Trip around Ussuriysk: visiting Santa Claus, animals and an extinct volcano

General information and history of Ussuriysk

Ussuriysk is one of the large cities in southeast Russia, located near the border with China and North Korea.
The city stands at the confluence of the Komarovka, Rakovka and Razdolnaya rivers. In 1866, in the place where the city is now located, immigrants from the Voronezh and Astrakhan provinces created a village. They named it Nikolskoye, in honor of the church, which was illuminated in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Later, not far from the village of Nikolskoye, the village of Ketritsevo was formed, through which, in those years, the construction of the first line of the Trans-Siberian Railway began.

Monument to those killed in the Civil War

Already in 1898, the village of Ketritsevo and the village of Nikolskoye were united into the city of Nikolsk. However, a city with the same name already existed in the Volgograd region and the authorities decided to add the ending Ussuriysk to the name. Historians believe that the name was given from the Ussuri River flowing near the city.

In 1935, the name of the city was changed again. This time it was renamed in honor of the famous Soviet political and military leader Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov. The city of Ussuriysk received its modern name in 1957.

Panorama of Ussuriysk. Photo by NJHYNJY (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/njhynjy/)

"Emerald Valley"

Not far from the city there is the Emerald Valley landscape and historical park. An ancient Russian village has been accurately recreated here: with wooden huts, forges, ramparts and pottery workshops, numerous household items from the times of Ancient Rus' have been collected. A great place to plunge headlong into the distant past of our country! The park often hosts various festivals and city celebrations.

Climate and ecology of Ussuriysk

The climate of Ussuriysk is under the rule of monsoons. This is facilitated by the proximity of the Sea of ​​Japan, as well as the Pacific Ocean. Warm and rainy summers give way to severe and persistent winter frosts. At the beginning of autumn, when the monsoons weaken, clear, warm weather returns. Spring is late and windy.

In general, the climate is favorable, the only inconvenience is the heavy rains throughout the summer and, as a result, high humidity.

The ecological state of the city is largely determined by urban transport and transit vehicles. According to experts, transport accounts for up to 60% of all harmful emissions into the atmosphere. The presence of the Vladivostok-Khabarovsk highway passing through the city greatly worsened the city’s ecology, but several years ago interchange rings near the city were put into operation. This allowed us to slightly reduce the amount of harmful emissions. However, the maximum permissible concentrations of harmful substances in certain areas of the city are still exceeded.

Also, environmental damage is caused by such industrial enterprises as CJSC UMZHK Primorskaya Soya and OJSC Primorsky Sugar. The main share of emissions at enterprises is produced by thermal power plants, as well as boiler houses, of which there are 35 in the city. 25 of them run on fuel oil, 8 on coal, and another 2 run on diesel fuel. The technical condition of cleaning filters is imperfect, which leads to exceeding the maximum permissible standards and deteriorating the health of city residents.

Population of Ussuriysk

At the beginning of 2014, according to the statistics department of the city of Ussuriysk, the city’s population was 156,442 people. The number of children born per 1000 people has been steadily growing since 1999 and in 2011 amounted to 12 people. However, the mortality rate is growing at a faster rate and in 2011 was 18/1000 people. As a result, the natural increase, or rather the decrease, in 2011 was -6 people.

As for the composition of families, if 10 years ago on average in the city each family had 2-3 children, then as of 2011 there were an average of 1-2 children per family. Mortality has also increased in the city; experts attribute this to the unfavorable environmental situation in the city.

As for the age structure of the population of Ussuriysk, minor residents account for 19.4% of the total number of residents. A quarter of the city's population are people of retirement age. Accordingly, the share of the working population aged 18 to 55 years is about 55%.

Preschool education in Ussuriysk is represented by kindergartens and preschool training centers. More than 60% of the total number of preschool children are educated in kindergartens. As of the end of 2011, there were 30 secondary schools in the city.

As for higher education, in Ussuriysk there are the Primorsky Institute of Railway Transport, the Ussuri Medical College, the School of Pedagogy of the Far Eastern Federal University, the Primorsky Agricultural Academy, the Far Eastern Technical College, the Agrarian College, as well as a number of other educational institutions. There is also the Suvorov Military School in Ussuriysk.

The general trend in education is aimed at increasing the level of education and qualifications of the population. Not only residents of Ussuriysk and nearby villages study in higher and secondary educational institutions of the city, but also nonresident students from all over the Primorsky Territory.

