If we do not take into account the collapse of the Russian Empire and the collapse of the USSR, then the most famous (and largest) territorial loss of Russia is Alaska. But our country was losing other territories as well. These losses are rarely remembered today.

Southern coast of the Caspian (1723-1732)

Having cut through, as a result of the victory over the Swedes, "a window to Europe", Peter I began to cut a window to India. For this purpose, he undertook in 1722-1723. campaigns in strife-torn Persia. As a result of these campaigns, the entire western and southern coast of the Caspian Sea came under Russian rule.

But Transcaucasia is not the Baltics. It turned out to be much easier to conquer these territories than the Baltic possessions of Sweden, but it was more difficult to keep. Due to epidemics and constant attacks by the highlanders, the Russian troops were reduced by half.

Russia, exhausted by Peter's wars and reforms, could not keep such a costly acquisition, and in 1732 these lands were returned to Persia.

Mediterranean: Malta (1798-1800) and the Ionian Islands (1800-1807)

In 1798, Napoleon, on his way to Egypt, defeated Malta, which was owned by the knights of the Order of the Hospitallers, founded back in the days of the Crusades. Having come to their senses after the pogrom, the knights elected the Russian Emperor Paul I as the Grand Master of the Order of Malta. The emblem of the Order was included in the State Emblem of Russia. This, perhaps, limited the visible signs that the island is under Russian rule. In 1800, the British captured Malta.

Unlike the formal possession of Malta, Russian control over the Ionian Islands off the coast of Greece was more real.
In 1800, the Russian-Turkish squadron under the command of the famous naval commander Ushakov captured the island of Corfu, which was heavily fortified by the French. The Republic of the Seven Islands was established, formally, as a Turkish protectorate, but in fact, under Russian rule. According to the Treaty of Tilsit (1807), Emperor Alexander I secretly ceded the islands to Napoleon.

Romania (1807-1812, 1828-1834)

The first time Romania (more precisely, two separate principalities - Moldavia and Wallachia) was under the rule of Russia in 1807 - during the next Russian-Turkish war (1806-1812). The population of the principalities was sworn allegiance to the Russian emperor; direct Russian rule was introduced throughout the territory. But the invasion of Napoleon in 1812 forced Russia to conclude an early peace with Turkey, according to which only the eastern part of the Principality of Moldavia (Bessarabia, modern Moldova) departed to the Russians.

The second time Russia established its power in the principalities during the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-29. At the end of the war, the Russian troops did not leave, the Russian administration continued to manage the principalities. Moreover, Nicholas I, who suppressed any sprouts of freedom inside Russia, gives his new territories a Constitution! True, it was called "organic regulations", since for Nicholas I the word "constitution" was too seditious.
Russia would willingly turn Moldavia and Wallachia, which it actually owned, into its de jure possessions, but England, France and Austria intervened in the matter. As a result, in 1834 the Russian army was withdrawn from the principalities. Russia finally lost its influence in the principalities after the defeat in the Crimean War.

Kars (1877-1918)

In 1877, during the Russian-Turkish war (1877-1878), Kars was taken by Russian troops. According to the peace treaty, Kars, together with Batum, went to Russia.
The Kars region began to be actively populated by Russian settlers. Kars was built according to the plan developed by Russian architects. Even now Kars with its strictly parallel and perpendicular streets, typical Russian houses, erected in the con. XIX - beginning. XX centuries., in sharp contrast with the chaotic buildings of other Turkish cities. But it is very reminiscent of the old Russian cities.
After the revolution, the Bolsheviks gave the Kars region to Turkey.

Manchuria (1896-1920)

In 1896, Russia received from China the right to build a railway through Manchuria to connect Siberia with Vladivostok - the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER). The Russians had the right to lease a narrow territory on both sides of the CER line. However, in fact, the construction of the road led to the transformation of Manchuria into a territory dependent on Russia, with a Russian administration, army, police and courts. Russian settlers poured in there. The Russian government began to consider the project of incorporating Manchuria into the empire under the name "Zheltorossiya".
As a result of Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, the southern part of Manchuria fell into the sphere of influence of Japan. After the revolution, Russian influence in Manchuria began to wane. Finally, in 1920, Chinese troops occupied Russian installations, including Harbin and the CER, finally closing the Zheltorossiya project.

