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On May 26, 2019, China and Armenia signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports. Under the agreement, Chinese citizens holding ordinary Chinese passports and Armenian citizens holding ordinary Armenian passports are exempt from visa requirements when entering, exiting, or transiting through the territory of the other contracting party, for a cumulative stay of no more than 90 days within any 180-day period from the date of entry.
According to the Chinese Embassy in Armenia on the 30th, the agreement will officially come into effect on January 19, 2020. This means that in a few days, Chinese citizens holding valid ordinary passports can enter Armenia without a visa!
The Republic of Armenia, abbreviated as Armenia, is located in the Transcaucasus region at the junction of Asia and Europe.
Armeniacheck the details
The Republic of Armenia is a country located in the Caucasus region, at the junction of Europe and Asia. It is one of the many republics that gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Its capital is Yerevan. Ethnic Armenians make up 93.3% of the population, with other ethnic groups including Russians, Ukrainians, Kurds, Assyrians, and Greeks. Armenia is a landlocked country, and the majority of its citizens are Orthodox Christians. However, due to its surroundings and border disputes with neighboring countries, it has become a volatile and volatile region in the Caucasus. It boasts a wealth of tourist attractions, most notably its various ancient architecture. The Echmiadzin Cathedral, built in 303 AD, is one of the world's oldest Christian churches. The Zvartnots Cathedral Museum and Geghard Monastery are also must-sees. Other attractions include the Lake Sevan Nature Reserve, the Garni Temple, the alpine ski resort of Tsakhkatzor, and the spa resort of Termouk.
Recommended months: Spring and autumn are the best
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Administratively, Armenia is located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, bordering Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to the south.
This smallest republic of the former Soviet Union has a territory of only 29,800 square kilometers, so small that it has almost no presence on the map. Compared with the other two Transcaucasian countries and neighboring major powers such as Turkey and Iran, it seems non-existent.
But in its heyday, the country stretched from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, boasting a landscape steeped in mythology. Armenia was also the world's first Christian nation.
There are exquisite architecture, sculptures, paintings and music here. Ancient churches and monasteries are scattered in the city, on the cliffs, under the snow-capped mountains... full of strong religious colors.
What’s more important is that you can stay in a local five-star hotel for more than 200 RMB per person, and you can have a full meal with Armenian characteristics for 30-40 RMB.
In addition to countless historical relics, Armenia's natural scenery is also unparalleled. The clear blue alpine lake Lake Sevan and the pure Mount Ararat are both breathtaking.
A symphony of romance and tenacity
The Yerevan Steps are a surreal fantasy building, also known as the Great Socialist Staircase. It was originally built to highlight the greatness of socialism, but its funding was eventually cut off due to the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
The Step Square is a trendy place in Yerevan. Entering the front square of the steps, there are many art sculptures along the way. Going up the steps, there are rows of stairs, and each floor is an art exhibition. It is simply a feast of visual art.
Standing at the top of the stairs, you can have a panoramic view of the cityscape of Yerevan, and when the weather is fine, you can also see the sacred Mount Ararat in the distance.
About an hour's drive from Yerevan, the monastery is located at the foot of Mount Ararat and was founded in the 7th century AD. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times in history, and the current church was built more than 300 years ago.
Today it is also a must-stop for tourists visiting Armenia.
Another attraction of the Deep Pit Monastery: the sacred mountain of Ararat, the final resting place of Noah's Ark after the great flood in the Bible. According to the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible, Noah's Ark once came to rest on this mountain.
The snow-capped mountains of Ararat and the deep-dive churches together form a classic tourism promotional photo of Armenia. On a day with fresh air, the scenery is truly picturesque.
A sacred mountain belonging to a neighboring country
The Bible, Genesis, says: "And God remembered Noah and all the beasts and livestock that were with him in the ark. And God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters receded. The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were shut, and the rain from heaven was stopped... On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on Mount Ararat."
This is the legendary landing place of Noah's Ark and also the spiritual symbol of the local people.
Mount Ararat is at the center of the Armenian national emblem, which shows how important it is to the locals.
Unfortunately, due to various historical twists and turns, Mount Ararat now belongs to Turkey, and Armenians can only look at their holy mountain from afar across the country.
The Temple of Garni is the only Greek-style temple in Armenia and the former Soviet Union. It is also the easternmost complete Hellenistic temple in the world today.
The original building has been destroyed, and what remains is the later rebuilt Temple of the Sun, which imitates the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens.
Unlike other Greco-Roman temples, it was built of blue and black basalt and has a very elegant style.
This temple built on the hillside is dedicated to the sun god Mithra and is also the only pagan temple in Armenia today.
The largest alpine lake in the Caucasus
At 2,000 meters above sea level, every breath is pure. It is one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world and the largest alpine lake in the Caucasus, earning it the nickname "Mirror of the Caucasus."
For this country besieged on all sides, Lake Sevan is probably the "sea" in their hearts.
Sevanavank, meaning "Black Monastery," stands majestically on what was once Sevan Island in Lake Sevan. Soviet-era hydraulic projects lowered the lake's water level, turning the island into a peninsula.
The Sevan Monastery was founded in the 9th century and consists of three churches.
The Resurrection Church on the east side was destroyed during the atheist movement in the early Soviet Union. The lower Holy Apostles Church means the Holy Apostles and the higher Nativity of Our Lady Church means the Holy Mother of God. The latter is larger and has more preserved historical sites.
Both churches are simple and square in shape, with regular octahedral drum-shaped roofs. They were originally inhabited by sinful monks from the Echmiadzin Cathedral near the capital Yerevan.
This relatively unfortunate land is filled with such splendor and diversity that it's truly breathtaking. In 2020, follow China-TravelNote to Armenia, where you'll see mountains and glaciers, wander the shores of the Black Sea, listen to the sounds of the Caspian Sea, be guided by the divine, and find your true heart rekindled by its simplicity.
