Russians Take a Shine to Jilin Border City

Russians take a shine to Jilin border city Standing on a street in the city of Hunchun, Jilin province on the border with Russia, you shouldn't be surprised to hear people all around you speaking in Russian, of by the fact that almost all of its billboards and signs are in both Chinese and Russian, after all, the city is cooperating with Russia in so many ways.

The city's population is a modest 250,000, and every year it attracts about 300,000 Russian visitors, most of whom like to visit a local beauty salon or rehabilitation center, or whichever festival happens to come along, for example, this past Spring Festival, China's major event, which attracted about 3,000 Russians.

And, of course, Russian businessmen come to China for cross-border trade, buying clothing or cosmetics, and bringing Russian delicacies, looking for business ties.

And the city has good transportation and infrastructure. And, work has begun on a $9-billion high-speed train project between Hunchun and Vladivostok, Russia, which will be finished in 6 years.

Hunchun's deputy mayor, Zhao Xianhu, says the city will continue to push cross-border tourism and is asking Russia and the Republic of Korea to develop new tourism programs, for example, a travel route along the borders, for hunting and sea gazing, linking China, Russia, Japan, and the ROK. The city has also set up a special service center for Russian tourists and businessmen where Russians who have settled in the city Can get advice.

And, more Russians are in fact buying a house in Hunchun, with the latest statistics showing about 400 Russian families living in the city.