Ulan-Ude, Russia
Updated : 2019-02-14Source : CCFAO
Ulan-Ude, Russia
September 27, 2000
Changchun and Ulan-Ude City Established Sister City Relationship
[City Profile]
Ulan-Ude is capital of Autonomous Republic of Buryatia, with an area of 351,300 square kilometers and a resident population of 430,000 in the urban area (2017). It has 21 districts and six municipalities. Geographically, it belongs to Eastern Siberia, with Lake Baikal on the west (75 kilometers from Lake Baikal) and Mongolia to the south. Most of the territory is mountain areas and basins. Selenga River flows through the city. Ulan-Ude was founded in 1666 and it is a railway hub with railroads leading to Irkutsk, Kyakhta (leading southward to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia) and Chita.
The history of Ulan-Ude is almost the same as that of other ancient Siberian cities, originating from small fields and castles on the grasslands. In 1666, a Russian Cossack tribe moved to the outlet of Ude River, and in 1690 it was renamed the Upper Eudinsk Castle. In the 1880s, the city of Upper Eudinsk was administratively marked into Irkutsk province. Upper Eudinsk is in an advantaged geographical position from Russia to China and Mongolia, and it has rapidly developed into one of the main trading centers in eastern Russia. The industrial development of the city is closely related to the construction of the Siberian traffic route, which connects two countries and took 13 years of construction from east to west. On August 15, 1899, the first train was opened in Upper Eudinsk, and the Siberian traffic route linked Eudinsk to other countries.
In Ulan-Ude, Russians took a big proportion regarding population, but in the entire autonomous republic, Buryatian is the main ethnic group. The Buryatians have been local residents in this region since ancient time. Their history is closely related to the Mongolian people of China, and they are generally considered descendants of the Mongolian people of the Yuan Dynasty.
[Resources and Industries]
Ulan-Ude is rich in forests, aquatic products and mineral resources. The main minerals are gold, tungsten, molybdenum, nickel, aluminum, iron, manganese and coal. There are also gem mines in its vicinity with considerable reserve.
The main industries in the area are agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and tourism. Agricultural production is dominated by meat and dairy farming, potato planting, and vegetable farming. Its major industrial enterprises include large locomotives, vehicle repair plants, large glass factories, and aircraft manufacturers. In addition, leather, building materials, electronic equipment and other industries are also developed.
The city enjoys a reputation as a city of culture and tourism. There is not only the beautiful scenery of Lake Baikal, but also numerous historical and cultural landscapes. The Museum of Humanities and Nature is especially well-known throughout Russia. It has convenient transportation with an airport and direct flights to and from home and abroad.
The city has the Buryatian branch of the Science Academy of Russian Federation and four higher education institutions.