Thanks to the heroic defense of Port Arthur, many people know that this city belonged to the Russian Empire before the defeat in the Russo-Japanese War. But less well known is the fact that at one time Port Arthur was part of the USSR.
After the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army in 1945, Port Arthur, under an agreement with China, was transferred to the Soviet Union for a period of 30 years as a naval base. Later, the USSR and the PRC agreed to return the city in 1952. At the request of the Chinese side, due to the difficult international situation (Korean War), the Soviet armed forces were delayed in Port Arthur until 1955.

Tourists should be prepared for the unique mentality of a foreign country.

China is one of the states closest to us, it has the longest border with Russia. Today, China is an actively developing powerful power. We are connected with our eastern neighbor not only by close economic relations, cultural lines, but also by long-standing friendship. The Celestial Empire, due to its proximity to Siberia, is very attractive for tourists.

Manchuria - the city we want to tell you about today - is located in the north of China, its population is 270 thousand people. Manchuria is located on the border with Russia (transition to the village of Zabaikalsk, Chita region), is the largest land transport artery of China and one of the centers of Russian shopping tourism in China. Irkutsk citizen Pavel Yasnitsky lived and worked in the city of Manchuria for 3 months. He agreed to tell our newspaper about his observations of the Chinese people and his impressions of life in China.

Solving the mystery of the economic miracle

One of the first sensations that Pavel experienced when he got to China was fear for our neighborhood with such a powerful army of the Chinese people. It is the army, since there are many Chinese, they are well organized and disciplined, they work hard and regularly. This gigantic mass exactly follows the directions of the center. When you personally observe this phenomenon every day everywhere in restaurants, on the street, in offices, government agencies, you understand what inner strength of the unity of the people lies behind the smiles of these benevolent people. Such organization of the Chinese reveals the secret of the "Chinese economic miracle."

In general, the Chinese are a very hardened people, they do not allow themselves to relax and complain about life, discuss the problems of their country, which, unfortunately, is typical for us Russians. The inhabitants of the Celestial Empire blame us for the constant dissatisfaction with life, laziness and a tendency to whine and drunkenness.

Shine and poverty

The uniqueness of the Chinese national character lies primarily in such qualities as diligence and amazing, sometimes absurd unpretentiousness, says Pavel. - The Chinese are ready to work for a tiny remuneration. They say that there are many Chinese in Irkutsk, that they live in inhuman conditions, but for some reason they are in no hurry to return to their homeland. This is easily explained - China has high unemployment and strong labor competition (China's population is 1 billion 350 million people).

Manchuria is a remarkably clean, rapidly rebuilding, beautiful city. But in it you can still find places that amaze with their poverty. And if you drive away from Manchuria and reach the nearest settlement, you can especially see in what terrible, uncomfortable conditions ordinary people live. Contrasts are manifested in the fact that, along with high-rise modern buildings, there are often miserable dwellings screaming about poverty or abandonment.

Another feature of Chinese cities affects the sense of smell of a visitor - smells. Ubiquitous and pervasive. It is impossible to say for sure what origin they are. These are the smells of life. In part, their occurrence can be explained by the unsanitary conditions prevailing in the kitchen of some residential buildings and restaurants.

"Corefana", "friend", "captain"

As mentioned above, Manchuria is a city bordering our country. Russian speech can be heard, albeit not at every step, but quite often. The Chita region borders on the eastern border of China; Chita residents have chosen the close Manchuria not only for recreation, but also for shopping. It cannot be said that the Chinese are delighted with Russian visitors. Residents of the Celestial Empire are sometimes outraged by the boorish behavior of Russians in a foreign country.

The Chinese admit that many of our compatriots have bad manners: not knowing Chinese customs and culture, they behave in the highest degree disrespectful, abuse alcohol and use foul language.

The presence of a large number of Russian tourists explains some of the Russification of Manchuria. Here you can find restaurants of Russian cuisine, shops with Russian-speaking sellers and discos where Russian pop music plays. Despite everything, Russians in China are still respected and appreciated. The long-term friendship of our peoples is having an effect: "The Russian and the Chinese are brothers forever."

The inhabitants of Manchuria even adopted a peculiar appeal to our compatriots: "captain", "friend" and "corefan". This is a well-established Chinese version of the pronunciation of the corresponding Russian words. "Captain" - a particularly respectful treatment, emphasizing the high status of the person being addressed; "friend" or "corefan" - an appeal to all other Russian tourists.

