Visa-Free Travel Fuels Surge in Russian Visits to China

A landmark visa-free agreement between Russia and China has triggered a dramatic spike in travel, with Russian visits to China reaching their highest level since the pandemic. According to official Chinese statistics, Russian citizens made 745,800 trips to China in the final quarter of 2025 alone—a 40% annual increase.

The data reveals a clear shift in traveler intent. Tourist visits rose by nearly a third to 395,600, while private trips, such as visiting family or friends, soared by 80% to 231,100. In contrast, business travel saw a modest 4% decline.

For the full year 2025, total Russian trips to China climbed from 1.9 million to 2.47 million. This marks the second-highest annual total on record, trailing only the pre-pandemic peak of 2.6 million set in 2019.

The surge follows China's introduction of a visa-free entry policy for Russians, which took effect on September 15, 2025. Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the move as a sign of deepening bilateral ties and promised reciprocal measures for Chinese citizens visiting Russia would follow shortly. Analysts suggest the policy is reshaping travel patterns and strengthening people-to-people connections between the two nations.