Holy Protection Church

The stone Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ussuriysk was built and consecrated in 1907. But twenty years later the church was closed, and a warehouse was installed in the building. Over the years, the temple became increasingly destroyed. Only in 1945 was it returned to believers and began to be restored (not without the participation of prisoners of war of the Japanese army). The building is designed in the traditions of classical Orthodox architecture of the early twentieth century and is distinguished by its luxurious decor.

Districts and real estate of Ussuriysk

Map of Ussuriysk

Officially, the city has no division into districts. But in Ussuriysk it is easy to navigate by the names of the main streets. However, residents still conditionally divided Ussuriysk into several territories. These names are very often found in the everyday life of city residents.

The center of the city is a square of Pushkin - Lenin - Nekrasov - Oktyabrskaya streets and the streets nearby, each of which has its own history. For example, Leningradskaya Street changed its name more often than other streets in Ussuriysk. Initially it was called Officers', then it was renamed Cavalry. And the thirties gave it the name Krasnoarmeyskaya. After the Great Patriotic War, it was named after Marshal Meretskov. In the fifties it was called Stalingrad. Only in the late sixties did Leningradskaya receive its modern name.

In the center are the City Administration Department and the Central Square of the city. This area is the cultural and administrative part of the city.

The proximity to the center and a huge amount of greenery make this place attractive to many city residents. And this is not surprising. The cost of a square meter of housing in this area ranges from 55 to 60 thousand rubles per square meter. And the offer is in demand. According to realtors in the city, apartments in this particular area are by far the most in demand on the real estate market.

Recently, the number of houses under construction in the railway district, or Slobodka, as the townspeople are accustomed to calling it, has sharply increased.

Despite the proximity of the railway, this is a relatively clean area, located near the city center, with a huge number of new buildings at a price of 25-45 thousand rubles per square meter. According to data for 2011, it was in Slobodka that the smallest number of crimes was recorded.

Railway station in Ussuriysk. Photo by beloe.primorie (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/beloe-primorie/)

The Mezhdurechye region is called so because it is located between two rivers - Rakovka and Komarovka. In the near future, it is planned to build a large residential complex in the area, which will include 2 five-story buildings with 120 and 80 apartments. The guidelines are for one-room and two-room apartments. It is expected that the price will be at the level of 35 thousand rubles per square meter.

It is planned to completely improve the territory in the courtyard, with playgrounds and parking spaces. The residential complex will also include 3 three-story buildings, 20 townhouses and 28 plots for cottages. Residents expect that with the introduction of the new residential complex, the appearance of the area will become brighter and more cheerful.

The area's name, Seven Winds, most likely came from the area's open terrain. The central street of the district, Ageev Street, was called Boulevard until 1937. But in 1936, at the Meshcheryakovskaya Pad outpost, Captain Ageev accomplished a feat. He was awarded the Order of Lenin and in 1937 a city street was named after him. The area of ​​7 winds is located between the Rakovka River and Soldatskoye Lake. Frequent winds bring moist, cold air to residents.

However, the proximity of the center and the popular holiday destination have set their own priorities. The popularity of this area is not decreasing. Housing prices remain at 40-45 thousand rubles per square meter. Bright new buildings delight the eyes of citizens. Convenient access to houses, well-maintained playgrounds, and a large number of kindergartens make this area an attractive place to live. According to data for 2011, the 7 Winds area ranks second to last in terms of crime in Ussuriysk. This means it’s not scary to let your children go to the playgrounds or go out late at night.

In the southeast of the city is the village of Sakharny. It’s no wonder that the name comes from the Kalinin sugar production plant. A small industrial area of ​​Ussuriysk. Residents of the area are mainly employees of the sugar factory.

Despite the industrial orientation of the area, townspeople consider it calm and favorable for life. In recent years, real estate in this area has increased significantly in price. Just 10 years ago, a square meter could be bought at half the price it is today. However, the demand for housing in this area is low. According to advertisements on the Internet, you can buy an apartment of 60 square meters for 3 million rubles.

Over the past 10 years, the appearance of the city has changed a lot. Areas with unusual design solutions for cottages and country houses have grown around Ussuriysk. I would especially like to note the Chernyakhovsky microdistrict, in which original cottages have grown on Apricot and Sirenevaya streets, on the site of a former foundation pit.

