Heihe City, Heilongjiang Province, northeast China - Dec 2, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Aerial shot of Chinese national flag, facade of departure hall
2. Various of tourists waiting in line for border checks, going through security check
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Tao Yanming, visitor from Shandong (ending with shot 4):
"We came to Heihe to cross into Russia for a trip without much planning, just with our passports. The whole border-check process is very convenient."
4. Various of tourists having passports checked
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Gao Yi, tourist from Jiangsu (starting with shot 4):
"I plan to stay there for two days to experience the local culture and customs."
6. Various of tourists taking hovercraft to Russia

Blagoveshchensk City, Russia - Dec 2, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
7. Cityscape, traffic
8. Chinese tourists at shop
9. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Lisa, Russian shop owner (no full name given):
"Absolutely yes. The new policy will bring more tourists, increased traffic, more travel opportunities and a greater influx of imported goods. It's a definite yes."
10. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zuo Fujun, Chinese businessman in Russia (ending with shot 11):
"Before the visa-free policy, we could receive more than 1,000 customers a day during peak season. Now it will be even better after the new policy, and we're preparing to open another restaurant."
11. Restaurant

Heihe City, Heilongjiang Province, northeast China - Dec 2, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
12. Various of Chinese tourists at departure hall, border defense policy officer helping tourists

The border port of Heihe in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, a key gateway to Russia, welcomed its first group of visa-exempt tourists on Tuesday, just one day after Russia's visa-free policy took effect.

The minimum distance between Heihe and the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk is only 700-plus meters across the Heilongjiang River.

On Tuesday morning, long lines formed in the border inspection hall as travelers prepared to take advantage of the newly announced visa-free policy for Chinese citizens.

To accommodate the influx of tourists, local border control authorities added extra lanes and streamlined procedures to ensure smooth and efficient passage.

Many travelers expressed that the new policy has made cross-border trips possible and much easier.

"We came to Heihe to cross into Russia for a trip without much planning, just with our passports. The whole border-check process is very convenient," said Tao Yanming, a visitor from Shandong Province.

"I plan to stay there for two days to experience the local culture and customs," said Gao Yi, a tourist from Jiangsu Province.

After clearing exit procedures, passengers boarded a hovercraft for the short crossing. The journey across the frozen Heilongjiang River takes just two minutes.

Local businesses in Blagoveshchensk said that the visa-free policy has quickly boosted foot traffic and business opportunities, and they are looking forward to receiving more Chinese tourists on weekends.

"Absolutely yes. The new policy will bring more tourists, increased traffic, more travel opportunities and a greater influx of imported goods. It's a definite yes," said Lisa, a Russian shop owner.

"Before the visa-free policy, we could receive more than 1,000 customers a day during peak season. Now it will be even better after the new policy, and we're preparing to open another restaurant," said Zuo Fujun, a Chinese businessman operating in Russia.

Russia's visa-free entry for Chinese nationals, signed into effect by President Vladimir Putin on Monday, allows Chinese passport holders to enter Russia for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, or participation in scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic, or sports events.

China announced on September 2 a one-year trial of a 30-day visa-free policy for Russian nationals holding ordinary passports, which took effect on September 15. The policy covers Russian citizens who come to China for business, tourism, visits to relatives or friends, participation in various exchange events, or transit.