Hulin Border Port in Jixi, Heilongjiang

Hulin Border Port (虎林口岸) is a vital international border crossing connecting the People’s Republic of China with Russia. Located in Hulin City (虎林市), Jixi (鸡西市), Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省), the port lies in the southeastern part of Hulin City, near the 858 Farm (八五八农场). It is directly across from Russia’s Primorsky Krai (滨海边疆区) and serves as a key hub for trade and transportation between China and Russia.

Overview

Location and Access

Hulin Border Port is positioned at the intersection of the Ussuri River (松阿察河) and is just 1 kilometer away from Russia’s Pokrovka Port (波克罗夫卡口岸) in the Russian Far East. The port is centrally located in the opening region of Heilongjiang Province, which stretches from Tongjiang (同江市) in the north to Suifenhe (绥芬河市) in the south. The port is 58 kilometers from Hulin City, and 8 kilometers from the Russian city of Lesozavodsk (列索扎沃茨克市).

History and Development

Key Milestones

  • 1989: Hulin Border Port was approved as a national open port by the State Council.

  • 1992: The port was officially confirmed as a bilateral road passenger and freight transportation hub by China and Russia.

  • 1993: Hulin Port officially began operations.

  • 2004: Hulin City invested 500,000 RMB to repair and upgrade the port’s facilities, including the joint inspection office, freight passageways, and passenger inspection hall.

  • 2017: Hulin Port was listed as a designated port for the import of grains.

  • 2018: The port was recognized as a designated port for the import of frozen and chilled seafood.

  • 2025: Hulin Border Port was selected as part of the national smart port pilot program.

Infrastructure and Facilities

Port Facilities

As of May 2007, the infrastructure at Hulin Border Port includes:

  • Joint Inspection Office: The port’s inspection building has two floors, with offices for inspection departments and dormitories for staff.

  • Storage and Warehouse: The port features a 50,000 square meter warehouse area and a customs supervision area of nearly 80,000 square meters.

  • Customs and Inspection: The port’s freight inspection hall covers 250 square meters, while the passenger inspection hall occupies 1,000 square meters.

  • Transport Capacity: The port can accommodate up to 700 vehicle crossings per day, with an annual passenger throughput of 1 million people and an annual cargo throughput of 2.6 million tons.

Transport and Operations

Main Business and Goods Flow

  • Primary Commodities: The port handles a range of goods including timber, grains, frozen seafood, forage, purified water, soybeans, honey, and other agricultural and consumer products.

  • Operating Hours: Hulin Port operates five days a week, with a 7-hour working schedule from 08:00 to 16:00.

  • Freight Volume: As of April 2017, the port had processed a cumulative total of 1.39 million tons of freight and handled 230,000 passengers. The total foreign trade value reached 2.3 billion USD by that time.

Economic Significance

Hulin Port serves as an important node in the “Silk Road Economic Belt” of the Heilongjiang region and is a crucial transport hub for Sino-Russian trade. The port’s strategic location enables the flow of goods and services between China and Russia, as well as further integration into the broader economic cycle of Northeast Asia.

Trade and Policy Support

Growing Trade

  • Trade Volume: In 2018, the port processed 29,000 tons of goods and welcomed 14,300 passengers, with a total trade value of 210 million RMB.

  • 2019 Statistics: Between January and March 2019, the port recorded a trade volume of 2.65 million USD, with 1.39 million USD in imports and 1.26 million USD in exports.

  • Strategic Role: Hulin Port plays a key role in both land and sea transportation, facilitating the trade of goods such as meat and frozen seafood between China and Russia.

Policy and Infrastructure Development

  • Smart Port: In May 2025, Hulin Border Port was included in China’s Smart Port pilot program, enhancing its technological infrastructure to further streamline operations.

  • Cross-border E-commerce: The port is also set to expand into cross-border e-commerce, contributing to the growing digital economy between China and Russia.

Future Prospects

Expansion Plans

  • Infrastructure Upgrades: Hulin Port is investing in further infrastructure improvements to increase its transport capacity and efficiency, including enhancing its customs inspection and processing capabilities.

  • Trade Expansion: The port continues to support the “Buy All Russia, Sell Nationwide” strategy, facilitating a broader range of goods between China and Russia.

  • Regional Integration: Hulin Port is positioned to become a crucial gateway for trade and transport in the broader Eurasian region, linking China’s Heilongjiang Province with the Russian Far East and extending to Southeast Asia and beyond.

Practical Information

  • Address: Hulin Port, 858 Farm, Hulin City, Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province, China.

  • Contact: Hulin Border Port Customs, Tel: +86 464-625-XXXX.

  • Tourist Attractions: The Ussuri River Golden Tourism Belt (乌苏里江黄金旅游带), Sino-Russian Border Trade Zone (中俄边民互市贸易区).