According to Pavel, taxi services are very actively developed in Manchuria. Moreover, surprisingly, women often sit behind the wheel of a checkered car. Modern Chinese women are becoming more independent, businesslike and enterprising. There is no need to be a victim of prejudice and fear for your life and health in a car driven by a woman. Male drivers can be much more dangerous.

In Manchuria, there are cases of attacks on people using taxis, Pavel notes. - They are taken to a secluded place and shamelessly robbed. Despite the fact that in general Manchuria is a very safe city, you should be careful.

Experiments with oriental exoticism are not always pleasant

No wonder China is considered the birthplace of massage. Russian tourists certainly want to try an exotic procedure on their own body, especially since this pleasure is quite inexpensive. The most sophisticated tourist ignores the classic types of massage, dreaming of trying something out of the ordinary.

A Chinese massage therapist offered me a procedure that uses salt gel, says Pavel. - Only later I found out that this massage is called "Fire". However, I could have guessed the name myself from the first minutes of the massage. Sensations are as if the skin is being removed from the back - a wild burning sensation. After the session, red stripes were visible on the back for about two weeks - two hieroglyphs, "fire" and "industry". It is interesting that immediately after the massage and in the future there were no unpleasant sensations. But still, you need to be more careful when experimenting with exotics.

On December 31, my friend and compatriot, together with his Chinese friend, decided to drink alcohol, Pavel recalls. - My friend returned already on the first day of the new year, haggard, confused and completely without money. It turned out that, having drunk, a Chinese friend suggested that he go "to the girls." The only thing that my friend remembered after this adventure was that there were two girls and that the priestesses of love had to pay eight thousand rubles. This is despite the fact that my friend speaks Chinese, loves and knows China and does not lose his head when drinking alcohol. He himself still cannot explain how such a story could have happened. All the same, the Chinese are a very cunning people who know how to use all conditions to achieve their goal.

Pavel Yasnitsky. 25 years. Born in Irkutsk. Graduated from the Oriental Faculty (specialty "Jurisprudence") of the Irkutsk State Technical University. He speaks two foreign languages ​​- English and Chinese. He is a postgraduate student studying the legal regulation of foreign investment in Russia and China. At the end of 2005, he worked in Manchuria, was engaged in establishing foreign economic relations between enterprises of the Irkutsk region with the Chinese side.

Memo for those who went to Manchuria for the first time

1. It is advisable to go for the first time through a travel agency, since the main difficulties are with the road and when going through customs.
2. Upon arrival in China, beware of "helpers" (tourist assistants). Do not pick up their business cards with Russian names. They took it - it means they hired a person, then you won’t get off. The "helping" fee is about 100 yuan per day.
3. Russian tourists often go to Manchuria to buy a fur coat there. You should know that the prices for the most democratic good quality fur coats start at 8-10 thousand rubles.
4. You can bargain in Manchurian shops for a long time, returning many times.
5. For a taxi driver, it is desirable to have a pocket full of fives in your pocket; you will not wait for change from 10 yuan.
6. In the hotel, the maid always has a number of "charged" thermoses, ask for boiling water - they will give it at any time.
7. In stores that are located near hotels, everything is much more expensive. Better go further, to the shopping arcade.

Manchuria... What a beautiful word and what a rich history! This is a small area in the north of China, which conquered everyone with its recent economic prosperity, tourism and beauty.

For some, it is associated with the famous waltz "On the Hills of Manchuria", but what kind of place is this, what is its history and who lives there now?

Location

In general, Manchuria is such a historically developed region, a plain that covers the northeast of China. And it is located in the area, along the edges of which there are mountains. Previously, Manchuria also covered the Amur and Primorsky parts of Russia.

It includes such provinces as Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, as well as the Greater Khingan Range and the northeast of Inner Mongolia (Autonomous Region of the PRC).

At the moment, one of the largest Russian cities near Manchuria is Chita. From Chita to Manchuria only 4 kilometers.

On the territory of Manchuria, it occupies only 801 thousand km². Amur (Chinese Heihe), Liaohe are located on the same square.

History: the beginning

Although the plain belongs to China for the most part, Manchuria was conquered by various tribes, and its history goes back to the distant past. She endured the disintegration of her territory into parts and separate possessions, but reunited again and again.

Initially, the ancient Manchus hunted, were engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture. And they were divided into nomadic Mongols with an appropriate way of life and the Manchus themselves.

