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.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
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 30 руб and any taxibus ('marshrutka') journey at 40 руб. 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.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Jul, Chita typically sees ~24°C daytime highs and 11 rainy days.
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