Traveling to China on your own. Which regions of China can Russians enter without a visa?

An article about ways to get to China from Russia.

One of the first questions when planning an independent trip to China is how to get to China. Transport costs often account for up to half of the total cost of a trip. First of all, you should decide for yourself which region of China you are going to visit. Based on this, you can plan how to get there. There are several options for getting to China from Russia: by plane, by train, by bus.

How to get to China from Russia on your own?

1. By plane from Russia to China

Aeroflot, S7, Air China, China Southern, China Eastern Airlines fly regularly from Russia to China. Flights are carried out from many cities of Russia. The largest choice of course is from Moscow: you can fly to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Urumqi and many other cities. Round-trip prices start from 17,000 rubles. for a flight with a transfer, and from 19,000 rubles. for direct flights. You can also fly from Novosibirsk to Urumqi for 11,000 rubles, to Beijing for 19,000 rubles. The cheapest flights to China from Khabarovsk and Vladivostok: to Beijing - 12,000 rubles. round-trip, to Harbin - 9000 rubles, to Shanghai - 16000 rubles.

There are promotions and sales - you can get a ticket even cheaper. In the midst of the tourist season, on the contrary, the cost rises. So it is better to take a plane ticket in advance or on a promotional basis. Find the cheapest airfare to China, you can search in the form below. The system itself will select tickets for more than 700 airlines and many booking systems.

To buy the cheapest plane tickets, read where the main ways to save money on buying a ticket are discussed.

Airplanes within China fly very often and in any direction, so you can always quickly fly even to a small town, making a transfer in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, etc.

2. By train from Russia to China

Getting to China by train is quite easy, but long. There are two trains from Moscow to Beijing. Train No. 043 transits Mongolia, so you will need a transit visa from this country. It goes once a week on Tuesdays, travel time is 132 hours, the cost is about 9000 rubles. for a reserved seat and this price is growing. Another train number 020 travels through Zabaikalsk immediately to China (i.e., bypassing Mongolia). It runs once a week on Saturdays, travel time is 145 hours, the cost is even more expensive than the previous one.

A train runs from Almaty to Urumqi once a week, travel time is 35 hours, the cost is 5000 rubles.

3. By bus from Russia to China

Several buses run from the Far Eastern border cities of Russia to China.

Summarizing, we can say that for residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and the central regions of Russia, the best option to get to China is by plane. You can save money only by hitchhiking to Zabaikalsk or Blagoveshchensk)). For residents of the Urals and Western Siberia, a bus from the cities of Kazakhstan is a good option. For residents Far East- it is also most convenient to cross the border with China by bus, and then by train through China.

How to get to China from Kazakhstan?

Now let's look at how to get to China from Kazakhstan, because a lot of people from this country read us.

1. By plane from Kazakhstan to China

You can fly to China by direct flight from Almaty and Astana airlines Air Astana and China Southern. The event is quite expensive, but it is fast - just an hour and a half and you are in Urumqi. Flights to Beijing, Guangzhou, Nanjing are also available, but with a transfer in Urumqi.

It is best to search for flights on metasearch engines, for example, or.

I also advise you to look and subscribe to, sometimes you can catch good prices!

2. By train from Kazakhstan to China

The train from Kazakhstan to China runs from Astana and from Almaty. Moreover, I did not manage to find out the exact price for these trains, the website of the Kazakhstan Railways does not show them and you cannot buy tickets for these trains there, unfortunately.

Train No. 54Ts runs from Astana to Urumqi on Saturdays, it takes a little more than 40 hours on the way.

Two trains run from Almaty: No. 014Ts on Tuesdays (travel time 31 hours) and No. 014 T on Sundays (travel time 31 hours). The cost of them is 20,000 tenge. So I was told in the reference railway station in Almaty. Not very budget friendly!

3. By bus from Kazakhstan to China

As mentioned above, many buses run from the cities of eastern Kazakhstan to Urumqi and some other cities in the XUAR.

From Semey (Semipalatinsk) the bus to Urumqi runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, travel time is 30 hours, cost is 9000 tenge.

From Ust-Kamenogorsk schedule and price are the same.

