Chita is a small town in Eastern Siberia. Not all Russians know about it. However, despite its small size by the standards of Russia (total about 300 thousand of the population) Chita is the center of a huge region called the Zabaykalsky Krai.

This city is 350 years old. At first it was a small wooden fortress on the bank of the river, where Russian Cossacks wintered when they mastered Eastern Siberia. Then there was a prison for criminals and political opponents of the Russian tsarist autocracy. The participants of the December uprising of 1825 who tried to overthrow the Russian Emperor Nicholas I (dekabristy) were sent here. And later, at the end of the XIX century – participants of the Polish uprising for independence from Russia.

During the USSR, Chita was a very poor city. She was saved only by the fact that uranium was mined in the south of the region, and the Baikal-Amur Railway Line (Baikal–Amur Mainline) was built in the north. Now Chita is located on the main trade route between Russia and China, and life in the city has revived.

According to the director of the St. Petersburg company Best-Guides Team, which organizes shore excursions for cruise passengers in St. Petersburg, tours to Moscow, Novgorod and other cities of Russia, tourists have an interest in traveling to Chita – a typical and unusual city on the outskirts of Russia .

If you are a fan of atypical tourism, you may want to see this far little-known city and its surrounding places. Chita has its own airport, but I recommend you to fly to Irkutsk by plane and from there get to Chita by train. The trip from Irkutsk to Chita will last 20 hours, but on the way you will see the famous Lake Baikal, and then – the harsh mountains and the taiga of the Trans-Baikal Territory. This is a very impressive sight. In addition, the train will make a stop in the fishing village of Slyudyanka, located on the shore of Lake Baikal. Here you can buy and taste favorite local delicacy – smoked fish omul.

Chita is a very harsh city. In winter, the temperature drops to -40ºC, and in summer it rises to +30º. Snow almost does not happen in winter, because the city is surrounded by mountains, impassable for snow clouds. In the spring, because of the lack of rain, the taiga is burning – and then the whole city is filled with smoke. But in the summer strong rains begin, almost like in the tropics, and very often floods occur.

The best time to visit Chita is the end of May – the beginning of June. At this time in the taiga the Baikal rhododendron blossoms abundantly (here its name is bagulnik) – and all the mountains surrounding the city acquire a pink color.

You will have three days to explore the whole city in detail. The central part of Chita is very small: from the beginning to the end of its central street you can walk in one hour. However, many interesting things are hidden away from the central street. Pay attention to the old wooden houses, which are very few, and the mansions of Chita merchants of the early XX century. Visit the ancient wooden church, which remembers the Decembrists (it is still called the Church of the Decembrists), and a new Orthodox church, located near the railway station. Be sure to take a taxi to the chapel on top of the mountain called Titovskaya sopka – from there you can see a magnificent view of the whole city.

However, I recommend that you not only stay in Chita itself. Going to this trip, plan more time! The entire Trans-Baikal region promises you a lot of unforgettable impressions. Not far from Chita there is a chain of large lakes, surrounded by steppes and mountains. The largest of them is Lake Arakhley, the favorite recreation place for Chitin people. Try to find tourist agents who organize boat excursions along the Ingoda river, which flows through Chita and flows further among steep mountains and taiga. I also highly recommend that you visit the places of residence of the aboriginal, non-Russian population – the Buryats. This is the city of Aginsk and its surrounding villages. Here you will see the immense Siberian steppes and Buddhist temples.

Of course, this trip will not be easy. If you are spoiled by civilization and comfort – do not even think about it! But if you still get to Chita – your impressions will not be erased until the end of days. I promise!