Russian Tourists Flock to Hainan’s Sanya After Beijing Eases Visas

Russian tourists have flooded the beaches of Sanya on China’s Hainan Island, drawn by warm weather and Beijing’s visa-free travel policy, creating a prominent winter resort scene, The Times reported.

The Times said the number of Russian visitors to Hainan rose elevenfold between 2023 and 2024, and that during the winter high season the island receives eight or more flights each day from cities across Russia. The report added that Chinese authorities stopped releasing Hainan visitor figures by country last year.

Local businesses and officials have adapted to Russian tastes: menus, official notices and shop signs often appear in Russian, grocery stores stock familiar foods, and some restaurants mimic well-known Moscow chains. The report described New Year’s Eve parties timed to Vladivostok, revelers celebrating near a Chinese naval base for nuclear submarines, and loudspeakers in resort areas playing Russian folk songs; police warnings about fireworks were largely ignored.

Experiences vary: some visitors said they felt welcome and found relief from scrutiny elsewhere, while others said topics such as Taiwan were treated as too sensitive and one visitor reported a clash with Chinese vacationers. The Times noted that China allowed visa-free access to Hainan in 2024 and to the whole country since November as part of efforts to revive the economy.

Key Topics

World, Russian Tourists, Hainan, Sanya, Dadonghai, Visa-free Policy