The north of Manchuria was first captured by the Tungus tribes around the 10th century BC, but in the south, traditional Chinese culture began to be adopted with might and main only closer to 500-100 BC. Appeared (all known hieroglyphs), crafts. The architecture also left an imprint.

In the 10th century, the territory was occupied by nomadic Mongol tribes. And in 1115, it was conquered by Chinese tribes, thanks to which the Jin dynasty began.

In the 13th century, the Mongols conquered the territory again for more than a hundred years. But in the 15th century, during the heyday of the Chinese, they were able to capture a piece of Manchuria.

From the 10th to the 15th centuries, the Manchus were called Jurchens.

heyday

Since Manchuria had its own population, which was sensitive to any changes, in the 16th century a man appeared who decided to change everything. Leader Nurhatsi united all the possessions.

In 1616, he declared himself the new emperor, and named the dynasty Later Jin in tribute to the departed dynasty, but then renamed it simply Qing. The Manchus managed to unite their land, and then they conquered Beijing and thus all of China.

Although Manchuria adopted the Han Chinese culture over the centuries, the Manchu culture itself retained its own specific features and traditions, and it also differed in its ethnic group. Therefore, during the Qing Empire, the Manchus fenced off their territory with a Willow Hedge to prevent the mixing of peoples and cultures.

Russians and Manchuria

Geographically, Russia and Manchuria border on each other.

For the first time, both peoples clashed in 1658 on the border during the Russian-Chinese war. The Russians were defeated and the Treaty of Nerchinsk was signed. The borders of Manchuria expanded slightly. She also survived the Sino-Japanese War.

The influence of the Russians gradually increased. In 1896, when the Qing troops were defeated after the Sino-Japanese war, Russia and Manchuria signed an alliance treaty. This increased Russian influence. Improved political and economic relations. The Chinese Eastern Railway was built. The construction of Port Arthur also had an impact, which was strengthened after the lease. It is known that the railway is still in operation.

After the Russian-Japanese war in 1904-1905, when the Russian troops lost, another important event took place.

The Japanese Kwantung Army conquered Manchuria in 1931, making it a puppet state outside of China. It was called Manchukuo, and Manchukuo existed for about 13 years. This state disappeared after World War II. When the territory of Manchuria was formed in 1949, it became part of it.

The influence of Russia exists to this day. In the northern part of Manchuria, you can often meet Russian tourists, and there are also a lot of attractions that are more related to Russian culture than to Chinese.

Cities

The largest cities in Manchuria are:

• Mukden (Shenyang) is the main city and center of Liaoning Province.
• Jilin (refers to the province of Jilin).
• Qitskar is an urban area in Heilongjiang Province. Approximately 6 million people live here.
• Manchuria is already a city itself. The city district (or, in other words, the county) of Hulun Buir is located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the northern part of China. Inner Mongolia should not be referred to as Mongolia. Despite the name, this place belongs to China. Here the population is only 170 thousand people.

Russian tourists choose the city of Manchuria for recreation, but if you are not looking for easy ways, then you can relax in more southern Chinese cities, where there are also many entertainments and low prices.

Climate

The climate on the hills of Manchuria is the same as in Russia. Not surprising, because these are the closest neighbors.

In winter there is snow, and the weather averages down to -25°C. And in summer it can be warm, on average also up to +25°C. Just like in Russia or northern China, the coldest month is January and the warmest is July.

Much of the climate here is due to the presence of mountains around the Manchurian Plain.

The northern part of Manchuria is the main place where tourists like to spend time. In the south, on the contrary, the indigenous population mostly lives quietly, and tourists do not bother them. This is the name of the city most beloved by tourists.

• In the city of Manchuria in Mongolia, there are many different attractions from the sights. For example, a large gate 43 meters high and a hundred meters long! These gates are easy to meet. Immediately upon arrival, all travelers face them.

• City Hall Square is another interesting place. European-style architecture prevails here, and a monument flaunts in the center of the square.
• The area with giant nesting dolls will surprise anyone. It would seem that this will impress and delight every Russian. The height of the main matryoshka is 30 meters, and it is surrounded by several more smaller sisters. There is also a museum of Russian art nearby.

• Spear Park is another great place where any tourist can see miniatures of such great buildings as the Bronze Horseman, Motherland, Worker and Collective Farm Woman, monuments to Pushkin and Turgenev and others.
• "Singing Fountains" - beautiful bright water jets that make music will surprise many.
• And in winter, in Manchuria, there is an ice city that will amaze anyone's imagination. If you want to be in a fairy tale, then this place is perfect.

