Overview
- Russian media and travelers reported on January 4 that dozens of buses with tourists were held on the Chinese customs side, with some passengers waiting more than ten hours.
- The Russian Consulate in Harbin said it received appeals from citizens about the queue on the evening of January 4.
- The consulate stated on January 5 that the Manzhouli checkpoint is operating in normal mode following the disruption.
- Officials shared traffic data for January 4 showing 3,178 entries into China and 2,716 departures through the crossing.
- Prior statements by regional and transport authorities in 2024 linked recurring border jams to schemes using tourists to move commercial goods, a backdrop to heightened holiday traffic management.