Ussuriysk: city sights and most interesting places

We must admit: tourists in Ussuriysk are rare guests. Most often, travelers fly or sail to Vladivostok (120 kilometers to the south), and then go to explore the various natural wonders and unique reserves of Primorye. Only a few of them end up in this city. Why is it worth visiting Ussuriysk for at least a couple of days? Let's figure it out.

Let's start with architecture. It is presented here in several styles at once. Thus, in Ussuriysk you can see houses of the pre-revolutionary and Soviet era, as well as modern buildings. The development of the city, according to the famous blogger Ilya Varlamov, is “very loose and disorderly.” Nevertheless, in its central part several dozen ancient buildings from the late 19th – early 20th centuries have been preserved.

Among the notable architectural objects of Ussuriysk, it is worth highlighting the military hospital complex on Karbysheva Street, the People's House, the fire tower of 1914, the House of Officers, the Holy Protection Church and the building of the Nikolsk-Ussuri Real School.

Ussuriysk is a city of ancient brick buildings, interesting monuments, green parks and picturesque landscapes. And there is definitely something to see here. We bring to your attention a far from complete list of natural, historical and architectural attractions of Ussuriysk:

• Stone turtle of the Jurchen state.
• Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• Lotus Lake.
• Emerald Valley Historical Park.
• Theater of the Eastern Military District.
• Real school building.
• Commemorative steam locomotive El-629.

Below you will find brief information on each of the listed attractions of Ussuriysk (with descriptions and photographs).

Infrastructure condition

Ussuriysk is a modern and developed city. In recent years, active construction of cooperative homes in residential areas has begun. The number of new buildings is growing every year, but what about people who live in dormitories? According to housing and communal services, at the end of 2011 in Ussuriysk, 177 houses, in which 2,268 people were registered, were in disrepair. Roofs, building facades, and pipelines need repairs. More than half of these buildings can no longer be repaired and are scheduled for demolition. Major repairs are carried out gradually, as new houses are built, into which residents are resettled.

Another pressing issue for residents of Ussuriysk is tariffs for housing and communal services. Recently it became known that an agreement has already been signed on the construction of a new Ussuriyskaya Thermal Power Plant. The commissioning of the thermal power plant will reduce electricity prices for citizens. After all, housing and communal services tariffs increase every year. So, for example, a family of 4 people, living in a two-room apartment, using utilities within the norm, pays a monthly bill in the amount of about 4,000 rubles. Considering that, according to statistics, the average salary in Ussuriysk is about 20,00 rubles, then in a family where 2 adults work, 10% of the monthly family budget is spent on utility bills. Whether this is a lot or a little is up to you to judge.

Every autumn, utility services in Ussuriysk hold a month of improvement, during which city residents work on cleanup days. Schoolchildren and students also take part in cleanup days.

Every year in Ussuriysk road services carry out road repairs. However, the road situation is getting worse every year. And the whole problem is the ever-growing number of cars and the discrepancy between city roads and the real situation in the city. According to traffic police data for 2011, about 115 thousand cars of citizens are registered. But it is also necessary to take into account transit transport.

Let's drive through the central streets of the city. During rush hours (from 7.00 to 8.30 in the morning, from 12.00 to 14.00 at lunchtime and from 16.00 to 19.00 in the evening), on average up to 1,500 cars per hour pass along Komarova, Nekrasova and Nikolskoe highways in both directions. The city has long been ripe for the issue of expanding the roadway to four lanes, equipping special pockets for public transport stops and building specialized parking spaces near large stores and shopping centers. These problems require an immediate solution, since the number of cars in the city is constantly growing and in a couple of years the problem of traffic jams in Ussuriysk will become catastrophic.

As for public transport, the city has a developed network of bus routes (about 20). For 15 rubles, of course, not as quickly as with a personal car, but you can still get to your place of study or work. You can also get to any point in the city by minibuses that run in all directions. A taxi ride will cost more - for 150 rubles the driver will take you to any point in Ussuriysk.

Where to go with children in Ussuriysk

It will be useful for young explorers of the vast expanses of the Fatherland to visit Ussuriysk. The city is colorful, and its surroundings are very picturesque. Therefore, a child visiting the policy with his parents or friends from a tourist group will not be bored here.

Emerald Valley

• Opening hours: daily, from 10:00 to 22:00.
• Ticket price: adult 200 rub., child 100 rub.
• Telephone.
• Website: https://dvpark.ru
• Address: Utesnoye village. Transport stop "Market/Burgernaya".

