Harbin, China | Passenger Traffic at the City’s Airport Increases by Almost 50% after Visa - Free Entry for Russian Travellers

 Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang, China’s northernmost province, a key political, scientific, cultural and communication hub as well an important industrial base of the nation, a cosmopolitan city famed for the annual Ice Festival Harbin which transforms Sun Island and Harbin Ice and Snow World into enormous winter wonderland is experiencing an increasing passenger traffic by almost 50% after visa – free entry for Russian travellers at its airport.

From 15th September 2025 to 14th September 2026, a trial visa - free regime for Russians is in effect in China and as previously stated by President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, the Russian side will respond to this measure in a mirror manner.

The number of Russian tourists arriving in China via Harbin Airport has risen by 47.6% following the introduction of the visa - free regime in September as reported by Dongbeieang, a news and internet portal form China’s Heilongjiang province.

Russian airline Aeroflot reported that bookings for flights to China notably increased after the trial - visa free was announced and the policy is expected to boost tourism and business travel, leading to stronger economic ties between the two countries.

According to data for the period from January to October of the the current year, total passenger traffic at Harbin Airport (including departures and arrivals) reached 507.000, recording a 21.8% more than in the same period last year, when the airport restored 19 international and regional passenger routes with inbound and outbound traffic rising by 183%.

Harbin airport also implemented new modern upgrades with a new equipment integrating advanced intelligent devices as part of a smart border control system that reduced data - processing time per passengers to 10 second, and the throughput of the checkpoint has reached 300 people per hours.

Finally ,the Minister of Economic Development of Russia, Maksim Reshetnikov,  during its visit to China to reinforce the bilateral ties with the East Asian country and enhancing tourism, said that the Russian Federation intends to quadruple the flow of Chinese tourists by 2030.

Link 

https://tvbrics.com/en/news/passenger-traffic-at-harbin-airport-increases-by-almost-50-after-visa-free-entry-for-russians/