Russia to Increase Flights to China

Russia plans to increase the number of flights to China in response to strong demand. In the first six months of 2026, the number of tourist trips between the two countries rose by 50%. By the end of December, the figure could exceed 4 million.

Air Links Between Russia and China

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova proposed increasing the number of flights between Russia and China. At a bilateral commission meeting in St. Petersburg on October 19, she also called for developing road tourism and expanding sightseeing programs. The new routes and their launch dates have not yet been announced.

Scheduled air services had already expanded before the October meeting. In summer 2026, airlines from the two countries operated 309 flights a week, compared with 230 a year earlier, according to Russia's Transport Ministry. Between January and July, Russian carriers served more than 1.3 million passengers on these routes, up 50% from the same period in 2025.

In May 2026, direct flights to China operated from 14 Russian cities. Travelers could fly nonstop to 17 airports in China, including those in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR). In July, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov proposed opening routes to Kamchatka, Altai, Tyumen and the Russian North. These regions currently have no direct flights to China, although they already have infrastructure for visitors.

Visa-Free Travel Between Russia and China

Since September 15, 2025, Russian citizens have been allowed to enter China without a visa for up to 30 days. On December 1, Russia introduced equivalent arrangements for Chinese citizens. The rules apply to short visits and do not replace work or study permits.

Both countries extended the visa-free arrangements through December 31, 2027. Family visits, business trips and transit are also permitted.

Tour operators have expanded their offerings in China. Programs for 2026 include tours in China covering Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Suzhou, trips to the Zhangjiajie mountains and holidays on Hainan Island. Some itineraries combine visits to historic cities with time on the coast.

Travel Between Russia and China

In 2025, Russians made 1,360,300 tourist trips to China, up 33.6% year on year, according to the Border Service of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). During the same period, 834,466 Chinese nationals visited Russia for leisure, 1.6% fewer than in 2024.

Estimates of bilateral tourism flows in 2025 differ. The Russian government reported more than 3 million visits, while the FSB Border Service recorded 2,194,766 trips for leisure purposes. The methodology behind the first figure has not been published, so a direct comparison would be misleading.

2025 Travel Statistics: Comparing Sources

In January–March 2026, Russians made 395,913 tourist trips to China, up 62.4% from the same period in 2025. In the first six months of 2026, the number of visitors from China rose to 380,600 (up 19.8% year on year). In the first half of 2019, the figure was higher at 592,000.

Tourism Outlook Through 2030

By 2030, Russia aims to welcome 5.5 million visitors from China annually. Meeting this target will require expanding transport links, making regions more accessible, and providing more hotels and sightseeing services. The authorities place particular emphasis on destinations beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg.

One such initiative is the Great Tea Road tourist route, which Russia is developing with China and Mongolia. The countries are preparing cross-border rail itineraries, and in summer 2026 they tested a road-based option during a pilot trip through Buryatia. For self-drive tourism to become widespread, crossing borders in private cars will have to be made easier.

International Investment analysts note that travel to Russia has become less attractive because of the difficult situation, including flight delays and cancellations and frequent drone attacks. Changes to flight schedules make trips harder to plan and can lead to additional costs for tickets and accommodation. To meet its tourism goals, Russia will need not only to launch new routes but also to ensure reliable airport operations and visitor safety.