Do you want to take a fantastic journey into the world of the ancient Slavs, medieval knights, the land of fairy tales and myths? To do this, you just need to visit the unique landscape park, created 6 km from the city. The Emerald Valley can capture the imagination of travelers of any age. Adult vacationers will be attracted by the reconstruction of a Slavic watchtower, an ancient peasant estate, a merchant mansion, an archaic sanctuary, and a powerful knight's fort. There is a shooting range here, where everyone can show miracles of accuracy, shooting from a crossbow, bow, and even a ballista with a catapult. Kids enjoy frolicking in the Fairytale Forest, “populated” by sculptural embodiments of fairy tale heroes and cartoon characters.

Zoo "Wonderful"

• Opening hours: daily, from 10:00 to 20:00.
• Ticket price: adult 400 rubles, children 250 rubles.
• Telephone.
• Website: https://ussurzoo.ru
• Address: Borisovka village, st. Lugovaya, 104. Transport stop "Borisovka".

Not a single child will refuse to visit the zoo, where they are allowed not only to observe animals, but also to play with safe representatives of the fauna. Therefore, you should definitely visit “Wonderful” with your beloved child. In addition to a photo shoot with rabbits, turtles, ponies, raccoons or goats, here you can see a lion, puma, tiger, and funny bear cubs. Exotic animals are represented by Emu ostriches and iguanas. The royal python deserves special mention. A representative of a diverse family of reptiles, apparently prone to travel, once crawled into a private house. During the day he successfully hid, and at night he quite scared a resident of Borisovka, falling straight onto her bed. It can be argued that the python was born under a lucky star, since it did not become a victim of people’s prejudiced attitude towards snakes. On the contrary, the creeping “tourist” was caught and placed in the “Wonderful” terrarium on full board.

Enterprises and work in Ussuriysk

Trade in Ussuriysk is represented by a network of shopping centers, supermarkets and several markets. The largest shopping malls, Zarya and Tsentral, are located in the central area of ​​the city, where the offices of large industrial and trading companies are also located. The city presents all groups of consumer goods, as well as cars, household appliances, jewelry and food.

Ussuriysk is one of the largest industrial centers of the Primorsky Territory. The city has large enterprises in the manufacturing and meat and dairy industries, as well as the production of consumer goods. One of the largest enterprises in the region, as well as a monopolist in the field of sugar production in the Far East, is Primorsky Sugar OJSC. The company has carefully built a quality control system. Thanks to this, the well-known product – refined sugar – was awarded the State Quality Mark. The plant is constantly developing new products that are of interest to foreign companies.

Another dynamically developing enterprise in the city is Ussuri Balsam OJSC. One of the largest producers of alcoholic beverages in the Far East. More than 80 percent of the alcoholic products produced in the Primorsky Territory come from this enterprise. The plant's distribution network is widely developed, as well as its network of wholesale warehouses. Employees constantly take advanced training courses and also collaborate with research institutes. The development of new types of products is actively underway.

The meat and dairy industry is represented by such enterprises as Ussuriysky Dairy Plant OJSC, the largest producer of meat products, Nikolsk-Ussuriysky LLC, an enterprise producing frozen semi-finished products under the Nikolsk brand. The products of enterprises in this industry are in demand on the market and are of high quality. The young team of enterprises contributes to the constant development and modernization of production.

JSC "Ussuriyskmebel" is a furniture factory with half a century of history. During perestroika, it underwent many changes, both in management and in the product range. Today the factory produces office furniture, cabinet and upholstered furniture, and shelving. Constantly participates in exhibitions and brings awards for product quality. The furniture factory has created favorable working conditions, which ensures low staff turnover. And thanks to the constant development of production and improvement of product quality, staff salaries are constantly growing.

Crime

The criminal history of the city includes many incidents. Murders, robberies, assaults, fraud against people of retirement age, car theft, tax evasion - such crimes are unlikely to surprise anyone now. They happen not so often, but they attract attention and sometimes even shock city residents. Yes, what can I say, there is not a single city in Russia in which the criminal world does not operate. However, in Ussuriysk, the cause of many conflicts, which often end in tears, are fights on domestic grounds. Petty robberies, assaults and thefts occur mainly in residential areas of the city at night.

As in many Russian cities, the main problem in Ussuriysk is drunkenness. Every year the number of drunk drivers behind the wheel increases, and, as a result, the number of accidents with tragic outcomes. Traffic police officers regularly patrol the streets and conduct various operations aimed at reducing the number of drunk drivers.

