A new cross-border tourist train service began trial operation on July 17 between Vladivostok, in Russia’s Far East, and the Chinese border town of Suifenhe, Bastille Post reported on July 19, opening a new visa-free travel corridor between the two countries.
The inaugural service saw the first group of Russian tourists arrive in China for a four-day trip, while 180 Chinese travellers boarded for the return journey to Russia on the same day. The full journey takes eight hours.
Carriages on the route combine standard seating on one side with open-plan, two-tier sleeper berths on the other, and soft-sleeper compartments come fitted with shower cabins. The service integrates tourism resources along the route to offer a single, combined travel experience rather than separate rail and sightseeing bookings.
Cong Yunhong, deputy director of the Mudanjiang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism, described the new link as an “efficient and convenient cross-border tourism corridor,” Bastille Post reported, allowing travellers from both countries to reach their destination on a single non-stop journey while lowering the overall cost of cross-border travel.
The launch follows China’s visa-free policy for Russian tourists, introduced in September 2025, which has prompted border cities in Heilongjiang province to step up efforts to attract inbound visitors. The Suifenhe inland port recorded more than 310,000 entries and exits in the first half of the year, a year-on-year increase of 30.6%.
Local officials expect the new route to become a significant driver of tourism in the border region, bringing both domestic and international visitors and supporting local businesses.