The border economy defines Heihe's commercial character, and the trade markets near the waterfront make it visible. The Great Island International Trade Centre and the Russian International Trade Centre are essentially covered markets catering to Russian buyers who cross from Blagoveshchensk, as well as to Chinese traders who sell to them. The goods on offer — furs, clothing, electronics, medicines, souvenirs — are priced and packaged for the Russian market, and the negotiating atmosphere is distinctly international.
Wandering these markets is one of the more unusual experiences available in Heilongjiang: a functioning cross-border commerce zone where the language of trade is partly Russian, the customers are largely foreign, and the merchandise reflects the specific tastes and needs of a specific neighbouring country. The free-trade zone designation that Heihe operates under gives the whole area a transactional energy that is worth an hour or two of observation even if you are not buying anything.