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 highrises sit beside ramshackle wooden huts where pensioners trudge to the local water pump even in the -40° mid-winter.
Westerners will often be treated as an object of curiosity as they are rare, but Siberians pride themselves on their hospitality; 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.