• The Park of Fallen Heroes is dedicated to Russian soldiers who died in battle.
• The mine park is a bit far from the city, but it is possible to get to it. There are museums and viewing platforms on the territory. Dedicated to the history of coal mining in China.
• Hulun Lake is a large freshwater reservoir where you can have a great rest.
• The wedding palace here is unusual for its Gothic style. Where else can you find a whole gothic wedding artist? It is located on the hill of the botanical garden. There are sites specifically for tourists.
• Beihu Park is an incredibly scenic and clean place with two artificial ponds, views of the city and an abundance of greenery in summer.
• The island of love, where sculptures of people in love are depicted.

An interesting fact: the favorite and most frequent routes of tourists: the city of Manchuria - Irkutsk, Manchuria - Chita and Manchuria - Ulan-Ude. You can get there by plane, train or bus.

Since a lot lives and develops here due to tourism, here you can find a large selection of hotels, cafes, restaurants with various cuisines (both Chinese and Russian).

Hotels here are both more budgetary and very luxurious with beautiful panoramas from the window. Many hotels have swimming pools, playgrounds, restaurants. There is where to stay and on the outskirts of the city for those who like to retire, there is also in the center.

From entertainment, there is also a lot of interesting things. For example, bowling, clubs, cinemas.

From Beijing we arrived in the city of Manchuria, or as the Chinese themselves call it - Manzhouli. What I like is the opportunity to choose: you have little money - ride a seated one even across the whole country. So we did, though it's quite tiring to sit for 34 hours, and the butt becomes really square :-) But a kaleidoscope of impressions and immersion in local life - where else can you relax like that?!

And the Beijing train station is crowded

While driving, we saw how copies of famous architectural structures from all over the world stand alone in the steppe - the Savior on Spilled Blood, the Triumphal Arch and so on. This is China, baby! Here they can just take and build an amusement park in the middle of the steppe, and local tourists will go there with great pleasure - already at the entrance the family jumped up from their seats and began to photograph something outside the window.

Like not in China

The city greeted us with dusk and Siberian cool air with the smell of smoke from chimneys. Oh, how we yearned for the Motherland, it's such a homely smell from childhood, for more than 7 months in Asia it's so unusual to be in the cold.

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Manchuria

The city is located in the endless steppes at the very border with Russia, and this crossing accounts for 70% of the total trade between the two countries! How did it come about? At the very beginning of the 20th century, the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway was completed, which connected the Manchuria region with the Far East. A station arose near the border and was named Manchuria. Already in 1992, the city was declared a free trade zone, several billion dollars were poured here over several years.

“Manchuria is an open city. Russians should feel at home here, and the Chinese almost like abroad,” said the secretary general of the city's Communist Party, and indeed, this is the case. In the vicinity there is a matryoshka park, with the world's largest representative of Russian souvenirs.

Many inscriptions and signs in the city have been translated into three languages: Chinese, Russian and Mongolian. Restaurants and cafes are also not far behind - here you can try both traditional Chinese dishes with rice and tofu cheese, and borscht with fried potatoes.

We passed through this place in transit, stopping for just one night, and the next morning, heading further into Russia, to Zabaikalsk. Manchuria is immediately striking in its scope - our first association was "Gotham City", the neon signs on high-rise buildings shine so brightly. Many of the buildings are austere Western architecture, I wouldn't be surprised to see them in New York, but they look very unusual in China.

However, there is nothing surprising in why the city developed so quickly: most of the oil from Russia to China passes here, wood (big pluses, but unfortunately not for Russia, except for the momentary benefit from the sale of resources). Near the border there are several processing and transport enterprises, which naturally benefit from trade.

Russians also buy Chinese goods, coming here especially on shopping tours from neighboring Zabaikalsk and Chita. We were traveling by bus with just such people - since there is no normal work on the Russian side of the border, they earn extra money as shuttles, transporting bags weighing 50 kg across the border and receiving about 1,000 rubles + transportation costs for a "walker" and they are also paid for housing. That's how they live.

Shopping in Manchuria

Prices in Manchuria are really pleasing, and many goods are ready to be sold to you for rubles, not to mention restaurant or hotel bills. You can exchange rubles for yuan at every step in exchange offices or banks. As elsewhere, you will have to look for a quality product, and this one will not cost a penny, but still significantly cheaper than a similar one in Russia.

