So as we get ready for the 2018 St. Petersburg international economic forum and as the weather warms up over in Russia, the number of tourists is also on the rise. CGTN's Ming Tian reports.

The view, the people, and a long history. St. Petersburg attracts tourists from around the world, and many have come from places far away.

CHINESE TOURIST "I'm from Shaoguan in south China. I first went to Shenzhen, then took a bus to Hong Kong. From there, we flew here. It was a 10-hour flight. This place is very beautiful and I like their costumes."

Last year there were over one and half million visits to Russia from China, an all-time high. The Russian government has eased visa application procedures for Chinese citizens and improved its infrastructure to welcome more visitors. The country's beauty is striking, especially in St. Petersburg. The city boasts a unique mix of traditional Russian and modern European and an exceptional history as well. St. Petersburg has combined three different cities into one over time. St. Petersburg for the Tsars, Petrograd for a nation at war, and Leningrad for the Bolsheviks.

MING TIAN "Great art, extravagant architecture, and rich cultural traditions make St Petersburg one of the most inspiring places to visit. Its attractions are many. The Hermitage, which is one of the world's largest and oldest museums, cannot fail to impress."

GERMAN TOURIST "We are to see all the history, buildings, we watched ballet yesterday evening. We really enjoy that. It's something special."

A tour around the city's canal network helps you understand why it is called the Venice of the North, as Peter the Great intended when he founded the city.

MING TIAN "We are now on the Neva river, the city's main thoroughfare in the 18th century, when there were no bridges across the river and people had to be ferried from one bank to the other. Now in St. Petersburg, it has the most tourist attractions.

Many passengers are from other parts of the country. They are happy to tour the must-see places and welcome foreign visitors.

RUSSIAN TOURIST "People come to Russia and get familiar with the country, and more knowledge, and they could start business. Everything works for the economy."

Despite the US and European economic sanctions, people here seem optimistic about the opportunity to welcome more tourists when the World Cup takes place next month.

MING TIAN "Inbound tourism to Russia has increased over 100 percent since 2001, and the potential for more growth remains high. The government aims to expand non-commodity exports to more than 100 billion U.S. dollars over the next six years. This city with centuries of history is still appealing to modern travelers. Ming Tian CGTN, St. Petersburg."