From Almaty the bus to Urumqi runs every day except Saturday. The fare is also about 9000 tenge.

Back from China you can get to Almaty, Semipalatinsk, Ust-Kamenogorsk, as well as to Zyryanovsk, Ridder, Taldykurgan, Chundzha and even Karaganda! But for the last cities, the information is not accurate, we just saw the prices at the bus station in Urumqi.

4. Combined way to get from Kazakhstan to China

From Almaty, you can take a bus to the border town of Zharkent, not far from border crossing Khorgos, cross the border there on a special bus. Then you need to get to any more or less big city, for example, to Yining, and from there to Urumqi. Such is the hard way to get to China.

But the cost will be inexpensive: the Almaty-Zharkent bus is about 1000 tenge, from the border to Yining about 50 yuan, and then on the Yining-Urumqi train (about 100 yuan).

Many countries of the world have canceled such an entry formality as a visa for Russians. Under certain circumstances, our citizens can also visit China without a visa. The uniqueness of the Celestial Empire is that different migration rules apply in its different territories.

Residents of the border regions of Russia can enter some areas of China without a visa

If you have planned a trip to the largest state East Asia, find out in advance whether it is possible to visit the areas of your choice without first going to the country's embassy or visa center.

The Chinese side is loyal to the Russians entering its territory. However, the presence of concessions does not mean that you will be lenient if you violate the migration rules. Therefore, before you start packing your bags, carefully read the rules for visiting various regions of the PRC so that, being there, you do not become a violator of the laws of the state.

The most popular for travelers is to obtain a visa on arrival. This option is possible in cases where a pre-formed group is sent to the Celestial Empire. Travel agencies handle paperwork for groups. Even before sending tourists to China, their lists are sent to the border areas. To get to China in this way, you need to travel in a group that includes more than 2 people.

This path is suitable only for Beijing and Hainan Island, where high-quality tourist services are offered and the opportunity not only to relax, but also to receive medical treatment. As part of a group formed by travel agencies, you can stay on the territory of these parts of the state for no more than 21 days. You cannot leave them. You can leave, as well as arrived, only as part of a group.

Even if you don't plan to buy tourist package, it makes sense to contact a travel agency. Many of them, for a fee, include additional people in the formed groups.

If your area borders China

Citizens can freely stay in China without a visa Russian Federation living in regions sharing the border with China:

• Amur region,
• Primorsky Territory,
• Irkutsk region,
• Khabarovsk Territory,
• Transbaikal Territory.

If you live in one of the listed regions, you will need to pass the border control, issued by the Chinese side. You also need a passport and a document that indicates where you are registered. With these documents, you will receive permission at the border checkpoint.

The period of stay on it in China varies from 15 to 180 days.

Before you go to the Middle Kingdom in this way, check which points at that time have the right to pass Russians with invitations. There are crossing points where such permits are not issued.

Transit travelers

Those who are traveling to other countries, but have purchased flights with a transfer in China, need to know the country's migration rules regarding transit guests.

Without visa documents, you have the right to stay in the state for 72 hours, provided that the place of transfer is the following international airports: Harbin, Guangzhou, Guilin, Chongqing, Xi'an and Shenyang. Shanghai, Xiamen, Qingdao, Chengdu, Wuhan, Kunming, Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Qinhuangdao, Shijiazhuang and Shenyang time transit transfer you can stay 144 hours in 2019.

It is important that you depart from the same airport that you arrived at. This rule can only be bypassed in the following cases:

• Your flights are operated by one carrier.
• The airline changes airports due to the need to refuel the aircraft.
• You are served by different companies, but you have a single booking form with one code.

Not all transit passengers can travel freely within China. For example, if your drop off point is Chongqing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, or, you are allowed to admire the beauties of the city, but it is strictly forbidden to leave its limits.

Whatever airport you arrive at, you cannot change to other modes of transport other than an airplane to continue your journey.

Where a visa is not required

If you are thinking about how to go to China on your own, without contacting tourist agency to buy a tour or join a group, consider the various options for visiting the country.

