Xunke Border Port in Heilongjiang

Xunke Border Port (逊克口岸) is located in the town of Qike (奇克镇), Xunke County (逊克县), Heihe City (黑河市), Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省), and was officially opened for international trade in 1990. The port serves a crucial role in international passenger and cargo transport, as well as border trade and tourism, connecting China with Russia.

Overview of Xunke Border Port

History and Establishment

Xunke Border Port was approved for establishment in December 1989 by the State Council (国务院). In 1990, after confirmation by both the Chinese and Russian governments, it officially opened for international trade. Located on the south bank of the Heilong River (黑龙江), Xunke Port is directly across from the Russian Poyarkovo Port (波亚尔科沃口岸), about 13 kilometers away. The port handles a diverse range of operations, including international passenger and cargo transportation, cross-border trade, and tourism, with a boundary length of 135 kilometers.

Infrastructure and Facilities

Port Capacity and Facilities

• Docking Capacity: The port has a 528-meter-long dock and is capable of accommodating five 1,000-ton barges simultaneously.

• Specialized Terminals: Xunke Border Port features specialized terminals for commodities such as grain, oil, coal, and timber. It is equipped to handle diverse goods and manage cross-border transportation.

• Annual Throughput: The port has an annual throughput capacity of 1 million tons.

Transportation Models

• Water Transport (May–October): Ships are used for cargo transportation during the open water period, with a daily average of 800 tons.

• Ice Road Transport (November–March): During the frozen period, automobile transport on ice roads is used, with up to 50 vehicles crossing daily.

• Ice Flow Transport (April): Hovercrafts are employed for transportation during the ice flow period, with a maximum load capacity of 20 tons per vessel.

Special Operations

In 2023, Xunke Border Port obtained the qualification for importing frozen aquatic products. By 2025, it will import 20.94 tons of Russian freshwater fish. The port also operates a border trade processing pilot program and has been designated as a supervision site for imported grain.

Development Status and Challenges

Current Developments

As of 2023, Xunke Border Port has seen significant progress in infrastructure and operation. The port has implemented new transport methods to increase efficiency, such as the “ship-side direct lifting” and “direct loading upon arrival” models. These efforts contributed to a 116% year-on-year increase in imported goods volume since the reactivation of the winter ice transport route in 2024. However, the Russian Poyarkovo Port still remains underdeveloped, and thus, Xunke has not yet fully realized its potential as an international trade gateway.

Future Prospects

The port has strong growth potential, and the local government is actively pursuing opportunities to improve infrastructure and encourage more cross-border trade. Additionally, Xunke is exploring the possibility of expanding agricultural cooperation with Russia, particularly in forest products, and there are plans for more industrial collaborations in the region.

Nearby Attractions

• China’s Border Marker 206: Located at the riverside square near the main street, it marks the boundary between China and Russia.

• Xunke Ewenki Museum (逊克鄂伦春族分馆): A museum that showcases the culture of the Ewenki ethnic group (located at 99 Guofang Street).

• Dajixiang Temple (大吉祥寺): A Buddhist temple located northeast of the intersection of G331 and S311 highways.

Export Trade

Trade Growth

In the first half of 2008, Xunke Border Port saw a rapid increase in export trade, reaching $22.37 million, up 171.4% compared to the previous year. A significant factor in this growth was the export of vehicles, including dump trucks, tractors, concrete mixers, and semi-trailers. This surge was driven by changes in Russian import policies that incentivized early exports from China.

Agricultural Development

Xunke County has made notable progress in cross-border agricultural cooperation with Russia. By 2002, a demonstration zone for agricultural cooperation was established in Poyarkovo (波亚尔科沃) in Russia, where local farmers are cultivating crops in fertile land. The county’s government has facilitated large-scale agricultural projects, increasing soybean and vegetable production and leading to the establishment of several agriculture-focused companies.

Road Infrastructure

Road Construction

On October 18, 2009, the Xunke section of the Heijia Highway (黑嘉公路) was completed, significantly improving transportation networks. This road now connects Xunke with surrounding areas, boosting both resource development and rural construction efforts in the region.

The highway is a key factor in the port’s operational efficiency and will contribute to the continued economic development of Xunke, enabling better connectivity between Russia and China.