Chita
From Wikitravel
Contents
Chita is in Chita Oblast.
[edit] Understand
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. A formerly-restricted military city, things have developed quite rapidly, if unevenly, over the past few years thanks to the city's position on a main land-trading route with China. Hastily-constructed high-rises sit beside ramshackle wooden huts where pensioners trudge to the local water pump even in the -40C mid-winter. You won't find Westerners here and will often be treated as an object of curiosity, yet Siberians pride themselves on their hospitality and just a little time spent getting to know any of the locals will be richly rewarded. Visit the main Wikipedia page and follow the link to 'Englishman's Account of Life in Chita' and you will hopefully glean some impression of what life is like in this crazy, yet fascinating city.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By train
Chita is served by the Trans-Siberian Railway.
[edit] By bus
A service operates to Ulan Ude, but the frequency depends on the season.
[edit] By plane
There are airlines from Moscow- Ural Airlines and S7 (Siberian) have regular flights, plus KrasAir may schedule some services. Direct flights to/from Ekaterinburg are possible. For Moscow, everyone in Chita tends to take a train to Irkutsk and fly from there as to do so is much cheaper.
The civilian airport (Kadala) is a few kilometres from the town centre but rather than taking an expensive taxi to or from the city, hop onto a 'marshrutka' taxibus. In the city, these go from the large concourse between the train station and the cathedral- any marked 'аэропорт' (airport) will go there.
The airport has very few facilities so bring food and drink if you plan to wait for a while (you will probably have to wait 24 hours or so anyway due to delayed flights, fuelling problems and drunken crew).
[edit] Get around
The public transport system is well developed, with trolleybus journeys at 10 roubles and any taxibus ('marshrutka') journey at 15 roubles (around 50 US cents- summer 2009 prices).
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 invariably stick to it- I have never yet had one try to renege.
[edit][add listing] See
[edit][add listing] Do
[edit][add listing] Eat
[edit][add listing] Drink
[edit] Learn
[edit][add listing] Sleep
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 rouble per night.
Panama City complex is another more expensive option, located far out in the suburbs, and Hotel Turist on Babushkina Street is home to myriad nomadic market traders and rampant prostitution.
Unfortunately there are no Western-style hostels in Chita at present.
[edit] Contact
[edit] Cope
Remember, Russians are unfailingly 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 streets (closed in summer, though). The staff and students will be delighted to meet you.
[edit] Get out
| Routes through Chita |
| Irkutsk ← Ulan Ude ← | W  E
| → Skovorodino → Khabarovsk |
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