March 05, 2023

Tourists from China Return To Russia


Tourists from China Return To Russia
Chinese tourists on Red Square.

RIA Novosti, a Russian state-controlled news agency, expressed enthusiasm about the arrival in Russia of the first group of tourists from China since the pandemic started, advertising the group's positive experience. The timing of the article, March 2, is not coincidental. Just days earlier the U.S. Department of Defense urged China not to sell weapons to Russia.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, sanctions, boycotts, and Russia's closed-offed-ness have made it a less-than-ideal tourist destination. According to Kommersant, international tourism to Russia shrunk by 90% over 2022. But now the Russian tourism industry sees a new horizon with tourists from China.

Yet the excitement around travelers from China isn't just about boosting Russia's tourism economy, but also strengthening a political alliance. Moscow depends on Beijing economically and geopolitically, but the response has not been precisely what the Kremlin wanted. The Wilson Center describes China's approach to the war in Ukraine as "a careful balancing act" and "distance diplomacy," avoiding openly supporting Russia while simultaneously opposing UN sanctions

Meanwhile, all the stops have been pulled to accommodate China's incoming tourists. Tourist agency Nika received the first group of tourists in late February. Businesses evaded Visa and Mastercard's sanctions by accepting WeChat Pay, which is dominant in China. And direct flights from Moscow to Shanghai and Beijing are being negotiated.

RIA's article ended by advocating for the removal of visas: "A system needs to be rectified so [Chinese citizens] can return without a visa." 

You Might Also Like

We Have Land Enough

We Have Land Enough

How the situation in Russia looks from a village in the very remote and very Far East.
Not That Way
  • February 26, 2023

Not That Way

Vladimir Putin revoked a 2012 decree aimed at economic integration with the EU and supporting Moldovan sovereignty.
Cry for Me, Argentina
  • February 19, 2023

Cry for Me, Argentina

Six pregnant Russians were detained while entering Argentina, prompting a criminal investigation into birth tourism agencies.
Sino - Russian Relations
  • November 28, 2001

Sino - Russian Relations

Historic border accords signed between Russia and China on December 9, 1999.  This one of the last major official acts of then President Boris Yeltsin prior to his surprise resignation on December 31.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals
[INVALID]
[INVALID]

Some of our Books

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955