The Boundary River is quite beautiful. The boat cruises near the center of the river, very close to the Russian side, allowing for stunning views of both sides. Once on board, you can rent a telescope for a reasonable price, which gives you a clear view of the buildings on the other side.
Also, during the cruise, passengers can go up to the second deck in two batches: those who want to see more of the Russian side's buildings are in the first group; those who want to see the Sino-Russian Friendship Bridge are in the second group. After crossing the Sino-Russian Friendship Bridge, the boat turns back, and all passengers must disembark and return to their cabins.