From August 25, China will allow organized tourists to visit Russia, with no visa requirement.

Many travel agencies in Beijing have begun preparing for the trip. The China Comfort Travel Agency is organizing the first group which will be composed of 100 tourists. Two routes will be promoted, one is the "eight day trip to Russia", and the other is a "12-day trip to Russia and Czechoslovakia". Friendship exchanges will be arranged for senior tourists on the trip.

"Many Chinese aged between 50 and 60 have a special feeling for Russian culture, and they hope to see the beauty of Russia with their own eyes," said Liu Jing, a Comfort official.

After three years of negotiation, China and Russia signed a tourism memorandum, which allowed group Chinese tourists to visit the nation from Autumn this year. More than 600 Chinese travel agencies are allowed to organized group tours to Russia.

Source: Xinhua