What to buy in Manchuria?

It is recommended to buy clothes and shoes not in the markets and not from street vendors, but in large shopping centers, where you can find good quality. Many people buy fur coats and outerwear there, which are very cheap by Russian standards. Bedding, furniture, curtains are also popular goods, but you shouldn’t take household appliances - they are of poor quality and the price is not much cheaper than Russian ones, I don’t know why. Shops near hotels are usually a little more expensive than others, and "helpers" on the street charge money for their services, so it's best to bypass them. And of course, don't forget to bargain!

Shopping centers

A popular shopping center is Novy Vek, where the cheapest goods are located on the lower floors, and the more expensive ones are on the upper ones. In the trading house "Druzhba" prices are high, but the quality is at the same level. Pay attention to the shopping center "Manchuria" and "Wan Jian", where you can also buy good-quality goods.

Hotels in Manchuria

There are many hotels and inns in the city and for every taste and budget. Some hotels are fully occupied by groups of shop tours, while some are mostly occupied by private traders. We managed to find a room for 50 yuan (or 500 rubles), we thought there would be fear, but no! A chic large room with two beds, a plasma TV, a refrigerator, a kettle, a spacious bathroom - and all this with a great view from the 14th floor. This is the cheapest room ever.

View from the hotel

Popular hotels in Manchuria.

The name of the place about which this article is presented has different meanings. This concept is perceived by many, not particularly keen on history, in different ways.

The park was founded in 1915 and was called Manchurian until 1945. After the installation of a giant monument (19 meters high) in it with the names of all the dead soldiers, its name was changed to "Park of the Fallen Heroes of the Red Army."

Frequently visited attractions:

• city ​​hall square;
• state gates;
• museum of Russian art;
• magnificent singing fountains;
• matryoshka area;
• miniature park.

Sightseeing can be perfectly combined with shopping.

Church

One amazing historical and architectural monument is the city of Manchuria. St. Seraphim Church is a temple that is not functioning today, built in the name of St. Seraphim, about which there is not much information.

It was built in 1903 by the administration of the Chinese Eastern Railway specifically for the Russian military unit. The church at that time was equipped with the most valuable artistic icons (they were made in Moscow and other cities of Russia) and regimental shrines. On October 1, 1939, the rector of the temple was Archpriest T. Elizen, and the headman (ktitor) was I. Ya. Butin.

Economy

This city of Manchuria has a rather fascinating history of development. Just a little over twenty years ago, there was a poor village here. Today the economy is mainly based on weekend tourism and shopping tours. A huge variety of shops, private boutiques, large shopping centers, hotels, restaurants and entertainment complexes are concentrated here.

Manchuria began to develop actively since 1992, when it was transformed into a city of open trade. Huge investments have been made here. And today it is a modern city, with a predominance of European architecture.

Among all the cities of Manchuria, this is the main one in terms of trade between China and Russia. Shopaholics of almost all Siberia and nearby regions make their purchases here. Cunning Chinese merchants quickly organized their warehouses and outlets in Manchuria with a wide variety of products popular among merchants.

A little about Russians in China

The first clashes with the Russians began in 1658 (the Russo-Chinese war) on the border with northern Manchuria. During the same war, they also met with the Koreans. The result of the war was the signing of the Nerchinsk Treaty in 1689, thanks to which the Gorbitsa, Amur and Argun rivers began to represent the Russian-Chinese border.

This city, located near the Siberian border with Manchuria, has long been one of the favorite places for Russian citizens. The basis of the million-strong Russian diaspora in China is the builders of the famous Eastern Chinese Railway, which connected the Far East and Siberia with Manchuria. And the Great October Socialist Revolution forced many Russians to emigrate from the country. The regiments of General Semyonov fled to Manchuria, fleeing the Red Army. Also, many nobles found their refuge here along with their families.

Russian churches and schools began to be built in the emigrant settlements, several committees of Cossack elders were created. The Russian language at the beginning of the last century became very common in Manchuria. The Russians have developed friendly, warm relations with the local population.

Great damage was done to the Russian diaspora during the civil war and the "cultural revolution" in China. Today, the diaspora in Manchuria consists of 13,000 people.

Finally

The amazing city, located on the very border of Russia with China, is often called "the most Russian city in the Celestial Empire" or, even more interestingly, "the central Russian-Chinese department store."

The city is widely known in the field of Internet commerce. Every third Aliexpress store has its own warehouse here.