Khabarovsk, Regional capital in Russian Far East
Khabarovsk sits where the Ussuri flows into the Amur River, serving as a transportation hub in the Russian Far East. Five administrative districts spread across hilly terrain with a 72-meter elevation shift between riverside areas and higher residential neighborhoods.
This city began as Fort Svyatogor in 1858, founded by Governor Muravyov-Amursky to secure Russian interests along the Chinese border. Connection to the Trans-Siberian Railway from 1916 transformed the military outpost into a regional economic center.
Several theaters, galleries and museums downtown present Russian art alongside indigenous crafts and traditions from the Far East. Visitors experience regional festivals that showcase traditional music, dance and handicrafts of the Nanai and other local communities.
Buses, trams and seasonal river taxis connect all five districts, bridging the elevation changes with regular routes. Visitors find orientation easiest by following the Amur riverfront and the long Muravyov-Amursky Street running through downtown.
Temperatures swing from minus 40 degrees in winter to over 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer, making this one of the most extreme temperature ranges of any major city worldwide. Visitors can walk across the frozen Amur during white nights or enjoy riverside beaches in midsummer.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
