In 1999, I decided to live a year in the city of Chita, Russia.
For those not in the know, Chita is a city in Siberia.
History
The City of Chita is a the administrative center of the Chita
Oblast, which is similar to a state. It is located smack dab in
the middle of Siberia and is about 500 miles east of Lake
Baikal.
>From the 1930's through the end of communism, Chita was a closed
city. During this period, foreigners were prohibited from
traveling to Chita as were many Russians. The basis for the
closing of the city was apparently its proximity to China and
military installations.
In some circles, Chita is known as the City of Exiles because
prominent intellectuals starting with the "Decembrist" were
exiled to the city after failed uprisings in 1825. Despite this
informal name, the arrival of the Decembrists was a boon for the
city. The well-educated exiles made an effort to educate the
citizens of Chita and pursue trade. Through these efforts, the
City became a major trading portal in Siberia, particularly
since the natural resources of the area included timber, gold
and uranium.
Architecturally, Chita is a clash of styles. Foremost, Chita is
populated with communist concrete buildings. The apartment
buildings are almost universally five stories tall and, frankly,
not the most appealing things you've every scene. In contrast to
these soviet signatures, Chita is also populated with individual
homes made primarily out of wood. The homes are the equivalent
of those you would see in any mountainous area and are very
comfortable. Clashing with these two styles are a number of
buildings in the center of Chita.
During World War II, a significant number of Japanese soldiers
were taken by the Russians as prisoners of war. Through whatever
machinations present at that time, they were put to work in the
construction industry. Yep, you guessed it. In the center of
Chita you will find buildings with a definite hint of Japanese
style. The buildings are not overtly Japanese, but they
definitely differ from the other styles present.
Having lived in the city for a year, I can definitely say it is
worth a visit. The Trans-Siberian Railway passes through the
city, so access is very easy.
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