Sights of Ussuriysk: photos, description

The city of Ussuriysk arose on the site of the ancient city of Suiping, the administrative center of the province of the same name of the Jurchen Empire, founded in the 12th century AD. Many interesting historical monuments, as well as unique natural sites, have been preserved on its territory.

The ancient and modern sights of Ussuriysk attract many tourists to this city, including from China and regions of the Russian Federation.

Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The church (address: Chicherina St., 80 A) was consecrated in 1914. It was built on the site of the dilapidated St. Nicholas Church, in which a prayer service was served in 1891 in the presence of the then Tsarevich, the future Emperor Nicholas II. At the end of the 20s of the last century, the church was closed and used for economic needs. However, in 1945 it was returned to believers, and today the temple is the center of the spiritual life of Ussuriysk, and its bell tower is considered one of the architectural symbols of the city.

Accommodation and food places

Visitors to Ussuriysk do not have to worry about being left without a roof over their head or spending the night at the station: the city has a certain number of decent hotels. One of the most popular places is the Ussuriysky Hotel, a three-star hotel located close to the city center, founded back in 1980. The hotel is convenient for families to stay in, there are rooms for visitors with pets, and the entire hotel is considered a smoke-free zone. Additional services:

room service;
bar;
restaurant;
free wifi.

Another good place to stay is the Inn - according to tourists' descriptions, it is an inexpensive hotel with spacious rooms. The courtyard boasts free Wi-Fi and parking, room service, and a sauna.

When you have found a place to stay for the night, you need to choose a comfortable place where you can have a tasty meal. Standout places are:

“CoffeeInn” is a place for vegetarians and vegans;
"Country Pizza";
"Tokyo";
tavern "Captain Flint" and others.

You can find establishments serving Russian, Chinese, European, Asian, Italian, and American cuisine.

There are also inexpensive cafes that will not hit your pocket hard, such as “Fed Botsman”, Gourmania, etc. The presence of a large number of Asian establishments can be explained by the proximity to China and Japan. The local population is happy to try the cuisine of nearby peoples. In addition, such establishments please not only the stomach, but also the eye: the interiors are very decent, unobtrusive, slightly mysterious. Entertainment programs are available.

Emerald Valley Park

The location of this attraction of Ussuriysk and its environs is the village of Utesnoye. The park is divided into several zones. Its decoration is a Russian fort with numerous wooden buildings, including a watchtower, peasant and merchant houses, a bathhouse, a forge, a prison and other outbuildings. Inside each building, the life of bygone eras is recreated. In the “Russian” zone of the park you can also see reconstructions of the sanctuaries of coastal peoples and get acquainted with the tools of their traditional crafts.

In addition, visitors can:

visit a “medieval European fort”, which is used as a site for historical reenactment festivals;
shoot with ancient weapons (bows, throwing machines and crossbows) in a shooting range, etc.

Weather, best time to travel

The weather conditions of the city are greatly influenced by the Pacific monsoons and the Sea of Japan. The climate is characterized by rainy, warm summers and very frosty winters. Sometimes the temperature briefly drops below -40 °C. Spring is long, late and windy.

Frosts stop in mid-May. Clear, warm weather occurs during the weakening of the monsoons in early autumn. September is the most pleasant month, it is also called the Far Eastern summer. Frosts begin at the beginning of October. The air is characterized by high humidity, and prolonged downpours cause some discomfort, but in general the weather is quite favorable.

Sights of Ussuriysk: monuments

The city has several memorials dedicated to soldiers who gave their lives for their homeland:

The main one is the complex located on Victory Square. It was erected in 1977 in honor of the soldiers of the 239th Infantry Division formed in Ussuriysk, which fought near Moscow and reached Berlin.
Another monument is dedicated to the young residents of the city - the cabin boys, who in 1942-1945, along with adult sailors, plied the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Its address is the intersection of Krasnoznamenaya and Pushkin streets.
In May 2005, a monument to the drivers and workers who died during the Second World War was unveiled near the railway station. It is notable for the fact that the monument bears a plaque with a will to descendants. According to the authors of the memorial, it will need to be opened only in 2045 - 100 years after the Great Victory.
In the village of Voskhod there is a monument to the Ussuri miners, whose heroic work brought the Great Victory closer. Part of it are two real coal mines.
There is also a monument to the plumber in the city. It differs from analogues installed in other European cities in that the Ussuri worker stands proudly at full height, and does not look out of the hatch.

Features of the city

The natural conditions of the city, as well as the region itself, are very favorable. They are characterized by long springs, dry winters and warm summers. Due to this climate, the region can boast of growing not only fruits and vegetables familiar to Russian lands, but also soybeans, rice, tomatoes, radishes, grapes, apricots and many others.

