Countries in the atlas · East Asia
The pillar mountains of Zhangjiajie, the karst of Guilin and the Great Wall — landscapes familiar from paintings, in real life.
Russian passport: visa-free · 30 daysprices ×1.3 vs Russia
Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Hunan, China
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thousands of sandstone pillars hundreds of metres high stand in the mist.
You go up by cable car or the glass Bailong Elevator and get around the park by bus. Nearby is Tianmen Mountain with its “Heaven’s Gate”.
Guangxi, China
The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo passes between hundreds of karst peaks. The view near Xingping is printed on the 20-yuan note.
In Yangshuo you ride bamboo rafts on the Yulong River, cycle among rice fields and climb hills for the sunset. The South China Karst is a UNESCO site.
Beijing, China · World’s best
The Great Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Mutianyu section is a couple of hours from Beijing: restored towers, a cable car and a toboggan for the way down.
Jinshanling and Simatai are quieter and more scenic, while “wild” sections such as Jiankou are only for the well prepared: the wall there is crumbling and steep.
China: entry, safety, money, flights, laws and budget — with sources.
Russian citizens: visa-free for up to 30 days — the trial scheme in place since 15.09.2025 has been extended to 31.12.2027 (the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy). It covers tourism, business trips, visits to family and friends and transit, with any number of entries.
The arrival card can be filled in online in advance (the NIA 12367 app, WeChat, Alipay), free of charge. After entry you register at your place of stay; hotels do this themselves.
Checked 2 November 2026. These are the rules for a Russian citizen with an international passport on a tourist trip. For other passports and purposes, see the official website — the button above.
No Russian Foreign Ministry advice to refrain from travel (as of 02.11.2026). Medical care for foreigners is paid — the Ministry advises insurance.
The Mir card does not work. The embassy recommends the Nihao China app: you can link a UnionPay card to it to pay with WeChat and Alipay QR codes. Declare cash over $5,000.
Many direct flights: Aeroflot and Chinese airlines to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Sanya and other cities.
prices ×1.3 vs Russia · price level 0.48 (US = 1), 2025
Prices are a third higher than in Russia. No visa is needed; the main costs are tickets to parks and cable cars, sold only by booking with your passport.
The price level is the ratio of purchasing power parity for household consumption to the market exchange rate (World Bank). These are national averages: resorts and capitals cost more, the countryside less. Flights are not included.