From September 15, 2025 to September 14, 2026, China tested a visa-free policy for Russians holding ordinary passports, covering a variety of entry purposes, including business, tourism, visiting relatives, exchanging visits and transit, staying for no more than 30 days. The previous preparation of visa materials, row interviews, etc., simplified the procedure process of Russian personnel coming to China, significantly reducing the time and economic costs of Russians coming to China.

Optimization of port services to ensure efficient customs of Russian tourists

On the 15th and 16th of September, two days, a busy view of the entrance hall at the port of Jilin, a number of Russian travellers had an orderly passage. In order to respond to the change in passenger flow, the port opened a "single-exempt special passageway", reducing the time in line for passengers; at the same time, the Russian fluent civil police station guide, providing foreign language translation, policy advice, entry card filling assistance and other services throughout, to ensure the efficiency and smooth passage of passengers.

Russian tourists from Sergei:This policy is very convenient for Russian tourists, and we can enter China at any time by bus or other means of transportation to the port, filling out a form.

On the first day of the visa-free policy trial, more than 1,000 Russian passengers entered the country, an increase of 104% compared to the same day. As the "first stop" for Russian travelers to enter Jilin, the volume of consultations and reservations in the major sights of Jilin City increased simultaneously.

Province of JilinWOWStokke Joy Island Scenery Staff ÕÅ·ï¾Õ:Since the implementation of the visa-free policy, the number of Russian tourists has increased by about 20% compared to the same period last year, with small groups of families and travel agencies.

In addition to the visa-free policy, the tax refund policy launched by Jilin Province on September 1 for overseas travellers shopping abroad also further liberates consumer potential. Overseas travellers who purchase and carry with them personal goods in the provincial tax refund stores, can apply for the return of goods containing value added tax, the actual tax refund ratio is about 9% or 6% of the commodity price.

Jiang Qing, supermarket manager in Jilin Province:Now Russian travellers in our shopping mall after a one-time purchase of 200 yuan, with the purchase ticket can go to the customer service for tax refund procedures, we also issue a shopping invoice for them, facilitating tourists to go out of the country.

Early meals for Russian tourists.

Not only Jilin Yuan, since the implementation of the visa-free policy, the Black River, Shenyang River and other ports in Hyeongjiang province have also welcomed a large number of Russian tourists, how is the itinerary of entry arranged?

After efficient customs, the fire-filled Black River early city became one of the playgrounds of Russian tourists, many stalls with bilingual Chinese-Russian signs, some merchants can also attract customers with a fluent Russian.

The Early King:The Russians come to buy and say hello to me, for example, good morning, I will also speak Russian, but our tongue is wrapped without him and he understands.

Russian tourists from Alexandria:I came from Krasnoyarsk, the Russian Siberian city, the second time I came to China because I liked it, and this time also took my wife to China to play.

In addition to the procurement of goods, many Russian tourists travel to the Black River with a ¡°just-needed¡± ¨C tooth treatment.In a comprehensive clinic in the city of Black River, which receives at least 100 Russian patients a month, with its hard technology and optimal price ratio, it has become the first choice for care for many of the Russian population.

Russian tourists from Angela:The staff service here is good, the doctor's technology is good, the treatment of teeth is very fast, the quality is good, beautiful and cheap, recommended to everyone.

From efficient customs to convenient living, the Black River uses detailed services to remove the "foreign sentiment" of Russian tourists coming across borders. in the restaurant in Lena, Russian tourists are tasting improved Chinese meals, Chinese-Russian bilingual menus, Russian-language services, etc., so that first-time cross-border tourists can also find a comfortable rhythm of life.

Russian tourists in Alanya:I¡¯ve been to China five times, this time with my daughters, and we love Chinese food, especially meat, like chicken, fish and salad.

Gly lived in the Russian border town of Pogranic, only more than 20 kilometers from the port of the Raven River, after entering the Raven River, they came to a local wholesale shopping mall, here with wholesale shoe hats, small goods as characteristics, goods and cheap, loved by locals and Russian tourists.

Russian tourists from Greece:I used to follow the group visa to come here, now I can come here personally, the visa-free period is 30 days, which is very good.

Enriching tourism types to promote China-Russia exchanges and cooperation

Since 2025, accompanied by the transit visa-free policy coverage to 55 countries, "i.e. buy and return" departure tax refunds and other measures have been continuously improved, China's entry tourism has achieved more than expected growth. experts said that the trial of the visa-free policy for Russia will further enrich the type of tourism to China and promote exchanges and cooperation between China and Russia.

Dean of the Chinese Institute of Tourism:After China implemented the visa-free regime for Russia, Russia also responded with goodwill to Chinese tourists and gave them a visa-free entry treatment.I believe that such a mutual visa-free policy will greatly promote tourism exchanges between China and Russia, and will play a demonstrative role in facilitating visas for China and other countries.

Experts believe that the implementation of China's visa-free policy for Russian citizens will enrich the type of services for travel to China, as well as the accompanying services of relevant travel companies, for example, training of Russian-language guides, language identification guides of major tourist destinations and resorts, and upgrading of explanatory systems, to welcome the arrival of a large number of Russian tourists.