For example, you have the opportunity to go to Heihe without obtaining a visa. It is a city very close to Russian border. You can go to it from Blagoveshchensk, located just one kilometer away. It is enough to cross the Amur and you are in China.
On a trip, you need to take from the documents only a passport for presentation at the border. Since 2004, Chinese migration legislation has allowed Russians to stay in Heihe for 30 days.

The trip from Blagoveshchensk to Heihe takes 15 to 20 minutes. The choice of transport depends on the season. In the off-season, Puma ships equipped with airbags are transported from Blagoveshchensk across the river to the Chinese side. Departure every 20 minutes. This method of crossing is relevant for December, November and April.

While in the region during the winter months, you can leave Blagoveshchensk on one of the buses that cross the Amur River on temporary pontoon bridges. The availability of this type of travel to the Chinese borders depends on weather conditions.

In the summer, once an hour, people are transported along the Amur to Heihe by a motor ship carrying 200 passengers.

The Annunciation Way is extremely popular, so in order to pass the control, you need to stand in a rather impressive queue. To go to the other side, you need to fill out a migration card, half of which is returned after verification. It should be kept for the return crossing of the border. There is a fee for crossing to the Chinese side.

Suifenhe city

The city of Suifenhe, located in Heilongjiang province, is a great place to spend your holidays. Since 2013 Russian citizens can stay in it without a visa for 15 days.

Macau

Another attractive tourist place for guests from all over the world is Macau.

This is a special administrative region of the state, where since the end of September 2012 Russians can come without a visa and stay here for about 30 days.

In order to travel to the listed areas without a visa stamp in your passport, you need to have return tickets and a passport with you.

Before you travel, check which areas at the time of your trip may require proof of financial solvency and hotel reservations. But it’s better to stock up on both the first and the second, just in case. This guarantees you a hassle-free passage.

WikiHow is a wiki, which means that many of our articles are written by multiple authors. When creating this article, 41 people worked on editing and improving it, including anonymously.

Visiting China will give you many delightful and unforgettable experiences. To get the most out of your visit, you need to take into account the local features, and the following tips will help you pack your bags so that the trip is a success.

Steps

Gather all the documents you need to travel to China - passport, all necessary visas, international air tickets, etc.

Take everything you need to China. Although shops will be found on every corner, they will not always sell the things that you are used to at home. Most toilets don't have toilet paper, so it's best to have your own stock on hand. Large rolls are inconvenient to carry, so even before the trip you need to set aside a part of the roll that is more than half used. For a family of four, 6-8 of these mini-rolls will be enough for a two-week trip. Of course, in 5-star hotels, the toilets are decorated in European style, and at international airports there are definitely Western-style toilets. Stock up on only what you need. It is better to take only one key from the house and from the car with you.

• Having your own toilet paper is especially important for those traveling by train.
• Train toilets in China can only be used in "rural areas", outside the urban area.

1. Take Pepto Bismol and loperamide in a chewable form. In China, the quality of tap water is terrible. Problems can arise even if you brush your teeth by rinsing off the paste with tap water or eat vegetables that have been washed and not cooked. To prevent bowel problems, chew 2 tablets before meals.

   • Poor water quality is predominantly found in rural areas rather than "urban" areas.

2. Prepare your clothes according to the season. It is very hot in China in summer and very cold in winter. Take a lot of clothes, and remember that you can always use the laundry service in the hotel or self-service laundry if any parts of the wardrobe need to be cleaned. True, some laundries use detergents that can cause allergies, so dry cleaning is safer.

   • China is a lot like the US. Summers in the south are very hot and humid, while winters in the north are frosty and dry.

3. In most Chinese establishments, the dress code can be described as sensible informal, but if you are planning formal meetings, it is better to wear a suit or formal attire.

   Make sure that water does not get into your mouth while taking a shower. Her taste is normal, but there is a danger of picking up some kind of infection. Therefore, it is better to use bottled table water for rinsing your mouth and brushing your teeth.

   • In small towns, they can sell cheap table water that has only undergone coarse filtration. It is safer to use water from supermarkets by buying well-known brands.