The Primorsky Territory does not suffer from a lack of sun: in Russia, the region ranks first in terms of duration of sunshine and the flow of solar energy to the surface of the earth. All these characteristics can be applied to Ussuriysk.

The city stands at the intersection of two rivers: Rakovka and Komarovka. Its first founders were peasant families who moved mainly from the Voronezh and Astrakhan territories.

After settling the territories, the Ussuri people suffered losses from the attack of the Chinese, who were mining gold there. However, despite all the difficulties, the village quickly recovered. Already in the 1880s, the first school was opened here and a church was built.

After this, the village began to grow rapidly. New residential buildings and roads were built faster and faster. One of them became key in the formation of the city: it was the route from Ussuriysk to Vladivostok. After its opening, the village quickly turned into a large military center, where a large number of military personnel gathered and barracks were built. Then the question of renaming the village into a city began to be raised: the population had increased, a huge number of people could no longer live in one quarter and the creation of new ones was required.

Now the number of residents fluctuates around 170 thousand. Today, Ussuriysk suffers only from natural decline: every year the population decreases by 6 people.

There are 30 preschool educational institutions in the city and, according to 2011 data, 60% of the total population from 3 to 7 years old attends such institutions. In the village there are several institutions of higher education, such as the Primorsky Institute of Railway Transport, a medical college, and the Agricultural Academy. In general, according to statistics, more than half of the city are able-bodied people aged 18 to 55 years.

Sights of Ussuriysk: turtle

In the 1860s, two such stone sculptures were discovered in the village of Nikolskoye, as the city was then called. The first of them was sent to Khabarovsk, and the second was seen and described by the famous traveler and explorer of the Far East N. Przhevalsky. Today the address of this most important landmark of Ussuriysk is: DORA Park, st. Volodarsky. According to scientists, the statue dates back to the 12th century AD and is one of the few objects in the Jurchen city of Suiping that has survived to this day.

Lake with lotuses

The number one natural attraction of Ussuriysk is the so-called Lotus Lake. It is located 20 kilometers from the city, near the village of Dubovy Klyuch. Tourists come here from all over the Primorsky Territory to see with their own eyes the extraordinary beauty of this reservoir. It is especially crowded here in mid-August, when the lotus blooms and part of the lake is covered with a carpet of soft pink flowers.

Park DORA

This vacation spot, beloved by all townspeople, is famous not only for its ancient stone turtle. DORA Park has always been the center of attention of the authorities of Ussuriysk, therefore it is well-groomed and clean. There are many attractions there, so it is always very crowded on weekends. In addition, there are several cafes in DORA Park where you can have a snack and feed little fidgets. There is also a small zoo here, where animals that suffered during the recent flood found shelter.

Where to go in Ussuriysk: a brief overview of entertainment and reviews from tourists

Perhaps the most pleasant place for leisurely walks in Ussuriysk is Dora Park. Here, by the way, there are attractions, trampolines and playgrounds for children, and there is a small zoo corner. And the most touching area in the park is the so-called Newlyweds Alley, decorated with two angels on a pink pedestal.

After a walk through the park, you can climb the Love Hill. From here you have the most picturesque view of the city. On hot days you can have a great rest on the shore of Soldatskoye Lake. This place is highly praised by both residents of Ussuriysk and guests of the city. There is a great beach, swimming pool and catamaran rentals.

There are several good clubs in Ussuriysk. For example, a club with the simple name “Garage” regularly organizes unforgettable show programs. Among catering establishments, tourists are strongly advised to visit the Noah's Ark restaurant, the Skazka cafe and the Country Pizza pizzeria. The Atmosphere quest club is very popular in the city, where you can have fun solving difficult and interesting puzzles.

Temple of Seraphim of Sarov

The church was built in 2002 at the address: Slobodskaya street, 15a. According to the majority of residents of Ussuriysk, the temple is the most comfortable and spiritual place in the city, which is why many citizens prefer to get married and perform baptisms there. The church has 4 domes and 7 bells. In the center there is a two-tier iconostasis. The main shrines are 3 ancient icons: St. Seraphim of Sarov with a particle of the relics of the saint, the Most Holy Trinity and Theodosius of Pechora.

Where is

Ussuriysk, whose sights are not so easy to see for most Russians, is located near the northeastern border of China and North Korea, in the basin of the Prikhankai Plain between low hills, on the Rakovka River, along the Komarovka riverbed and on the left bank of the Razdolnaya.

