Authorities on both sides of the China–Kazakhstan frontier have agreed to suspend passenger access to the Khorgos International Centre for Boundary Cooperation from 16 February until 1 March 2026 (caspianpost.com). The 5.3-sq-km zone—often dubbed the ‘Silk Road mall’—allows visa-free day trips for shoppers and traders but will shut its gates while the Chinese side celebrates the Spring Festival and the Kazakh side undertakes scheduled maintenance.
Travelers who suddenly find themselves needing a full Chinese visa rather than a Khorgos day permit can save time by using VisaHQ’s online service, which walks applicants through every form, provides real-time status tracking, and offers courier submission options across multiple countries. Full details are available at https://www.visahq.com/china/
During the closure the Kazakh government will invest 230 billion tenge (≈US$455 million) in new walkways, digital customs booths and temperature-controlled warehousing aimed at boosting throughput when the hub reopens on 2 March. Chinese inspectors will use the downtime to recalibrate radiation scanners and update the unified customs data platform.
![Khorgos cross-border free-trade zone to close 16 Feb–1 Mar for Spring Festival overhaul]()
Logistics companies moving fast-fashion, white goods and fruit between Central Asia and China should expect temporary diversions via Alashankou or Dulata, both of which have limited processing capacity. Freight forwarders warn that west-bound rail wagons may face a three-to-four-day backlog once Khorgos reopens unless carriers pre-book slots.
For business travellers the headline is simpler: all visa-free pedestrian permits issued by Khorgos immigration will be automatically extended by 15 days, but new permits will not be issued during the shutdown. Corporations with staff in Almaty or Urumqi are advised to reroute meetings or switch to virtual consultations until early March.
Longer term, the upgrade underscores Khorgos’ role in China’s Belt and Road logistics chain. Once works are complete, daily visitor capacity is expected to rise 25 percent to 25,000, providing fresh retail and sourcing opportunities for multinationals.
Travelers who suddenly find themselves needing a full Chinese visa rather than a Khorgos day permit can save time by using VisaHQ’s online service, which walks applicants through every form, provides real-time status tracking, and offers courier submission options across multiple countries. Full details are available at https://www.visahq.com/china/
During the closure the Kazakh government will invest 230 billion tenge (≈US$455 million) in new walkways, digital customs booths and temperature-controlled warehousing aimed at boosting throughput when the hub reopens on 2 March. Chinese inspectors will use the downtime to recalibrate radiation scanners and update the unified customs data platform.
Logistics companies moving fast-fashion, white goods and fruit between Central Asia and China should expect temporary diversions via Alashankou or Dulata, both of which have limited processing capacity. Freight forwarders warn that west-bound rail wagons may face a three-to-four-day backlog once Khorgos reopens unless carriers pre-book slots.
For business travellers the headline is simpler: all visa-free pedestrian permits issued by Khorgos immigration will be automatically extended by 15 days, but new permits will not be issued during the shutdown. Corporations with staff in Almaty or Urumqi are advised to reroute meetings or switch to virtual consultations until early March.
Longer term, the upgrade underscores Khorgos’ role in China’s Belt and Road logistics chain. Once works are complete, daily visitor capacity is expected to rise 25 percent to 25,000, providing fresh retail and sourcing opportunities for multinationals.
