A new cross-border tourist train service went into trial operation on Friday between Russia's Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok and the Chinese border town of Suifenhe, opening a fresh corridor for visa-free travel.

The first group of Russian tourists choosing this new tourist route stepped off the train, ready to embark on a four-day adventure in China. At the same time, 180 Chinese travelers also taking this route were boarding the train for the opposite journey.

The entire journey takes eight hours. Integrating tourism resources on the route, the service offers visitors a one-stop, diversified travel experience.

Inside the carriages, one side features standard seating, while the other offers open-plan sleeper berths stacked in two tiers. Soft-sleeper compartments are also equipped with shower cabins.

Some passengers have traveled great distances just to experience the ride.

"I flew over 2,000 kilometers from Zhejiang Province [in east China] just to catch this train. Now I'm really excited to get on board," said Gao Hailong, a Chinese tourist.

Local officials expect the new route to become a major tourism driver, drawing both domestic and international visitors to the region and giving a strong boost to local businesses.

"This has opened up an efficient and convenient cross-border tourism corridor, allowing tourists from both countries to truly 'travel by train' and reach their destinations in a single non-stop journey, while significantly reducing the overall cost of cross-border travel," said Cong Yunhong, deputy director of the Mudanjiang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism.

Since China's visa-free policy for Russian tourists took effect in September 2025, border cities in Heilongjiang have stepped up efforts to promote inbound tourism. In the first half of this year alone, the Suifenhe inland port recorded more than 310,000 entries and exits, a year-on-year increase of 30.6 percent.