The city covers an area of 173 square meters. km, and together with the territory of the district almost 3.7 thousand square meters. km. The population density exceeds 1 thousand people per square meter. km. More than 198 thousand people live here, most of whom are employed in the food industry.

The city is located 110 km from Vladivostok, so it is more convenient for travelers in the western part of the country to reach it using well-established air services. A direct flight from the capital takes a little over 9 hours, which is much more profitable than 5-6 days on a train.

Options:

The city of Artem is 5 km from the local airport, and from there you can go to Ussuriysk by regular intercity bus. The bus covers a distance of about 80 km in 1.5 hours. Flights are limited in time from 8-30 to 19-30. Buses go to the Ussuriysk bus station, which is conveniently located in the city center.
You can profitably travel from Vladivostok by electric train, travel time is from 1 hour 50 minutes. up to 2.5 hours. Electric trains depart 5 times a day from 6-45 to 18 hours.
On passing long-distance trains, of which there are about 20 per day, you can get there in 2 hours. The railway station is also located in a busy part of the city, from where it is easy to get to any microdistrict.
Intercity communication between Vladivostok and Ussuriysk is represented by 75 routes that depart from 6-50 to 21-30 from the bus station. Travel time, depending on the chosen route, can range from 1.5 to 3.5 hours.
You can get there by taxi or with fellow travelers in a car in 1-1.5 hours. The minimum price for a trip is 180 rubles.

Museum of Local Lore

At the address: Krasnoznamennaya street, 80 - in Ussuriysk there is a Museum of Local Lore. It occupies the oldest surviving building in the city. The museum opened in 1999. At the moment, it contains more than 1,500 exhibits telling about the history of Ussuriysk, crafts, its inhabitants, culture and way of life. 5 halls with a total area of 364.7 square meters are allocated for their accommodation. m.

The pride of the museum is the ancient artifacts found during archaeological excavations, which are still ongoing in the city. There is also an exhibition dedicated to the participation of Ussuri people in the Second World War, and a hall where items typical of the life of the Soviet period are displayed. The museum hosts lectures and master classes for children.

Now you know the main attractions of Ussuriysk. As you can see, they are varied and interesting, so this city is rightfully considered a great place to spend a long weekend.

Review

Ussuriysk is the second largest and most important city in Primorye. In terms of all-Russian popularity, it is much inferior to Vladivostok, but Ussuri patriots believe that their city has more rights to the title of capital of the region. First of all, because Ussuriysk is the main land transport hub of the region. All communications of Primorye and roads from the ports inland pass through it: the branch connecting the CER with the Trans-Siberian Railway, and highways to Vladivostok, Khabarovsk and the village of Pogranichnoye, that is, to China. When the grandiose Primorsky railway port is built - a system of terminals through which sea cargo from Asia will be transported by land to the European part of the mainland - Ussuriysk will compete with Vladivostok for the title of “sea gate of Russia”.

Neighborhood with China influences life in Ussuriysk just as much as in Blagoveshchensk: the nearest Chinese city can be reached in a few hours by bus or train. For locals, bordering Suifenhe is simply “Sunka”, where they regularly go for shopping. In Ussuriysk itself there is a huge Chinese clothing market, the largest in Primorye. You can buy everything there, even at night (they say that the night market is cheaper and more crowded), and at the same time gawk at everyone’s favorite signs “with a Chinese accent.” Another famous place is the Japanese car market under the informal name “Zhelezka”. It beats the same one in Vladivostok in terms of prices: in Ussuriysk they are lower.

Despite the economic activity, the city seems quiet, calm and quite comfortable. There are no skyscrapers here; the tallest building is still a Soviet nine-story building. Ussuriysk has a long history and several completely different lives. The date of his birth is considered to be 1866, when the village of Nikolskoye was founded here by settlers from central Russia. However, back in the 12th century, the city of Suiping, part of the Jurchen state, stood on this site, and even earlier this territory was owned by the medieval Far Eastern Bohai Empire. What remains from Suipin are the sites of two fortresses and the most famous historical monument of Ussuriysk - a stone turtle from the grave of one of the commanders, a symbol of longevity. The turtle was found at the end of the 19th century on the territory of the city park, where today it occupies a place of honor on a hill under a stylized canopy.

The parade of unusual Ussuri monuments continues with perhaps the most famous city monument - the El-629 steam locomotive, installed in the park on Blucher Avenue. This is an ominous monument: it is believed that in its firebox - or in the firebox of the same locomotive - the Japanese burned the legendary Sergei Lazo. True, experts dispute the authenticity of the locomotive or its copy.

