At the Wild Plants forum in Novosibirsk, Yana Makshina noted that the interest of Chinese tourists in St. Petersburg is growing, and guests from China are becoming more independent and aware in choosing routes. Among the most sought—after objects are the Aurora cruiser, the State Hermitage Museum and the Tsarskoye Selo Museum-Reserve. In 2025, the tourist flow from China to the Northern Capital amounted to about 235 thousand people.
For the convenience of Chinese travelers, the Chinese version of the Visit Petersburg city portal has been updated, which is already available in China. The site provides information about the main attractions, suburbs, restaurants of Russian and Chinese cuisine, as well as other sections useful for tourists. In the first half of 2026, passenger traffic from China through Pulkovo Airport increased by 18%, to 103 thousand people.
The visa-free regime between the countries also contributes to the growth of tourist flow: in September 2025, it was introduced for a year, and in May 2026, China extended it until December 31, 2027. Russia also confirmed its readiness to extend the visa-free regime. The Wild Plants Forum is being held in Novosibirsk from July 9 to 12. It combines a business program, an exhibition and master classes.
