, the flight takes just eight hours. In 2025, 2 million Russian tourists used this route. In the first quarter of 2026, China's popularity as a tourist destination had already grown by 70 percent. If the current trend continues, the number of Russian visitors could reach a record 3.5 million. Tourist flows continue to grow — just a year ago, there were 120 flights per month between China and Russia; today that number has reached 270.
According to tour operators, China is now in particularly high demand. The visa free policy and the incredible variety of available routes are the main attractions for travellers. Thanks to close cooperation with their Chinese counterparts, Russian travel companies can now meet the needs of even the most demanding travellers. Agencies are actively developing both group tours and individual travel packages.
"This year, wedding ceremonies in Hainan have become very popular. If we want to immerse ourselves in culture and history, the capital, Beijing, is definitely the place to go. If tourists choose Shanghai, it's a more futuristic city, and it also offers great shopping opportunities. Moreover, when it comes to MICE tourism and gastronomic tours, Guangzhou is the ideal destination. And of course, we must not forget one of China's main attractions — the charming giant pandas in Chengdu," said Olesya Bocharova, head of promotion at a Russian tour operator.
China's rich cultural heritage also attracts significant interest among professionals in the field. For historians and other specialists, it is truly a unique country. Leonidas Landa, a historian, lecturer and populariser of history, not only researches points of cultural convergence in St Petersburg but has also visited China several times. He says the country never ceases to amaze him with its combination of historical and natural attractions, as well as the ease of travel. During his journeys, he even developed a favourite city.
"The ancient city of Fenghuang, which, by the way, is located not far from the Avatar Mountains in Zhangjiajie – it's easy to get there by transport. I think it is precisely this abundance of themes that is the most attractive aspect: the combination of cuisine, natural landscapes, history – including common 20th century historical themes that are quite significant, aren't they? And on the other hand, we have ancient history, the greatest civilisation. All this allows a tourist to feel as if they have stepped onto the pages of a history textbook – and, importantly, onto pages with illustrations," said Landa.
To make travel as comfortable as possible, China is constantly improving its tourism infrastructure. For example, early this year a special mobile app was launched for foreign tourists, combining all key services – QR code payments, transport and maps – on a single platform. Moreover, registration can be done using a Russian phone number. The app has further expanded the already extensive list of advantages for travellers.
"We cannot ignore the active efforts of the Chinese government to attract Russian tourists to China. Numerous seminars are being held in Russia, and tour operators are being supported in organising promotional tours so they can see the product firsthand and understand all the nuances. This is a crucial element," said Alexander Mushikin, Vice President of the Russian Association of Tour Operators. According to experts, travellers are no longer limited to popular routes. One of the new destinations is Hubei Province, where tourists can not only see the UNESCO listed Wudang Mountains and the Enshi Grand Canyon but also ride one of thousands of robotaxis. All this makes tourists want to return again and again.
The visa free policy between China and Russia was introduced in September 2025 as part of the country's strategy to ease entry for tourists from key partner countries. Russia was one of the first countries to receive such a concession, and the effect was immediate. The Chinese government is actively investing in tourism infrastructure, including multilingual services, adapted payment systems and simplified hotel registration procedures. The success of the Russian direction has inspired Beijing to expand visa free programmes for other countries, including Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern nations. Experts predict that by the end of the year, tourist exchanges between China and Russia could set a new historical record, while joint cultural and economic projects will receive an additional boost.
As CCTV+ reports, the rapid growth of the Russian tourist flow to China has become vivid confirmation that openness and mutual trust between countries can overcome any distance, and that each new visa free flight is not just passengers but bridges between two great cultures.