4. Visit your GP(s) or travel clinic. Experts can help you determine which vaccinations you need based on your health status, vaccination history, specific regions you plan to visit, and activities you plan to do during your trip. Before the trip you need to fulfill all these requirements. To purchase any psychotropic drugs in China, you must show a prescription certified by a doctor. Bring along any antibiotics and other prescription medications you may need during your trip to make sure you have enough for the duration of your stay in China (plus a few extra pills). Transport medicines in their original packaging. Travelers from the US can get all the information they need about medicines in China from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

5. Prepare a small camping kit for each family member. Place a mini toilet paper roll and a bottle of hand sanitizer in your hip pouch. It is better to choose an antiseptic that is not alcohol-based, since in some provinces (especially Guangzhou) it can be confiscated at customs. Add a high-calorie sweet cereal bar with nuts, cough drops, and chewing gum. It's also a good idea to bring a flashlight so you don't end up in the dark during power outages that happen in China.

   • Don't forget that you are in China and not anywhere else! To reduce environmental pollution, toilets usually do not have toilet paper. Always have paper napkins on hand, which can be purchased at any store for 1-2 yuan.

6. Always carry some cash and traveler's checks with you as most restaurants and shops credit cards do not accept. Prepare a bag with money, travelers checks, air and train tickets. It must be firmly and safely fixed on itself, and it is advisable to cover it with clothes. It will be safer than leaving these things in a hotel room.

   • The main banks of large and medium cities have ATMs that accept debit cards. You can easily use your USAA Federal Saving Bank and North American East Asia Bank cards. In small towns, some banks do not even exchange dollars for Chinese yuan.

7. Among other obligatory things, one can name a raincoat and / or an umbrella, a hat, in the summer - sunscreen and goggles, insect repellant, as well as a power adapter (power converter) needed to power and recharge electrical appliances.

   • Always carry the business card of the hotel where you are staying. This will take you back if any unforeseen situations. In case of an emergency, you should have a copy of your passport, the original of which can be left at safe place In a hotel.
   • Don't eat everything. It is better to know what is offered to you and how this dish was prepared. In places like Beijing's Wanwujing Market, it's not uncommon for light snacks to be prepared in a non-technological manner. If you are not sure about the quality of the food you eat, drink beer - it will help digest incompatible food, the main thing is not to abuse it.
   • If you are African, European, or Hispanic, don't be surprised if the Chinese ask permission to take pictures with you.
   • Once you've decided where you're going, do some research. Learn about climatic conditions in this area. There is nothing worse than being dressed for the wrong weather. At the same time, a certain conservatism is needed. Long pants and neat shirts/blazers will do for any terrain.
   • Take the time to study the maps of places where you are staying or planning to visit. This will help you stay on course while walking around the city. You are also unlikely to get lost if you arm yourself with a handheld GPS navigator.
   • Before traveling, it is worth preparing a listing of all the hotels in the areas where you will go. Be sure to prepare a printout in Chinese as well (you can use the Chinese pages of the websites of these hotels or translate the text using an online translator). This will make it easier for you to communicate with taxi drivers, who often do not speak English. For the same purpose, you can ask the concierge at the hotel to write in Chinese the name of the attractions that you plan to visit.
   • Even cheap hotels have a heater on each floor to drinking water. Use a clean bottle to cool 97.22 C boiling water to an acceptable temperature.
   • Control the amount of cash you have with you. Just in case, it is worth having an NZ, which is enough to return to the hotel by taxi. Most airports have ATMs and it's best to get cash as soon as you arrive.
   • Read a few reports from other travelers to better understand the sights and what to look out for. Find a travel booklet to read on a flight or in a hotel room.
   • China censors the internet. To access Facebook or YouTube, you will need an address replacement proxy service.
   • Chinese mobile operators operate on other standards. If you want to use the same phone in China and the USA, you will need a phone with a quadraphonic frequency range. Also make sure you don't have a local sim card. To work in China, it must be nationwide.
   • Find a Chinese audio course and also grab a dictionary. Knowledge of the Chinese language is necessary, but there is no need to be upset about its complexity. You just need to remember a few key phrases and general grammar rules. Remember that outside of 5-star hotels and fancy restaurants, people's knowledge of English is usually limited to the word "hello!". If you want to roam freely, you need to learn basic phrases. You can also ask the concierge to write down on paper the names of the places you plan to visit during the day. Thanks to this, you will be able to explain to the taxi driver where you need to get. In urban regions, the chances of finding someone who owns English language rise.
   • Chinese currency is only sold in China, so you need to find out where the exchange offices are. Add information about major banks to the list of major hotels you prepare for your trip. This will allow you to find the nearest place as soon as you need to change dollars or travelers checks into yuan.

