World’s First Cross-Border Cable Car To Link China And Russia By Year-End

A journey between China and Russia is set to become a whole lot more scenic. The world’s first cross-border passenger ropeway is taking shape over the Heilongjiang River, known as the Amur River in Russia, linking the Chinese city of Heihe with Blagoveshchensk in Russia’s Far East.

The main structure of the landmark project has now been completed, bringing the 2019-launched project closer to opening. Construction began in July 2019, and the entire ropeway is expected to be completed before the end of 2026. Once operational, it will offer a direct aerial connection between two cities that sit just 750 metres apart at their closest point, separated by the international border and the river.

For travellers, the new link could turn what is currently a more conventional border crossing into a distinctive part of the journey. The ropeway will run approximately 970 metres across the river, with the cabins travelling at a height of around 70 metres above the water.

Connecting Two Border Cities

Heihe, in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, and Blagoveshchensk, the administrative centre of Russia’s Amur Oblast, have long been closely connected through trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges. Their proximity makes the two cities something of a natural pair, with the Heilongjiang River serving as both a geographical boundary and an important link between them.

The new ropeway will become the third major transport option between the cities. It will operate alongside the existing ferry service and the Heihe-Blagoveshchensk cross-border highway bridge, which opened to traffic in 2022 as the first highway bridge connecting China and Russia.

The ropeway itself is designed with two passenger cabins, each capable of carrying up to 110 people. At its maximum speed of 12 metres per second, the journey across the river is expected to take just six to eight minutes. That could make the system particularly useful as passenger traffic between the two border cities continues to grow.

Built For Faster Travel

Beyond the novelty of travelling between two countries by cable car, the project has been designed to strengthen the region’s wider transport network. Once operational, the ropeway is expected to accommodate 2.6 million one-way passenger trips annually, providing additional capacity for tourists, business travellers, and residents crossing the border.

The project has now entered its final construction phase. With the main structure completed, work is expected to focus on installing equipment, integrating the ropeway’s various systems and carrying out testing before passenger operations begin.

The timing comes as cross-border movement between China and Russia continues to increase. According to figures cited by Chinese officials, more than 568,000 passenger movements were recorded through Heihe Port during the first half of 2026, an increase of more than 60 per cent compared with the same period last year. The growth has been supported by stronger transport links as well as the mutual visa-free policy between the two countries.

More Than A Cable Car

For visitors, both sides of the river offer reasons to extend the trip beyond the crossing itself. In Heihe, attractions include the river port and river island, while the Aihui History Museum, around 33 kilometres south of the city, explores the history of Heihe, Blagoveshchensk and the surrounding region.

Across the border, Blagoveshchensk has its own collection of landmarks and riverside attractions. The Amur River Embankment is a natural starting point, while the Amur Regional Local Lore Museum of Novikov-Daurskiy offers a deeper look at the region’s history. The city’s Triumphal Arch and Cathedral of Annunciation are among its other notable sights.

The ropeway is therefore more than a new way to get from one side of the river to the other. It is expected to strengthen tourism, trade and everyday mobility between two closely linked border cities while giving travellers a new way to experience the landscape separating China and Russia. If construction stays on schedule, the first passengers could be crossing the Heilongjiang River by cable before 2026 comes to an end.

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