Shiwei Border Port in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia

Shiwei Border Port (室韦口岸) is located at the eastern end of the Erguna River (额尔古纳河), which forms part of the border between China and Russia. It is situated 0.5 kilometers southwest of Shiwei Town (室韦镇) in Erguna City (额尔古纳市), Hulunbuir (呼伦贝尔市), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区). The port faces the Russian Olochi Port (奥洛契口岸) across the Erguna River (额尔古纳河), with a distance of less than 500 meters between the two. This strategic location plays a key role in cross-border trade and cultural exchange between China and Russia.

Basic Information

Location: Located 0.5 kilometers southwest of Shiwei Town (室韦镇), 168 kilometers south of Erguna City (额尔古纳市) in Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), with direct access to Erguna River (额尔古纳河) and Olochi Port (奥洛契口岸) in Russia.

Approval Date: Approved as a Category 1 port (国家一类口岸) in April 1989.

Opening Date: Officially opened for trade on February 1, 1991.

Port Function: Primarily used for border trade (边贸) and tourism (旅游活动), with increasing traffic since its development.

Tourism Highlights

Boundary River Scenery (界河风光)

River Cruise: Visitors can take a boat ride to observe the picturesque Olochi Village (奥洛契小镇) in Russia, especially during sunset, when the river reflects the lights from both countries.

Friendship Bridge (友谊大桥): Known as China-Russia’s First Bridge (中俄第一桥), it spans the Erguna River (额尔古纳河), making it a popular spot for photos, attracting around 800 visitors daily.

Cultural Experience (文化体验)

Russian Style Street (俄罗斯风情街): Featuring wooden houses (木刻楞民居), rye bread houses (列巴房), and accordion performances (手风琴表演), it becomes especially vibrant during the Bask Festival (巴斯克节) in August.

Linjiang Village (临江屯): This village preserves the traditional way of life of the descendants of Chinese-Russian families. Visitors can experience rye bread baking (烤列巴) and making blueberry jam (蓝莓酱).

Practical Tips

Best Time to Visit: Open year-round, with May to October being the peak tourist season.

Border Entry Policies (边防政策): Visitors must obtain a border pass (边防通行证) to enter the core area. Drones are prohibited, and photography of the Russian side must comply with border regulations.

Transportation (交通):

  • By Car: From Hailar (海拉尔), take National Route 332 (332国道) and drive for about 4 hours.

  • Bus: There are regular buses from Erguna City (额尔古纳市) that take about 1.5 hours.

Nearby Recommendations:

  • Linjiang River Scenic Area (临江界河风景区): A free open-air attraction with a wooden walkway offering beautiful views of both China and Russia.

  • Enhe Ethnic Township (恩和民族乡): Visit the Russian Ethnic Museum (俄罗斯族博物馆) to explore traditional Russian artifacts and culture.

Strategic Importance

Trade and Resource Development (贸易与资源开发)

The Shiwei Border Port serves as a key gateway for trade between China and Russia, especially for the import of forest products (林业原材料). The neighboring Olochi Port (奥洛契口岸) in Russia connects to Chita Oblast (赤塔州), which is rich in mineral resources, particularly gold (黄金), as well as lead, iron, and copper.

Additionally, the forest resources (森林资源) in the region are extremely abundant, with a timber reserve of 450 million cubic meters. The port has significantly facilitated the import of Russian timber, with 12,437 cubic meters of timber imported in just one month during the ice season in 2001.

Historical Background

1988: Approved by Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区) as a temporary cargo transit point.

1989: Officially recognized as a Category 1 port (国家一类口岸) by the State Council (国务院) of China through Document Guo Han [1989] No. 26 (国函[1989]26号).

1991: Officially opened for foreign trade on February 1st.

2001: Upgraded to a major trade port, facilitating the increasing flow of timber and trade goods between China and Russia.

Current Development

Infrastructure Improvements (基础设施)

The port has seen significant investment, with 21.07 million RMB invested in infrastructure development. Notable upgrades include:

Construction of border inspection offices, trade offices, and storage facilities.

The Shiwei-Olochi Bridge (室韦-奥洛契大桥), spanning 310.59 meters, has been a major milestone, improving the port’s capacity.

With annual trade volume expected to reach 600,000 tons, this port will become a key hub for importing timber from Russia.

Challenges (挑战)

While the Shiwei Port Bridge (室韦口岸大桥) has significantly improved capacity, the surrounding road infrastructure remains a bottleneck. Improvements to the port access road (疏港公路) are urgently needed to meet the increasing demand, particularly for timber transport.

Shiwei Border Port plays a crucial role in facilitating China-Russia trade and serves as a key point for the import of forest products. With its rich cultural heritage and strategic location, it is poised for significant growth in trade and tourism, benefiting both local communities and the broader Northeast Asia economic region.