In a significant diplomatic move strengthening Sino-Russian relations, President Vladimir Putin has signed an executive order establishing visa-free travel for Chinese citizens entering Russia. The policy, which took immediate effect on December 2, 2025, permits Chinese nationals to stay for up to 30 days for purposes including tourism, business activities, family visits, and participation in cultural and scientific events.
This landmark decision represents a reciprocal arrangement following China’s implementation of a similar visa-waiver program for Russian passport holders in mid-September 2025. Both policies are set to expire simultaneously on September 14, 2026, creating a one-year trial period for enhanced bilateral movement.
The announcement triggered an immediate surge in travel interest across Chinese digital platforms. Leading travel agency Qunar reported a remarkable threefold increase in flight searches from Hangzhou to St. Petersburg within the first hour of the news breaking, while Beijing-Moscow route inquiries jumped by 44%.
Industry experts anticipate substantial benefits for both nations’ tourism sectors. Wei Changren, founder of tourism financial news platform btiii.com, identified two primary travel corridors likely to experience growth: the classic Moscow-St. Petersburg circuit and destinations in Russia’s Far East region.
The policy’s impact is already evident in border regions. Harbin Trip of Garden International Tour Company reported a 30% year-on-year increase in Russian tourists over the past two months, with visitors typically extending their journeys to other Chinese cultural hotspots including Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi’an.
Beyond tourism, researchers highlight broader economic implications. Zhang Jinshan, a tourism development expert at Beijing Union University, noted that the mutual visa-waiver arrangements will likely stimulate economic revitalization in neighboring industrial zones, particularly in Northeast China and Russia’s Far East territories, while further deepening strategic cooperation between the two nations.