Chinese Travellers Eye Russia For New Visa-free National Day Holidays Amid Surge In Interest

Published on September 8, 2025

With nan National Day holidays accelerated approaching, Russian tourism has seen a important uptick successful liking from Chinese travelers. Following caller reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin had suggested visa-free travel for Chinese tourists, hunt activity for flights and hotels successful Russia has skyrocketed. The announcement from Beijing that Russian citizens will beryllium capable to enactment successful China without a visa starting connected September 15 has been mirrored by Russia’s committedness to let Chinese travelers akin freedoms.

On Friday, September 7, Tongcheng Travel, a starring online recreation agency, reported a more than sixfold increase successful searches for flights and hotels to Russia, peculiarly wrong an hr of nan media study connected Putin’s remarks. This crisp emergence successful hunt activity highlights nan eagerness among Chinese nationals to return advantage of nan recently projected visa-free stays, particularly during nan upcoming National Day break.

Key Proposal and Diplomatic Gesture

Putin’s announcement astatine nan Eastern Economic Forum successful Vladivostok has generated sizeable excitement. He remarked that Russia would “undoubtedly” reciprocate China’s friends motion regarding visa policies, which had been implemented earlier successful nan week. On Tuesday, Beijing confirmed that Russian citizens could enactment successful China without a visa for up to 30 days opening September 15. This move, which is seen arsenic a diplomatic gesture, has been welcomed by some countries and is expected to further fortify nan bilateral ties betwixt China and Russia.

The visa-free policy for Chinese visitors is simply a important step, particularly fixed that Russia had antecedently offered visa-free stays for Russian citizens only erstwhile transiting done China to a 3rd country. This arrangement, which was introduced successful precocious 2023, had allowed for stays of up to 10 days. However, pinch nan caller rules, Chinese citizens will beryllium capable to research Russia much freely, making it an charismatic action for those readying to recreation during nan National Day vacation period.

Growing Popularity of Russia arsenic a Tourist Destination for Chinese Travelers

As portion of nan National Day holiday, which spans eight days from October 1, galore Chinese visitors are expected to flock to Russia. Qunar, different celebrated recreation agency, noted that Beijing to Moscow remains nan astir commonly searched route, but location has besides been a noticeable summation successful liking for flights to St. Petersburg. This suggests that Russians are progressively viewed arsenic a destination of prime for Chinese travelers looking to research beyond their emblematic options.

Recent information from Qunar shows that nan visa-free policy is poised to thrust moreover much request for Russian holidays during nan Golden Week. Russia had already gained important traction among Chinese tourists this summer, and nan upcoming visa exemption is expected to make it a apical prime for National Day travelers.

Bilateral Relations and Record Number of Travelers

The boost successful tourism betwixt China and Russia is not conscionable a consequence of nan visa-free policy but besides of broader negotiated relations. Putin’s caller sojourn to China for nan Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and nan 80th day of Japan’s conclusion successful World War II person underscored nan value of strengthening ties. During this visit, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed further boosting tourism exchanges, pinch some leaders indicating that they would proceed to make recreation easier betwixt nan 2 countries.

In fact, nan number of Chinese tourists visiting Russia has been expanding significantly. According to nan Chinese embassy successful Moscow, 1.04 cardinal Chinese tourists traveled to Russia successful 2024, marking a 209.3% increase from nan erstwhile year. In nan aforesaid period, Russian tourism to China besides saw a monolithic rise, pinch 1.5 cardinal Russian tourists visiting mainland China, a 115.1% increase from 2023. This crisp emergence successful bilateral tourism is simply a reflection of nan increasing closeness betwixt nan 2 nations, bolstered by visa-free policies that make recreation much accessible.

National Day Surge Expected for Russian Travel

With Russia becoming 1 of nan astir celebrated destinations for Chinese travelers this year, nan imaginable of visa-free travel during nan National Day holidays is expected to amplify this trend. The Golden Week, 1 of China’s awesome vacation periods, has historically been a clip erstwhile Chinese travelers flock to destinations worldwide. This year, Russia is apt to spot a crisp summation successful Chinese visitors looking to capitalize connected nan caller visa arrangement.

The timing of these argumentation changes couldn’t beryllium much ideal. As galore Chinese nationals scheme their National Day trips, Russia’s entreaty arsenic a destination has been importantly boosted. Additionally, nan resumption of visa-free group tours betwixt nan 2 nations has added to nan increasing trend, particularly since China reopened its borders aft astir 3 years of strict COVID-19 controls.

Impact of Visa-Free Policies connected Tourism Growth

The effect of nan visa-free argumentation for some Russian and Chinese citizens connected tourism is undeniable. This bilateral move is expected to further heighten taste and economical exchanges, and it will apt punctual a caller era of recreation betwixt Russia and China. As much travelers from China research Russia without nan request for visas, nan tourism manufacture successful some countries is expected to spot a notable boost, not only during nan National Day holidays but successful nan years to come.

In conclusion, nan caller visa-free recreation arrangements betwixt Russia and China are poised to lead to an uptick successful tourism betwixt nan 2 countries. With nan upcoming National Day holidays, Chinese travelers are expected to make nan astir of this opportunity, further cementing Russia’s spot arsenic a apical destination for Chinese tourists.