OREANDA-NEWS  The People's Republic of China has relaxed the entry rules for Russian tourists since March 1. This is reported by Interfax with reference to the Chinese Embassy in the Russian Federation.

According to the updated protocol, travelers entering the popular Asian country are now exempt from the mandatory PCR test. Instead, compatriots can provide the result of an antigen test obtained no earlier than 48 hours before boarding the plane. Russians also need to fill out an online health declaration.

"Since March 1, passengers of direct flights from Russia to China are allowed to use antigen tests (including self-testing) instead of PCR tests," the diplomatic mission said. The embassy stressed that the decision to ease coronavirus restrictions was made by the authorities of the republic in connection with the improvement of the epidemiological situation in the country.

Earlier, after a three-year break, passenger transportation to the Chinese city of Heihe became available to residents of Blagoveshchensk again. Residents of the city bordering the People's Republic of China from February 22 can get to the Chinese coast daily with one Russian and two Chinese hovercraft from 09:00 to 17:00.