The state of the People's Republic of China is located on an area of ​​more than 9 million square meters. km and in terms of scale confidently ranks 3rd in the world, behind Canada and the Russian Federation. rich cultural heritage China attracts travelers from all over the world the globe and does not leave indifferent any tourist.

Landmarks of China

How to travel to China on your own

China for a tourist is a world of contrasts, a combination of the splendor of a modern metropolis, a carefree and expensive life with a modest life of farmers and trinket market traders. It's fast paced here modern life best combined with ancient history.

You can go to the Celestial Empire as part of a group, and then part of the organizational issues will be resolved by a travel agent. Sophisticated tourists who prefer to travel on their own should take into account some simple details of the trip:

Book accommodation or hotel rooms in advance.

Apply for a visa and buy insurance.

Buy plane tickets.

At independent travel in China, it is necessary to understand that 80% of the population does not speak foreign languages. To avoid problems with the language barrier, it is advisable to raise your level of Chinese to at least HSK1.

Registration for training

Free Trial Lessons

Every week we hold free trial lessons for adults and children. In the lesson, you will get acquainted with the basics of the Chinese language, its phonetics, hieroglyphs and learn your first phrase. We regularly hold presentations of programs for parents of students.

Level detection

If you or your child has already studied Chinese before, then before starting classes, you must pass an interview to determine the level. After that, we will select a suitable group and assign a trial lesson in it.

We have received your application. Thank you!

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Itinerary in China: where to go

Popular tourist destinations include modern and traditional types of recreation:

SPA resorts
There are many professional health centers in China, where the developments of modern Western medicine are effectively combined with the unique methods of Chinese therapy. You will be offered therapeutic mud baths, aromatherapy, acupuncture, herbal treatments, body wraps, moxibustion, balneotherapy, acupuncture, inhalations, various massages. People go to China to improve the functions of the musculoskeletal system, to treat cardiovascular and gastrointestinal pathologies, the respiratory and nervous systems, rheumatism and arthritis.

Ski resorts
Fans of active pastime will appreciate the infrastructure and high service ski resorts Baidakhe, Jinguetan and Yabuli. Modern tracks that meet international standards allow both professionals and amateurs to actively engage in sports.

Ecotourism
In China, there are numerous historical monuments architecture, ancient temples, places of pilgrimage on sacred mountain Huashan, National parks in the area of ​​Sanqinshan and Jade Mountain with a huge variety of rare plants and animals, national park Volun with natural habitat of giant pandas. Most areas are labeled as World Heritage UNESCO.

dive resorts
For exciting diving, the surroundings of the city of Sanya are suitable - Xiaodonghai, Yalongwan and Dadonghai bays, the islands of Wuzhizhou, Sidao. Among the variety of marine fauna you can find starfish, many bizarre fish, large jellyfish, more than 50 varieties of corals. The water of the South China Sea is so clear that underwater landscapes can be viewed at a depth of up to 25 meters.

Landmarks of China

the great Wall of China- one of the seven modern wonders of the world, the largest building on the planet. Climbing the wall will seem like an exciting walk only for physically prepared tourists. Evaluate the capabilities of your body in advance, as a large number of steps can take all your strength, and the tour will not be enjoyable. The funicular is an alternative.

Shaolin Monastery. Here you can watch the life of the monks with your own eyes, see their daily many hours of strength and spirit training, as well as a demonstration of martial arts.

Tropical island of Hainan. The perfect place for relaxing beach holiday with white sandy shore and crystal clean water. Admire the beauty underwater world with bright landscapes, unusual fauna and coral thickets, diving and snorkeling enthusiasts will be able to.

thermal springs Nantian. Within the territory of health complex more than 40 pools with warm water, the available temperature range allows everyone to find their comfort zone.

