Manzhouli Border Port in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia

Manzhouli Border Port (满洲里口岸) is located in the western part of the Hulunbuir Grassland (呼伦贝尔大草原) in Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), situated at the crossroads of China, Russia, and Mongolia. It is a critical transport hub of the first Eurasian land bridge, connecting China to Russia, other CIS countries, and Europe. As China’s largest land border port, Manzhouli handles over 65% of China’s land trade with Russia and is also the only international land port in China with combined rail, road, and air transport services. It operates 24/7, ensuring smooth border crossings.

The port covers a vast jurisdiction, including the cities of Hulunbuir (呼伦贝尔市), Xing’an League (兴安盟), Tongliao (通辽市), and Chifeng (赤峰市), spanning an area of 450,000 square kilometers. The total border length is 1,819 kilometers, with 1,812 kilometers of China-Russia and 807 kilometers of China-Mongolia borders.

Manzhouli is a vital gateway for goods entering or leaving China, especially those traveling to Russia and Europe. It is a major hub for the China-Europe Railway Express, with 32 outbound routes and 16 inbound routes operating through the port.

  • Location: Manzhouli City, Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia

  • Strategic Importance: China’s largest land port, crucial for Sino-Russian trade

  • Key Functions: A combined rail, road, and air port, operational 24 hours a day

  • Size of Jurisdiction: Covers Hulunbuir, Xing’an League, Tongliao, and Chifeng, with a total area of 450,000 square kilometers

  • Total Border Length: 1,819 kilometers, with China-Russia and China-Mongolia borders

  • Key Gateway for Goods: Handles 65% of China’s land trade with Russia

Key Functions and Facilities

Railway Port

Manzhouli’s railway port serves as a crucial hub for the China-Europe Railway Express, which is part of the “East Corridor.” By 2025, the port is expected to exceed 30,000 trains in operation, connecting China to 13 European countries and over 60 cities in China. The port has 51 tracks for broad-gauge and standard-gauge trains, representing 23.6% of China’s total railway freight between China and Europe.

  • Annual Handling Capacity: Over 20 million tons of freight

  • Rail Tracks: 51 tracks for broad-gauge and standard-gauge trains

  • Throughput: Represents 23.6% of China’s total China-Europe Railway Express traffic

Road Port

Manzhouli’s international road port began operation in 1998, with an annual capacity of 1.2 million vehicles and 12 million passengers. The port spans 640,000 square meters, with 340,000 square meters designated for cargo inspection and 300,000 square meters for passenger inspection.

  • Annual Throughput: 12 million passengers and 1.2 million vehicles

  • Port Size: 640,000 square meters, with dedicated cargo and passenger inspection areas

Associated Attractions and Facilities

National Gate Scenic Area (AAAAA-level)

The National Gate Scenic Area is located 9 kilometers west of Manzhouli City and includes the historic “Five Generations of National Gates,” border markers, and a red education exhibition hall.

  • Opening Hours: 08:30 AM – 06:30 PM

  • Ticket Price: 60 RMB (Free for medical personnel)

  • Features: Historic “Five Generations of National Gates,” red culture exhibition, border markers

Accommodation and Services

  • Manzhouli International Hotel: Located at No. 38 Erdao Street, a 3-star hotel with a 4.4 rating.

  • China-Russia Mutual Trade Zone: A shopping and cultural experience center for cross-border goods.

Infrastructure and Development

Railway Port

Manzhouli’s railway port, established in 1901, is China’s largest and most efficient railway port, with a capacity to handle vast quantities of freight and passengers. It currently boasts 51 tracks for both broad-gauge and standard-gauge trains, representing a significant portion of China’s total railway freight capacity for the China-Europe Railway Express.

The port has undergone several upgrades, with investments amounting to 600 million RMB between 1999 and 2005 to improve the rail infrastructure and enhance its ability to handle containers, oil, and other specialized cargo.

  • Annual Freight Capacity: Over 20 million tons

  • Tracks: 51 tracks, including 24 broad-gauge and 27 standard-gauge

  • Facilities: 9 large-scale or specialized loading and storage bases

Road Port

Manzhouli’s international road port, operational since 1998, is one of China’s largest border road ports. It spans 640,000 square meters, with 340,000 square meters dedicated to cargo inspection and 300,000 square meters for passenger processing. The road port is equipped with state-of-the-art inspection systems, including an automatic train inspection system and electronic monitoring equipment.

  • Cargo Handling Capacity: 200 million tons annually

  • Passenger Throughput: 2 million people annually

  • Key Features: Includes customs inspection buildings, vehicle inspection, and storage facilities

Key Trade Routes and International Connections

China-Europe Railway Express

The China-Europe Railway Express passing through Manzhouli connects China to Europe and plays a key role in facilitating the export of goods to European markets. The port hosts a growing number of outbound and inbound routes, which facilitate trade between China and over 13 European countries.

