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Travelling between China and Russia in just six to eight minutes may sound surprising, but it is set to become a reality with the construction of the world’s first cross-border passenger cable car.
The main structure of the ropeway connecting the border cities of Heihe in China and Blagoveshchensk in Russia has already been completed. According to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, the entire project is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Heihe, in China’s northeastern Heilongjiang Province, and Blagoveshchensk, in Russia’s Amur Region, lie on opposite banks of the Amur, or Heilongjiang, River. The closest distance between the two cities is about 750 metres, while the ropeway will span approximately 970 metres across the river.
Construction began in July 2019, and the main structure has now been completed. Cao Xinhong, chairman of Heihe-based Jinlonggang Construction and Development Co, which is responsible for construction on the Chinese side, said the crossing would take only six to eight minutes once the ropeway becomes operational.
The ropeway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities, which currently requires considerably longer by ferry or road.
The system will feature two large cabins, each capable of carrying up to 110 passengers. The cabins will have a maximum speed of 12 metres per second, with an annual capacity of up to 2.6 million passengers in each direction.
Once operational, the ropeway will provide direct road, water and air connectivity between Heihe and Blagoveshchensk. Officials expect the faster and easier border crossing to boost tourism, trade and local economic activity between the two countries.
The project is also expected to become a landmark in international cross-border transportation and add a new dimension to connectivity between China and Russia.