Chita

Chita (Russian: Чита́ chee-TAH) is in Zabaykalsky Krai. This former restricted military city has developed quite rapidly, if unevenly, because of the city's position on a main land-trading route with China. Hastily-constructed highrises sit beside ramshackle wooden huts where pensioners trudge to the local water pump even in the -40° mid-winter.

Chita station

Many travellers bypass Chita if they leave Russia via Irkutsk and Ulan Ude to travel on to Mongolia and China. However, Chita is worth a look. Westerners will often be treated as an object of curiosity as they are rare, but Siberians pride themselves on their hospitality; just a little time spent getting to know any of the locals will be richly rewarded.

The public transport system is well developed, with trolleybus journeys at 10 руб and any taxibus ('marshrutka') journey at 15 руб.

Trolleybus lines map

If you need a taxi, walk beyond the cabs waiting at the station and into a nearby street, the price magically falls with distance from the station. Agree the price with the driver up front and he will stick to it.

• Kazansky Orthodox Cathedral (Казанский кафедральный собор), Butina str., 6 (Railway Square). Vladimir-Suzdal architectural style. 
• Museum Church of Decembrists (Музей Церковь декабристов), Dekabristov str., 3 (take a trolley №1,3 from the Railway Square to the Магазин Весна). 
• Chita's datsan (Читинский дацан), Bogomyakova str., 72. Big Buddhist temple. 

If you are interested in local history you can visit the Regional Museum of Kuznetsov. (Russian:Забайкальский краевой краеведческий музей имени А.К. Кузнецова) Go north from the railway station to the crossroads of Leningradskaya and Babushkina and turn to the right. Address : ул. Бабушкина, 113.

The central Zabaikalye and MontBlanc Hotels have Western prices and semi-Western standards, whilst cheaper hotels such as one on the junction of Osipenko/Petrov streets will offer a basic room for 1000 руб per night.

Panama City complex is another more expensive option, far out in the suburbs, and Hotel Turist on Babushkina is home to myriad nomadic market traders and rampant prostitution.

There are no Western-style hostels in Chita.

Remember that Russians are often rude to strangers. On the contrary, they are open, hospitable and kind to those they know. Just persist and be polite and people will often soften once they realise you are a clueless foreigner: younger students in particular may speak a little English and be keen to practice.

If you really become desperate to find an English speaker, walk into the Faculty of Foreign Languages on the junction of Babushkina/Butina (closed in the summer). The staff and students will be delighted to meet you.