Russia-China Gas Pact Stirs Dream of Bridge Across Amur

In winter, Russian shoppers drive cars across the frozen Amur River to buy knock-off Nike sneakers from Wu Haiou’s stall in the Chinese city of Heihe. In warmer months, they come by hovercraft and ferry.

Russia’s $400 billion deal to pipe natural gas across the border to China has rekindled Wu’s hope that the two nations will finally build a bridge across the frontier to bring a steady stream of customers to her door.