Oksana Kachanovskaia and her family from Vladivostok, Russia, were pleasantly surprised when they received a festive horse-themed decorative item from border inspection officers as they passed through the inspection channel at Hunchun in Jilin province several days before the Spring Festival holiday began.

"I have visited China several times, and my son, my daughter and my grandson were looking forward to the trip during the Spring Festival period," said the 54-year-old tourist. "There is a lot of delicious food, and the cities are clean and beautiful.

"In addition, the visa-free policy is very convenient," she said. "We have planned to spend a wonderful holiday in Yanji, the capital of the Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture in Jilin, and Shanghai."

To celebrate the 2026 Year of the Horse, the entry hall at the Hunchun highway port was decorated with festive elements.

This year marks the first Spring Festival since the implementation of the mutual visa-free policy between China and Russia at the only land port in Jilin open to Russia.

Cross-border tourism and trade transportation have accelerated, with travelers and cargo vehicles from both countries shuttling back and forth.

Officers at the Hunchun border inspection station gave up time with their families to remain on duty during the holiday, using practical measures and warm services to help ensure smooth journeys for travelers.

The station assigned officers proficient in foreign languages to specific posts to better serve overseas visitors. It also set up family care zones and dedicated channels for elderly passengers, children and pregnant women.

A new year convenience service desk was established in the inspection hall to answer questions about visa-free stay durations and customs procedures, allowing travelers to experience convenience and hospitality upon arrival.

Zhang Tingcai, who had been working in Russia and was returning home, smiled as he entered China.

"As soon as I returned to my country, I felt the strong new year atmosphere," he said.

To improve clearance efficiency, the station monitored passenger flow and implemented a reservation-based system for large tour groups. It also promoted a classified channel inspection mechanism and opened line-buffering zones.

The station deepened its joint inspection model with customs authorities, enabling data sharing and single declarations at one service counter. Officials said the measures significantly reduced clearance times, allowing returning travelers to reunite with their families more quickly.

"The Spring Festival is the most important time for family reunions, but it is also the time for guardians of the national border to stand firm," said Zheng Mingya, deputy director of the station's first duty team. "It was my 14th time spending Spring Festival at my post. It felt especially meaningful when I saw travelers pass through safely and smoothly."

For probationary officer Li Jiaxin, this was the first time she spent the festival away from her parents in Songyuan, Jilin.

"I did miss them, but guarding the national border means protecting the reunions of millions of families," she said, adding that the station arranged duty shifts, provided necessary supplies and organized cultural and sports activities for staff members.

In 2025, the Hunchun highway port of entry processed more than 700,000 inbound and outbound travelers and inspected more than 70,000 vehicles, both record highs.

"During the 2026 Spring Festival, when travel demand was concentrated, we continued to optimize service measures to fully ensure convenient, safe and smooth entry and exit for all travelers," said Li Bingchi, an instructor of the station's first duty team.

Qi Ling contributed to this story.