Tourist island opens on Sino-Russian border
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Heixiazi Island on the Sino Russian border will open to tourists tomorrow on a trail basis.
Provincial authorities in Heilongjiang, China, announced tomorrow’s opening on Friday. The island will become a visa-free, eco-tourism zone according to the announcement and will open on a trial basis as the supporting infrastructure is not yet complete. According to the China Daily, a plank bridge across the wetlands, catering centre and toilets will be finished by Wednesday. However some roads, a river dock, river bridge and Dongji Tower will not.
The decision to develop ecotourism on the island conflicts with reports that emerged late last year. The Chinese government were reportedly lining up a large investment fund to turn the island into a big tourist town to rival Sanya, Hainan Province. As much as US$1.47 billion had been earmarked for the project which would see rapid infrastructure development in the Chinese side of the island; including roads, rail links, an airport and even an industrial park.
The 335km2 sandbar lies in the middle of the confluence of the Heilongjiang and Wusuli Rivers. It has long been a conflict point between Russian and Chinese authorities. Subsequently, the two sides split the territory to settle the dispute, agreeing to jointly develop the island into a tourist attraction and collaborate on infrastructure development.
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