Group 1 - The new visa-free policy for Chinese citizens traveling to Russia is effective from December 1, 2023, until September 14, 2026, allowing a stay of up to 30 days for tourism and business purposes [1][3] - Following the announcement, there was a significant surge in flight searches to Russia, with some platforms reporting an increase of over 800% in search volume and nearly 500% in booking volume compared to the previous day [1][3] - Major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Harbin saw the highest increases in search volume for flights to Russia, with specific routes like Hangzhou to St. Petersburg and Beijing to Moscow experiencing notable spikes [3][4] Group 2 - The visa-free policy coincides with the peak season for outbound winter tourism, particularly for ice and snow activities, suggesting a potential record high in Russian tourism during the upcoming New Year and Spring Festival holidays [4][5] - The policy is expected to boost cross-border travel at border ports like Heilongjiang, enhancing the appeal of ice and snow tourism in regions such as Harbin and Mohe, while also allowing tourists to experience unique Russian attractions [4][5] - Companies like Zhongxin Tourism are developing specialized travel packages focused on the aurora and winter experiences in Russia, anticipating increased competitiveness and a broader age demographic of Chinese tourists [5]