China-Russia open-water ferry service resumes for 2025 season
The open-water passenger ferry services between Heihe in northeast China and Blagoveshchensk in Russia officially resumed on Wednesday, marking the end of the seasonal hovercraft operations during the spring period when ice on the Heilongjiang River, also known as the Amur River, melts away.
On the first day of services, China and Russia each deployed a passenger vessel, with each ship capable of carrying 240 passengers, ten times the capacity of the hovercrafts used earlier in the season, ensuring sufficient transport capacity.
As the summer tourism season approaches, the ferry service is set to play a key role in strengthening China-Russia regional ties and cross-border tourism.