Oceanarium on Henkin Island. The world's largest oceanarium contains the rarest specimens of the deep sea. Here, tourists can feed the crocodiles, look at the most terrible and unusual animals up close.

Monkey Island. The trip itself to the island along the longest and most picturesque cable car China can already be considered an additional excursion. And on the island, tourists will find a sparkling pearl museum and jewelry stores.

Shanghai. Arriving in Shanghai, tourists should definitely see the temple of God - the Guardian of the city and the Temple of the Jade Buddha, as well as take a walk along Nanjing Street (Shanghai Arbat).

Hong Kong. A cultural and historical center with many galleries, exhibitions and museums: horse racing, police, medical sciences, Madame Tussauds wax figures, Tsui Art Museum, Lau Wook Folk Museum, Pao Art Center and other attractions.

Important and useful little things for tourists

Additional Information will facilitate your stay in the country and help to avoid embarrassing situations for both beginners and experienced tourists:

Time. The difference with the Moscow time zone is +5 hours.

Payment system. In modern shopping malls, hotels, restaurants for payment are accepted bank cards almost all payment systems. For small purchases, it is best to have cash in national currency. The best currency converter is at the airport.

Transport. Traveling in China is easy with high speed trains(350km/h), tickets should be bought in advance, especially if the planned trip falls on a weekend or holiday. Car rental is only possible with a driver, as international driving licenses are not valid here. To travel short distances, you can use the services of a taxi, the prices are adequate. It is important to have an address written in Chinese with you, almost no one speaks English.

Shopping. The finest natural silk and world-famous Chinese porcelain are among the most popular and expensive souvenirs. From exclusive gifts, you can bring pearl jewelry, healing tinctures for ants, snakes, scorpions, Chinese Maotai vodka. Expensive gifts should only be purchased from shops or factories. You can bargain and talk about price reductions not only in the market, but even in large stores.

Weather. When planning a trip to China, you must take into account that the weather in different areas can vary significantly even at the same time of the year. Depending on the location, some provinces may be cold, while other areas may be under the rays of the scorching sun.

Traveling to China will allow you to immerse yourself in the ancient traditions and unusual culture of this country, see the bewitching landscapes national parks and mountain ranges, visit the largest architectural monuments, palaces of emperors, ancient temples, pagodas and museums, as well as appreciate local cuisine that has preserved thousands of years of tradition and secrets.

To visit China, Russians need to obtain a visa in advance. It takes a lot of time and effort, and not all of our cities have visa centers. Over the past decade, China and Russia have done a lot of joint work to simplify the visa regime for tourists crossing customs borders. Governments have officially designated a number of territories with visa-free and visa-facilitated regimes.

Allows a tourist to cross the border of the state, having only a passport and tickets for the return flight. Sometimes it is required to have enough money for the entire period of stay in the country, confirmation of hotel reservation.

How to get to China without a visa.

There are five visa-free zones in China:

• Hong Kong from July 1, 2009 is available to Russians for up to 14 days. If you need to spend more days, you will have to apply for a visa at the consular department of the PRC.
• From September 30, 2012, it became possible to visit the Macau Special Administrative Region without a visa for 30 days.
• It is possible to relax and get medical treatment on the island of Hainan without a visa for 21 days during a group trip through a travel agency (from two people - for Russians). In this case, tourists are forbidden to leave the territory of the island, they are obliged to settle with the group in a hotel booked by a travel agency.
• Since December 2013, Russians have been freely coming to the city of Suifenhe (Heilongjiang Province) without a visa and resting there for up to 15 days.
• Available since 2004 Russian tourists the city of Heihe, located one kilometer from Blagoveshchensk (across the Amur River), with only a passport for up to 30 days.

Travel outside these regions is prohibited. But if necessary, it is possible to obtain a visa from the Chinese migration service.

Regions with a simplified entry regime

Simplified visa regime- this is the case when obtaining a visa to visit the country is mandatory, but it is possible to issue it at the border or at the airport of arrival.

