Blagoveshchensk
Благовещенск
The capital of Russia's Amur Oblast on the opposite bank of the Heilongjiang River from Heihe. Visitors can join cross-border day trips with a passport, stroll the riverside boulevard and see Lenin Square.
Blagoveshchensk, known in Chinese as Hailanpao, is the capital of Russia's Amur Oblast. It lies across the Heilongjiang River from Heihe, and at its closest point the two cities are less than a kilometre apart. The city retains many brick and stone buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its main sights include Lenin Square, the riverside boulevard, the Triumphal Arch and the Orthodox cathedral, and you can also browse Russian supermarkets and try Russian cuisine. Chinese visitors usually cross by boat from the Dahei River Island port (by hovercraft in winter) or by road over the bridge, and they generally join group tours organized by travel agencies. A passport is required. Procedures and rules change, so check the latest regulations at the port before you go.
Opening hours
Day trips about 8:00–18:00 (depending on border crossing arrangements)
Nearby sights
- Big Heihe Island
- Heilongjiang Riverside Park
- Central Street
- Heihe–Blagoveshchensk Bridge
- Sino-Russian Folk Park
- Jinhe Grand Canyon
- Aihui History Museum
- Heihe Educated Youth Museum