Over the past decade, China's image in Russia has changed radically. And now, not only cheap clothes attract Russians to go from Vladivostok to China for the weekend, but also high-level recreation, a wide variety of services and even medicine, including not only folk medicine.
More and more production facilities and special trade zones are being concentrated on the Sino-Russian border to meet the demand of domestic buyers of Chinese goods. To ensure the ever-increasing passenger traffic, a new infrastructure is required, which is being actively developed on the side of the PRC.
Road from Vladivostok to China
High passenger traffic on both sides of the Russian-Chinese border creates favorable conditions for competition in the transportation market, which, in turn, ensures reasonable ticket prices.
Tours to China from Vladivostok are very popular due to the agreement between the Russian Federation and China, which stipulates the procedure for visa-free entry to both countries if a person travels as part of a group. Such group trips, however, impose a number of restrictions - entry and exit only as part of a group and the use of oneand the same border crossing.
To visit China as part of a group, it is worth booking a tour at one of the city's travel agencies. Visas for independent travel to the named country will have to be issued through the Chinese consulate with a ready invitation or by contacting one of the specialized agencies of the city that are professionally involved in paperwork for these trips.
There are several ways to get to andz Vladivostok in China. First, it is worth considering the option of flying by plane. This option allows you to reach your destination in the shortest possible time, but at a cost that exceeds the cost of both a bus tour and, in some cases, a train ticket.
One-way flight on the route Vladivostok - Beijing takes 2 hours 40 minutes and usually costs no more than ten thousand rubles. A flight to Shanghai costs one and a half times more, as this is a more popular destination among Russian travelers. With transfers in major cities in China, you can get to almost anywhere in the world.
As for the rail service, regular trains do not connect Vladivostok and Harbin, but there is a daily train departing from Grodekovo station near the capital of Primorye. Such a trip will take about eleven hours.
Cities of northern China
One of the most popular cities in the northern part of China for Russians is Harbin. Russia has a long history with this city, which began back in the days ofconstruction of a railway by the Russian Empire in eastern China.
After the Russian revolution, numerous refugees from Russia settled in this city, fleeing repression and persecution in their native country for one reason or another. And a large number of memorable places make Harbin a popular destination for history buffs.
Once in the city there were two dozen churches and a whole network of Russian schools, but such prosperity for the fugitives from Russia lasted only until the end of the thirties, after which all Russians had to leave the country. But many of them recalled in their diaries that it was time, as if stopped in its movement, and the city existed according to the rules of the pre-revolutionary Empire.
Suifenhe: shopping paradise
The city of Suifenhe is popular with residents of the Far East due to economic reasons. The Chinese authorities have done everything possible to make Russian tourists feel at home there. It is this city that is easiest to get from Vladivostok to China by bus.
And there are many reasons to go there, one of which, of course, is trade. This border town is a free customs zone, which means that most of the enterprises operating in it are exempt from paying customs taxes and fees, that is, their products are much cheaper than those imported into Russia and sold in Russian stores. It is for cheap goods that people go there.
It is worth noting that a wholesector of the service sector, focused exclusively on Russian tourists. It can even be said that the only purpose of this city is to serve the Russians who come there to relax, have fun and buy the necessary goods at a low price.
In addition, it is worth mentioning that Russians do not need a visa to travel to Suifenhe, and they can stay here for up to fifteen days, which seems quite enough for this city.
China Sea
However, Russians go to this country not only for clothes. Airplanes fly from Vladivostok to China, full of people wishing to have a good time at seaside resorts, many of which are located on the island of Hainan. The popularity of the named island is due to the harmonious combination of a comfortable subequatorial climate and visa-free entry. In addition, there are hotels and activities for every budget.
Most tourists get there by charter flights on pre-purchased vouchers to China from Vladivostok, but there are also independent travelers who prefer to control their journey by booking hotels and independently booking tickets for regular flights, which are not lacking in the Far East.