Just like with the visa-free regime, a foreign passport and return tickets are required here.

• On October 21, 2013, a 30-day visa center was opened at the airport in Hailar. Conditions for issuing a visa within 10 minutes:
  • Arrival from Chita;
  • pre-prepared documents.

  In Hailar, only single visas are issued.

• Visa on arrival to Hainan.
  If a tourist arriving on the island is going to visit other cities of the country, you need to immediately apply for a single-entry Chinese visa at the Phoenix Airport (Sanya City):
  • Term - 15 days (14 nights);
  • The flight must be direct.
• Since March 17, 2015, Russians have been able to obtain an entry visa to China for 30 days immediately after arriving at the Xijiao airport in the border city of Manchuria.

transit through China

There are two types of visa-free transit with the right to leave the airport:

• For 24 hours - provided that it is an international airport in China (with the exception of Yanji) and there are tickets to a third country;
• For 72 hours - if these are international airports of the cities listed below:
  • You need to have air tickets to a third country;
  • A tourist is only in the city of arrival - and he has the opportunity to rent a hotel room, see the sights;
  • The time is counted from the moment the visa concession is issued - from midnight on the day following the day of arrival (that is, the day of arrival is not taken into account);
  • Departure - only from the airport of arrival;
  • During the first day you need to get registration at the police station.

Airports with 72-hour transit

• Beijing was the first city in China to introduce a visa-free regime for foreign tourists (since January 1, 2013).
• From January 1, 2013 registration transit visa available to passengers arriving at Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao airports.
• Guangzhou (since August 1, 2013).
• In September 2013, the city of Chengdu was added.
• Visa-free transit through Chongqing was introduced in November 2013.
• On January 1, 2014, a transit regime was introduced for Russians in the cities of Shenyang and Dalian in Liaoning province.
• In the summer of 2014, the city of Xi'an appeared on the list of cities for visa-free transit flights.
• From July 28, 2014 tourists have the opportunity visa-free visit Guilin City, located in southern China.
• Since March 2015, Russians have been coming to Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, without a visa, according to IA Xinghua news agency.
• From April 1, 2015, Kunming and popular resort Xiamen, from southern province Fujian.
• From August 1, 2015, Russians have the opportunity to visit the city of Harbin, located near the border with our country.

Entry from border regions

Russians living in the Primorsky, Khabarovsk, Trans-Baikal Territories, Chita, Irkutsk and Amur Regions are granted the right to regularly visit China for a period of 15 to 180 days without the need to obtain a visa at the consulates of this country - they will receive it during the border crossing at the checkpoint upon presentation of the document with a residence permit, passports and invitations.

Crossing the border of Blagoveshchensk-Heihe-Blagoveshchensk (across the Amur River):

• May - October: transportation on motor ships for 200 people 1 time per hour;
• January - March (depending on the thickness and strength of the ice on the river): transportation by buses on a pontoon bridge;
• Off-season (April, November and December): transport every 20 minutes by hovercraft ("Puma").

The distance between the cities is about one kilometer, the journey takes about 15 minutes.

Customs crossing in Blagoveshchensk is paid, through one of the halls: general (large queue, especially on weekends and holidays), reverse (increased comfort, the queue is much smaller), V.I.P. (going back and forth without a queue, in winter there is a special minibus).

On the Chinese side, they pay a fee for entering Heihe and fill out a coupon, at the passport control point they collect half of the coupon. The second half of the coupon, as well as the return ticket, is kept for the duration of the entire trip!

Is it planned to completely abolish visas for tourists?

Chinese government people's republic seeks to introduce visa-free regime throughout the country to increase tourist flows, develop cultural and trade ties. This was stated on November 10, 2015 by the head of the Department for European and Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Gui Congyu, according to the Interfax agency.

In conclusion - a summary table with information about cities in China with a visa-free and simplified visa regime:

Cities and provinces of China	Without a visa	Visa on arrival	Year of introduction
heihe	up to 30 days	from 15 days	2004
Hong Kong	up to 14 days		2009
Hainan	up to 21 days (group trip)	up to 14 days	2010
Macau	up to 30 days		2012
Beijing	transit 72 hours