What you need to know about the new rules of entry to China

Starting in autumn, Russian tourists will be able to visit China using a regular passport, and they will not need to apply for a visa. The visa-free regime will become effective on September 15. So far, this is a trial format, designed for one year. Izvestia tells you what you need to know about the new entry rules, which cards are accepted in China, and what to see in China in 2025.

How will the visa-free regime with China work from September 15

The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Guo Jiakun, announced the cancellation of visas for Russians at the beginning of the month. He noted that this measure is aimed at strengthening Russian-Chinese relations and simplifying travel for residents of the two countries.

Previously, a visa-free collective tour exchange had already been established between Moscow and Beijing. Due to this, from August 1, 2023, Russians could freely stay in China for up to 21 days (previously 15 days) as part of a tourist group. The exception to the general rules was staying in Hong Kong, Macau and Hainan Island, where a visa was not required.

The introduction of a visa-free regime will be the next step in this direction. Now it will be possible to stay in the country without a visa for up to 30 days throughout the country. There are no restrictions on the number of entries or the total length of stay, and you can enter from anywhere in the world using a Russian passport.

The Chinese consulate explained for what purposes the visa is not needed.:

• tourism;
• business trips;
• Visiting relatives and friends;
• cultural or educational exchange;
• transit through China.

The new rules will be in effect until September 14, 2026.

On the silk road: China introduces a visa-free regime for Russians from September 15

Russian citizens will be able to enter China using a regular passport.

In which cases a visa to China will still be required

However, in some cases, a visa is still required. For example, if you plan to stay in the country for more than 30 days. This applies to travel for work, study, or related journalistic activities. If the purpose of the visit does not meet the conditions of visa-free entry, you will need to apply for a visa in advance.

What documents are needed to travel to China?

To enter the country, you must have a valid passport issued for five or 10 years. There was no official information about the duration of its validity. However, in many countries, it is required to be at least 6 months from the date of entry. Failure to comply with this rule may result in a refusal to board a flight or enter the country at the border.

In addition, it is recommended to have with you as insurance.:

• tour operator's voucher;
• hotel reservations;
• return flights;
• an invitation letter (for business visits and visiting relatives).

This way it will be possible to confirm the purpose of the visit and avoid possible problems. It is better to store documents both electronically and in hard copy to avoid misunderstandings and delays at the border.

Which cards are accepted in China

For a trip to China, it is also worth providing payment methods in advance. Currently, China does not accept bank cards issued in Russia due to the fact that they cannot be fully connected to local payment systems. In addition, Chinese banks avoid cooperation with sanctioned structures.

You will not be able to pay with Visa, Mastercard and Mir cards in China. However, you can use UnionPay payment system cards that were issued by banks that were not sanctioned. You can also use the AliPay and WeChat payment applications, which are available at almost every kiosk, taxi, or ticket vending machine.

Despite the fact that China has long switched to cashless payments and QR payments, tourists can use a small amount of cash yuan. For example, to pay for a taxi and shopping in the Chinese countryside.

Where can I fly to China from Russia

According to the Association of Tour Operators of the Russian Federation, at the beginning of September 2025, about 215 flights per week to 46 destinations are operated between the cities of Russia and China.

According to the summer schedule, which will be valid until the end of October, you can fly to China from 14 cities — Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Blagoveshchensk, Krasnoyarsk, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Ufa, Yekaterinburg, Chita, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Yakutsk.

Flights are operated by Aeroflot, Ural Airlines, Yakutia, Air China, Hainan Airlines and 10 other Russian and Chinese airlines. At the same time, the association notes that the workload in the directions is extremely unevenly distributed.

What to see in China

China is famous for its thousand-year history, rich cultural traditions and natural beauty, which annually attract millions of tourists from all over the world. But when it comes to a trip to this East Asian country, Beijing, Shanghai, Harbin, the Great Wall of China and the terracotta army in Xi'an come to mind more often.

Meanwhile, there are many amazing places in China for which it is worth putting aside all business and going on a trip around the country. Among them:

• Tianmenshan Nature Reserve in Huan Province: here is the sacred Chinese mountain Tianmen, which is famous for the world's tallest cave "Heaven's Gate", formed as a result of the collapse of part of the cliff.

• Matisa Monastery in Gansu Province: famous for its unique cave temples located high in the cliffs.

• Temple of Heaven in Beijing: built in 1420 for the prayer retreat of the Chinese emperors, the architectural complex with an area of more than 270 hectares is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet: a Buddhist temple complex built in 637, it later became a religious center of China like the Vatican in Rome, it is here that the Chinese residence of the Dalai Lama is located.

• The Edge of the World Park in Hainan: people come here to swim in the sea, enjoy the views of green mountains and oddly shaped boulders, each of which has its own name and is associated with a certain legend.

• Lotus Mountains in Guangzhou (included in the list of national attractions of China): here you can admire the rocks with lush vegetation and lotus ponds, as well as the preserved part of the walls of the Lotus City.

• Honghe Han rice terraces in Yunnan Province: the terraces rise 3 thousand steps at different slopes, forming a unique landscape. This place is one of the favorite among tourists, where you can take unique pictures.

Earlier, Izvestia wrote that experts predict a twofold increase in the tourist flow between Russia and China.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.