The Chumak Park, where the ominous steam locomotive stands, the city park with the turtle (it is also called DORA Park, we don’t know why) and the Green Island Park are favorite vacation spots for Ussuri residents. There is a lot of greenery in the city, but if you want Far Eastern plant exoticism, go to the Lotus Lake in the village of Oak Key, within the city. In August it is covered with pink flowers. Or to the suburban reserve named after Komarov - a mysterious forest on the slopes of the Przhevalsky Mountains, where cedars, elms, black fir and ginseng grow, where Amur tigers live. Nearby is the Astrophysical Observatory, founded in the 1950s as the “Sun Service Station.”

The historical center of Ussuriysk is the “old town” in the area of Kalinin and Chicherin streets. Irkutsk “antiquity”, if you do not take into account the 12th century turtle, is the beginning of the 20th century, when the village of Nikolskoye, thanks to the Trans-Siberian Railway, grew to the city of Nikolsk-Ussuriysky. The most beautiful houses of Ussuriysk also belong to this era: the building of a real school built in 1906 (today it houses school No. 11), the building of a trade school (modern post office), the former shopping arcade “Kunst and Alberts”, in which the Boulevard cafe is now open ", People's House of 1907 - now the Ussuri Drama Theater. The last mansion was built by the Pyankov merchant brothers, very famous entrepreneurs and philanthropists in the Far East.

Ussuriysk owes one of its symbols to the elder Pyankov - Mikhail Pavlinovich came up with the “Ussuri Balsam” based on taiga herbs and berries. The Pyankov distillery regularly produces it to this day, already under the name. It’s easy to find products, brand stores and the factory building itself: the balm’s logo is another symbol of Ussuriysk - the Amur tiger. A tiger's face is painted on the label, a sculpture of a tiger stands in front of the entrance, and life-size puppets in tiger costumes advertise the plant.

How to navigate

The small city has a well-developed transport system. And although most of the sights can be easily seen with a leisurely walk, if you need to travel long distances, this can easily be done on one of the 20 city routes connecting all the microdistricts. There are also many minibuses traveling around the city.

Public transport is represented by an extensive taxi fleet. The average cost of a trip around the city is only 100-150 rubles.

Intercity flights from the bus station connect the city with all nearby settlements. There are also international regular buses to the nearest Chinese province.

The sights of cozy green Ussuriysk give visiting tourists a pleasant impression of a quiet provincial town in the outback of Russia, where you can immerse yourself in the original atmosphere of antiquity and leisurely life, enjoying unusual views and magnificent nature.

Modern objects interesting to visit

Tochka on Lenina Street 41 is considered a popular nightclub, where young people of all types like to relax, and everyone will find music to their liking. Theatrical parties with colorful performances take place here. The cuisine is distinguished by a rich variety of dishes, the menu changes every week, and the prices are quite affordable.

The Ussuri Observatory was created in the middle of the last century to regularly monitor the sun and its activity. Recently, the research center acquired new modern equipment and an ultra-powerful telescope. The observatory is located in the Gornotaiga village on Solnechnaya Street 21. By prior arrangement, interesting excursions are held here.

On Nekrasova Street there is the famous Chinese market throughout the district with a colorful noisy atmosphere and Chinese cuisine. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 8:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The Center of Korean Culture is located in a modern building, together with a museum, where interesting exhibits and archival documents of Korean history are exhibited, classes are held on learning the language and playing original musical instruments. Interesting holidays are held here. The center has a cafe serving national Korean cuisine.

Go to a performance at the Komissarzhevskaya Drama Theater on Volodarsky Street 33. The theater's repertoire is very diverse, so everyone will find something to their liking. Ticket prices range from 200 to 400 rubles. Evening performances start at 6 p.m.

Architectural structures

The red brick military hospital building in the Far Eastern pseudo-Gothic style dates back to the second half of the 19th century, located on Karbysheva Street, house 7. Today it is an architectural monument.

The former women's gymnasium, built in the pseudo-Russian style, is located on Chicherina Street 54. The vocational school of the beginning of the last century also belongs to this style, but with elements of new classicism. The building of the Siberian Trade Bank on Volodarskogo Street 33 is made in the North German Baroque style.

The fire tower at the beginning of the last century was the tallest building in the city. Located on Lenin Street 143. Many buildings from the Soviet period, built in the style of Stalinist monumentalism, have been preserved, a striking example of which is the officers' house on Volodarsky Street.

The house of the Soviet writer, researcher and traveler Vladimir Arsenyev is also an architectural monument today. You can see it on Krestyanskaya Street 73. The building of the former real school on Gorky Street 20 was built in the Art Nouveau style and is the highlight of the architecture of the pre-revolutionary period of the city.