  • Outbound Routes: 32 lines covering cities in China, including Tianjin, Suzhou, and Guangzhou

  • Inbound Routes: 16 lines connecting cities in Russia, Germany, Poland, and other European countries

China-Mongolia-Russia International Cooperation

Manzhouli serves as a focal point for international cooperation between China, Mongolia, and Russia, facilitating the transportation of goods, technology, and culture between these countries.

  • Annual Cargo Volume: In 2007, the port handled over 2.4 million tons of cargo, contributing to international trade valued at 25 billion USD

  • Growing Network: By 2024, the port was a critical part of the East Corridor for the China-Europe Railway Express, serving as a key node for transporting goods to multiple European cities, including Hamburg, Warsaw, and Moscow.

Road Port

Freight Volume

Manzhouli Road Port (满洲里公路口岸) has seen substantial growth in freight traffic in recent years. In total, 33,447 tons of goods passed through the port, representing a 61.0% increase compared to the previous year. Among these, imported goods amounted to 26,327 tons, showing a dramatic increase of 3.64 times, while exports decreased by 52.8% to 7,120 tons.

  • Major Imports: Steel and scrap metal at 18,186 tons, accounting for 69.1% of total imports (up 9.79 times from the previous year).

  • Major Exports: Vegetables and fruits, amounting to 4,869 tons, accounting for 68.4% of exports (a 55.9% decrease).

In the first nine months, the total freight volume was 328,261 tons, reflecting a 71.7% year-on-year increase. Importantly, steel and scrap metal remained the major imports, while vegetables and fruits continued to dominate exports.

Passenger Traffic

In terms of passenger traffic, 125,189 people passed through the port, a decline of 15.3% compared to the previous year. This includes 62,782 inbound and 62,407 outbound passengers. Despite the decrease in passenger traffic, total cumulative border-crossing passengers reached 1,101,325, showing an 18.1% increase year-on-year.

Vehicles Traffic

The total number of vehicles crossing the border was 20,047, a slight decrease of 1.9% compared to the previous year. Of these, 10,109 vehicles were inbound, and 9,938 were outbound. However, the cumulative vehicle count reached 167,609, which is an increase of 17.5% from the previous year.

Freight and Passenger Growth

Yearly Growth

As of March 31, 2023, the port handled 5.044 million tons of import and export goods, marking a 56.9% increase compared to the same period last year. Notably, the railway port accounted for 4.733 million tons, a 51.2% year-on-year increase, while the road port saw a dramatic 264.5% increase in freight volume to 312,000 tons.

By June 30, 2023, Manzhouli Station had completed 10.093 million tons of import/export cargo, a 46.1% increase from the same period last year, setting a historical record.

China-Europe Railway Express

In 2023, Manzhouli’s railway port processed 5,001 China-Europe Railway Express (中欧班列) trains, transporting 540,000 TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), marking a 16% year-on-year growth. These numbers reflect consistent growth over the last decade, with cargo volume and train operations increasing steadily.

In the first quarter of 2024, the railway port handled 5.4848 million tons of cargo, a 15.9% increase from the same period the previous year. By mid-2024, the port had processed 2,327 China-Europe Railway Express trains, contributing to the growth of trade values, including exports of mechanical and electrical products, and imports of energy and resource goods such as coal, metals, and grain.

Port Expansion

Ongoing Expansion Projects

Manzhouli, China’s largest railway port and the country’s largest port for trade with Russia, is undergoing its largest expansion project to date to accommodate the growing volume of China-Russia trade. This expansion includes upgrades to both the railway and road ports, with a total investment exceeding 5 billion RMB. Located at the northeastern corner of Inner Mongolia, Manzhouli handles over 60% of China-Russia trade by volume.

Key projects include:

  • Railway Expansion: The Hailar-Manzhouli section of the railway, with an investment of 2.04 billion RMB, will add a second track to reduce bottlenecks and increase freight capacity. This will enable the port to handle 40 million tons of freight annually—double its current capacity.

  • New International Cargo Yard: A new international cargo yard, costing 1 billion RMB, will handle major goods such as cars, wood, chemicals, and waste steel. It will also feature a comprehensive logistics park offering storage, bonded processing, and commercial facilities.

  • Highway Expansion: A new four-lane highway will connect Hailar and Manzhouli, with an investment of 2.4 billion RMB, improving overland trade and accessibility.

  • Airport Expansion: The Manzhouli airport is undergoing an upgrade to handle international flights, with investments totaling over 300 million RMB. Once completed, the airport will have an annual passenger capacity of 1 million.

Statistics and Future Expectations

As of the first half of 2024, Manzhouli has processed over 22,700 China-Europe Railway Express trains, transporting 2.225 million TEUs with a total trade value of 302.98 billion RMB. The port’s contribution to China’s foreign trade continues to grow, with a particularly strong performance in the first half of 2024.

