Russia and China Plan Cross-Border Cable Car Over Amur River

Russia and China plan to launch a nearly 1 km cable car across the Amur River between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe by the end of the year.

The project comes as Moscow and Beijing expand visa-free travel and strengthen cooperation. China has become one of Russia’s main energy customers after supplies to Europe fell sharply. At the same time, the European Union has tightened visa rules for Russian citizens following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while Russians are increasingly traveling to Asia.

The iceberg-shaped terminal is 93% complete, according to TASS. The two cabins will be able to carry 110 people each and rise to a height of 70 m above the river during the ride, which will take about two and a half minutes. The route is reported to be 976 m long.

The terminal is expected to include shops, cafes, restaurants, sightseeing facilities, a duty-free zone and a border checkpoint. The full journey between the two cities is expected to take about six minutes.

A highway bridge between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe opened to regular traffic in 2022.

(reuters, bak)