In general, the situation in the city is under control of law enforcement agencies. And if you lead a healthy lifestyle and follow basic safety rules, then you will probably not cross paths with this dangerous and cruel world.

The main attractions of Ussuriysk: TOP-5

The rating of what to see in Ussuriysk is a must for an inquisitive tourist, topped by iconic attractions. These man-made and natural objects are considered to be the calling cards of the Far Eastern polis.

Jurchen tortoise

• Address: DORA Park. Transport stop "Gorteatr".

The presence of a very small monument at the top of the TOP-5 attractions of Ussuriysk often surprises city guests. But the stylized embodiment of a colorful representative of the order of reptiles has every right to do so. Firstly, the age of the stone turtle installed in DORA Park is at least 800 years old. Secondly, some historians believe that the sculpture of an animal - an eastern symbol of longevity, wealth, wisdom - once adorned the burial mound complex of the great commander Puxian Wannu, erected many centuries ago within the boundaries of present-day Ussuriysk. The weight of the sculpture of the bisi turtle, or 赑屃 in Chinese, is more than 6 tons. The surface of the historical monument is covered with the finest, perfectly preserved carvings.

Old city

• Address: historical center. Transport stops “Army Headquarters”, “Pedagogical Institute”.

A voyage through the historical quarters of Ussuriysk will bring true pleasure to connoisseurs of architecture. During a walk, it’s easy to completely immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a pre-revolutionary provincial Russian city, the confusion of which will be brought only by modern vehicles, and sometimes too bright store signs with Latin letters. On the former Korsakovskaya and Michurinskaya streets, many ancient buildings have been preserved. Apartment buildings, merchant shops, and public buildings look almost the same as they did a century ago. The facades of the mansions are decorated in different styles, so the surroundings of the historical part of Ussuriysk will give odds to the monotony of the architecture of the neighborhoods of many relatively young Russian cities.

Lotus Lake

• Address: village of Dubovy Klyuch. Transport stop "Kamenushka" or "Gornotaezhnoe".

The annals of modern history contain information about many cases when human intervention in the form of Her Majesty Nature led to disastrous consequences. Fortunately, sometimes the opposite happens. A clear example of such a statement is the Lotus Lake, located in the vicinity of the village of Dubovy Klyuch, located 25 km south of Ussuriysk. Here, enthusiasts managed to accomplish the almost impossible - to adapt a plant characteristic of water bodies in Africa and Southeast Asia to the climatic conditions of Primorye. Now in August, the water surface of a small lake is covered with soft pink lotus inflorescences, which feel great among the local yellow-white nymphs. There is no end to those who want to see the fabulous extravaganza at the end of summer.

Monument to fighters for Soviet power

• Address: Central Square. Transport stop "Ploshchad".

Ussuriysk belongs to the cohort of Russian cities that respect the past, despite the changing political situation. One of the city’s hallmarks, for example, is still the monument to the fighters for the ideals of communism, which has been included in the TOP of the main local attractions since Soviet times. If we abstract from ideology, the figure of a revolutionary with a rifle and a red banner in his hands, installed on a granite pedestal, is by no means devoid of artistic value. The grand opening of the monument in honor of the partisans and soldiers of the Red Army who died in the battles for Ussuriysk in the summer of 1918 took place 59 years later. The author of the sculpture is the famous Soviet sculptor O. Komov, who created, in particular, monuments to Yaroslav the Wise, I. Gandhi, A. Suvorov, Yu. Gagarin and S. Korolev in Yaroslavl , Moscow, Taganrog , respectively.

Dragon Park

• Address: Chistovodnoye village.

To get to this attraction, you will have to make a 350-kilometer journey from Ussuriysk on a tourist bus. But the impressions gained in the future easily compensate for the possible inconveniences of the trip. Here, in the foothills of Sikhote-Alin, there is a unique object - a park or the city of Dragons. The rock massif, which occupies an area of ​​more than 40 hectares, is simply replete with unique creations of nature. Wind and showers, which replaced Nature with a sculptor's chisel, created fantastic sculptures from stones over thousands of years, reaching a height of 30 m. However, some researchers of the Far East adhere to a more orthodox opinion. They believe that megalithic sculptures, in the outlines of which one can, if desired, see the Egyptian pyramids, Stonehenge, giant statues of mythical animals, were created by aliens or representatives of a civilization that has long sunk into oblivion. Which one is right is up to you to decide!