On October 27, at around 8 AM, the Chinese hovercraft “Zhengcheng 1” set off from the Heihe waterway port, carrying 18 passengers on its way to the Amur River passenger port in Blagoveshchensk, Russia. This event marks the official launch of winter hovercraft international transportation services from the Heihe port for the 2024 season.
Passengers boarding the hovercraft at the Heihe waterway port on October 27 were greeted by this new travel option to Russia. According to reports, the first departure each day is scheduled for 8 AM (China Standard Time), with the last leaving at 3 PM. For return trips from Blagoveshchensk, the last departure is set for 4 PM. Each hovercraft has a capacity of 18 passengers and the journey takes approximately 2 minutes. In total, both China and Russia have deployed 7 hovercrafts, with around 1,300 passengers expected to be transported on the first day alone.
A representative from the Heihe Exit and Entry Border Inspection Station highlighted the measures being implemented to enhance security at the port. These include increasing patrol teams, conducting secondary checks on entry and exit documents, and monitoring critical areas to prevent unauthorized boarding and the disposal of items. During peak travel times, the station plans to open additional channels and implement pre-check procedures to effectively reduce waiting times and ensure a smooth transit experience for travelers entering and exiting the country.