Key Statistics:

  • 2024 (Up to June 30): 2,327 China-Europe Railway Express trains processed.

  • 2024 (Up to December 2): 22.65 million tons of cargo, a year-on-year increase of 8.7%.

  • 2024 (Up to October 29): Trade value with BRICS countries amounted to 80.94 billion RMB, an increase of 1.9%.

Strategic Opportunities

Manzhouli Border Port (满洲里口岸), located in the northeastern corner of Inner Mongolia, plays a crucial role as a strategic point for China’s participation in Northeast Asia’s regional cooperation. One of the most notable features of today’s global economy is its increasing economic globalization, regionalization, and integration. These trends have led to the formation of various international economic organizations and groups, strengthening mutual cooperation, interdependence, and integration across nations.

In light of global economic integration, countries are adjusting their Cold War-era strategies to better align with modern developments. This adjustment is enhancing the openness, complementarity, diversity, and effectiveness of economic cooperation in Northeast Asia.

Geographical Advantage

Manzhouli’s geographic location makes it a key intersection for both internal and external markets and resources. Bordering Russia and Mongolia, it has long played a vital role in China’s trade with these two countries. With the completion of the Trans-Siberian Railway in 1901 and the opening of the Eurasian Continental Bridge, as well as the widespread use of modern transportation tools like containers, Manzhouli has become an essential transport hub in Northeast Asia and between Northeast Asia and Europe.

China is Russia’s third-largest trading partner and Mongolia’s largest export market and second-largest import market. Additionally, China is the leading source of foreign investment in Mongolia. In 2007, bilateral trade between China and Russia reached USD 48.165 billion, a 44.3% increase from the previous year, setting a historical high. China’s exports to Russia amounted to USD 28.488 billion (up 79.9%), and imports from Russia totaled USD 19.677 billion (up 12.1%).

The unique geopolitical advantages connecting China, Russia, and Mongolia laid the foundation for Manzhouli’s rise as a central city in Northeast Asia. Economists predict that within the next 15 years, the GDP of Northeast Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Mongolia, and Russia’s Far East, could exceed USD 25 trillion, becoming an economic power to rival Western Europe and North America.

Western Development Strategy

The implementation of China’s Western Development Strategy has provided a historic opportunity for Manzhouli, a port city with over a century of history. As part of the strategy, the development of port cities and trade relations with neighboring countries has been emphasized, aiming to better promote regional growth. Inner Mongolia has supported Manzhouli’s development through preferential policies and has designated it as a key area for the region’s development.

The Western Development Strategy brought significant economic opportunities to Manzhouli, and the national “Revitalize the Northeast Old Industrial Base” strategy further boosted these prospects. In 2005, the eastern part of Inner Mongolia, which includes Manzhouli, was officially incorporated into the national plan for revitalizing Northeast China’s industrial base. This area, which includes Hulun Buir, Tongliao, Chifeng, Xingan League, and Xilin Gol League, is now a critical resource and energy base for Northeast China.

The Mongolian East region, including Manzhouli, serves as a vital bridge for economic cooperation between China and Northeast Asia. With a border length of 2,948 kilometers shared with Russia and Mongolia, this region offers vast potential for economic cooperation, supported by its complementary resources and industries with neighboring countries. The prospects for economic cooperation in this area are extremely promising.

Practical Information

Transportation

  • By Car: The airport is approximately 30 minutes from the National Gate Scenic Area, with the recommended route via G331 National Road.

  • Railway Port Enquiry: For customs and clearance inquiries, call (0470) 2883110.

Best Time to Visit

  • Optimal Visiting Months: June to September, when visitors can enjoy the mix of grassland beauty and border cultural atmosphere.

Port Development and Strategic Role

Historical Development

Manzhouli Port dates back to 1901, when it was established as a railway port during the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Over the years, it has witnessed the changing history of Sino-Russian relations and continues to play a significant role in bilateral trade.

Modernization and Upgrades

In recent years, the port has undergone significant upgrades to enhance its capacity. From 1999 to 2005, investments were made to expand rail lines and improve container handling, oil transfer, and specialized storage facilities. This has increased its handling capacity to over 30 million tons annually.

  • Upgrades: Between 1999 and 2005, 600 million RMB was invested to expand rail capacity and enhance container handling.

  • Annual Freight Handling: Over 30 million tons

Key Trade Routes

The port also handles major international freight routes through the China-Europe Railway Express, with major trade routes covering 13 European countries, including Germany, Russia, and Poland.

  • Trade Reach: Exports to 13 European countries and multiple cities in Russia, Germany, and Poland

  • Cross-Border Shipping: Connected to multiple cities and stations across Europe and Asia