Sino-Russian border island to receive tourists on July 20
By admin on 2015-02-03

HARBIN, July 15 - The Sino-Russian border island of Heixiazi in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province will open to tourists next Wednesday on a trial basis, the provincial authorities said Friday.

The 335-square km island features natural beauty, boundary marker and a former Russian military camp. Half of the island belongs to China, while the other to Russia.

China and Russia unveiled boundary markers on the island in 2008. The two nations' premiers agreed for their countries to jointly develop the island into a visa-free eco-tourist zone in November 2010.

The opening ceremony for the tourist island will be held next Wednesday in Fuyuan County, said Liu Xianfu, deputy director of the provincial tourism department at a press conference.

"As construction is not fully complete, the facilities on the island cannot completely meet tourists' needs," Liu said.

A plank bridge across the wetlands, catering center and toilets will be finished by Wednesday, however some roads, a river dock, river bridge and Dongji Tower will not, he said.