Russian freight trains inch across the border into Manzhouli, their cars laden with grains and oilseeds from the fertile fields of Siberia and the Russian Far East. Within days, these raw imports are cleared, processed in towering local factories, and dispatched to kitchens across China.
Manzhouli in northern China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region is the country's largest land port city. It sits opposite Russia's Zabaykalsk, where the railway crossing handles more than 60 percent of China's rail trade with Russia, making the Chinese city a critical gateway for goods moving between the two nations.
For many Russian products, Manzhouli is both the first stop in China and the launchpad for nationwide distribution after processing.
"More than 90 percent of our raw materials come from Russia," said Yang Zhihong, manager of Xin Feng Grain and Oil, a local processing company. "The supply is stable and reliable."
Inside Xin Feng's production halls, workers wash, sort and refine imported crops into flour, oils and other finished goods.
"Siberian and Russian Far East crops grow under strict ecological standards, producing nutrient-rich grains," Yang said. He added that oils and flour made from these grains sell well in the domestic market.
The company works with local residents through cooperatives. Under cross-border trade rules, each resident can enjoy a daily tax-free quota of 8,000 yuan ($1,170). The cooperatives handle the purchase and transport of imported goods to compliant grain and oil processors in Manzhouli, such as Xin Feng, where the products are processed before being sold across China.
The system cuts tariffs and value-added taxes, streamlines customs clearance and ensures a steady raw material supply. This means procurement costs are significantly lower than elsewhere. "The same quality Russian grains save 500 to 1,000 yuan per metric ton," Yang said. "It reduces production expenses and operational costs."
Local residents also share in the profits along with the enterprises under this model, creating a direct benefit for the community.
Imported Russian grains and potash have become a cornerstone of Manzhouli's processing industry.
"Since Manzhouli was designated an official import port for agricultural products in 2013, we now handle 12 crop types, including rapeseed, barley, wheat and soybeans," said Chen Rui, deputy director of the city's bureau of industry, information and technology. "Five processing enterprises operate here, with a combined annual capacity exceeding 1.35 million tons."
Manzhouli is also emerging as a cross-border tourism hub. In the first four months of the year, 7,723 visitors arrived, mostly for shopping. Some use the city as a transit point for the seaside resorts of Beidaihe or Qinhuangdao in Hebei province.
"Cross-border study tours are growing, too. Russian students visit for day trips or longer stays to experience life in a Chinese border city," said Huang Wei from the Manzhouli tourism bureau.