Russian cities and regions guide.

Foreigners holding a Chinese visa or residents of China cannot visit Blagoveshchensk, Russia, from Heihe, China, without a Russian visa. A specific visa-free agreement exists between Russia and China, allowing Russian citizens to visit Heihe without a Chinese visa for up to 30 days, primarily for tourism or trade, using only a passport. However, this arrangement is not reciprocal for non-Russian foreigners, and no equivalent visa-free policy applies for entering Russia from Heihe.

To enter Blagoveshchensk, foreign nationals (excluding Russian citizens under the Heihe agreement) require a valid Russian visa, regardless of possessing a Chinese visa/residence permit. The Russian e-visa, available for citizens of certain countries for short visits (up to 16 days) for tourism, business, or humanitarian purposes, could be an option, but it must be obtained in advance. Additionally, crossing the border, typically via ferry or the new Heihe-Blagoveshchensk bridge (open for tourists in 2025), involves strict customs and immigration checks.