Group 1 - The Russian government has implemented a temporary visa-free policy for Chinese citizens, effective from December 1, 2023, until September 14, 2026, which is expected to significantly boost tourism from China to Russia [1][2] - Following the announcement, there was an over 8-fold increase in flight searches to Russia within an hour, with booking volumes increasing nearly 5 times, indicating a strong immediate interest from Chinese travelers [2] - Popular destinations among Chinese tourists include Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Murmansk, with notable increases in flight searches from cities like Urumqi (16 times), Qingdao (15 times), and Xiamen (11 times) [2][5] Group 2 - The visa-free policy coincides with the peak season for outbound winter tourism, suggesting that travel to Russia could reach new highs during key periods such as New Year's and the Spring Festival [5] - The policy is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Russian tourism, attracting a broader age range of Chinese tourists, particularly for unique experiences like the Aurora tours in Murmansk [6] - Companies like Zhongxin Tourism plan to develop specialized travel products focusing on Russia's unique offerings, including ice and snow tourism, military tours, and educational travel, further strengthening ties between the two nations [6]