From November 2025, mandatory filling out of paperwork forms when crossing the border with China will become a thing of the past.
The primary method of registration has become the eCard, available to fill out through several digital channels. Travelers can fill it out in advance on the official website of the Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China or directly through the popular WeChat and Alipay applications installed on almost every visitor in the country.
The filling process is intuitive and requires standard data entry: information from the international passport, information about the itinerary and purpose of the trip. After checking the data, the system will generate a digital confirmation, which simply needs to be presented at the border control agency. The QR code with the completed form can also be scanned from your mobile screen. For those who for some reason cannot fill out the form online, hybrid solutions are available.
Special terminals have been installed at all important checkpoints, including airports, railways and roads. With their help or by scanning the QR code located in the control area, you can quickly fill out the electronic form on the spot. Classic paper forms are saved as a backup, “emergency” option in case of technical errors.
Experts in the tourism industry unanimously predict that the digitalization of entry will become an additional driver of the growth of tourist flows, which is showing reliably positive momentum after the introduction of visa-free group exchanges. According to preliminary estimates, in the first quarter of 2026, the number of Russian tourists to China may increase by 60-80% compared to the same period last year. Which season is the best to travel to China? Industry experts, based on climatic conditions and seasonality of domestic tourism in China, have made recommendations for choosing the optimal time to travel. Two periods are considered the absolute leaders in terms of overall comfort: April-May and September-October.
This is called the velvet off-season, when the erratic summer heat has subsided or has not yet arrived, and heavy rains have not yet had time to spoil the impression of sightseeing. Temperatures in most areas, including Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an, remained between +18 and +25 °C.
It is during this period that nature reveals all its splendor: spring cherry blossoms and magnolias give way to autumn fireworks of red maple trees in Beijing parks and golden ginkgo leaves in the Forbidden City. In November, although the Northern provinces are somewhat cool, they are still a great choice for traveling to the South of the country. Subtropical regions such as Guangxi (Guilin), Guangdong (Guangzhou, Shenzhen) and Hainan Island have mild and sunny weather with temperatures between +22 and +28 °C, ideal for beach holidays and excursions. The winter months (December-February) are a time of contrasts. In the north, in Harbin, the grand Ice and Snow Festival begins, attracting millions of spectators from all over the world.
At the same time, the ski resorts of Heilongjiang (Yabuli) province are in peak season. Yunnan province (Kunming, Lijiang) has mild and dry winters with daytime temperatures around +15°C, ideal for trekking and exploring the culture of small ethnic groups. The main advice from tour operators is to avoid, if possible, national holiday periods in China, such as Golden October Week (beginning of the month) and Chinese New Year (floating days, January to February).
At this time, the influx of millions of dollars worth of domestic tourists creates incredible loads on transportation systems and infrastructure, leading to long queues and sharp increases in prices. Therefore, the combination of technological innovation at the border and proper trip planning will open up new, comfortable opportunities for Russian tourists to get acquainted with the incredibly diverse China at any time of the year. We also recommend reading on FederalPress that Russian tourists can already pay with QR codes in China.
