CHITA IS THE CAPITAL
CITY OF TRANSBAIKAL REGION and
it is located over 6000 kilometers away from Moscow. Time difference between
Chita and Moscow is 6 hours (Chita time: GMT+9). The city is located at the
confluence of Ingoda and Chita rivers and is surrounded by wooded hills. With
an estimated 2017 population of Chita city is 347,088 people. Land area of
Chita city of about 530 square kilometers, from the west of Chita is fenced off
by the slopes of the Yablonovy Ridge, and from the east by the Chersky Range.
Lake Kenon is located within the city. Chita was founded in 1653. According to
one of the most popular versions, the Cossack Peter Beketov founded the Chita Fortress.
In 1851 Chita acquired the
status of the city, and the status of the administrative center of the same
area was received in 1937. After the referendum in 2008 and the annexation of
the Agin-Buryat Autonomous Region, Chita was named the main city of the Transbaikal
region.
Chita is a multi-confessional city, where
residents respect the traditions of different ethnic groups. The Nationalities
Assembly of Transbaikalia acts here. Buryats, Evenks, Tatars, Bashkirs, Kirghiz
and the list of nationalities can be continued for a long time. All of them
rightly consider themselves Transbaikalians and they are proud of the fact that
Transbaikalia has become their home. Everyone has different roots, traditions, culture,
but the desire for peace throughout the world unites them. Having united in one
club, multinational youth of the Transbaikal region takes a course towards the
creation of a society based on equality and interethnic harmony.
Chita is a modern city. In recent years, the image of the Transbaikal
capital city has changed significantly. In the first decade of the new century
Chita became a member of the Association of Siberian and Far Eastern cities,
the Congress of municipalities of the Russian Federation and the Union of
Historical Cities. In 2004, Chita became a laureate of the national award
"For Decent Affairs – grateful Russia", and in 2005 – won the
All-Russian competition for economic development "Golden Ruble" in
the Siberian Federal District. 
The food and processing industries are
developing. The material base of educational, sports, health and cultural
institutions is being updated. During this period, the Orthodox Christian
Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and the Buddhist Datsan were
erected.
Chita is a
sports city. It is interesting that
- according to statistics - every fourth Chita citizen regularly goes in for
sports. About 13 thousand children and adolescents, (that is 25% of children
and adolescents of the total number of young Chita residents aged of 6-15
years) are engaged in 18 children's and youth sports schools of the city and in
30 kinds of sports. The holding of different sports festivals has become
traditional in Chita. The following sports are developed in our city: archery,
football, boxing, athletics, volleyball, badminton, sports tourism, karate,
figure skating and hockey.
Chita is a
cultural city. Chita is one of the
cultural centers of Siberia. In Chita there are a significant numbers of
monuments of architecture and ancient town planning, archeology and history.
The Mikhail-Arkhangel church (1771), in which the Decembrists’ museum is
located, is a unique monument of wooden architecture of the XVIII century. In
1871 the first private library was opened in the city, in 1895 - the museum of
local history, and in 1907 - the drama theater. Without any exaggeration we may
say that some creative teams of Chita are world-known. They are: the Theater of
National Cultures "Transbaikal uzory" and folklore theater "Transbaikalie",
the ensemble of Russian folk instruments named after N.P. Budashkin, regional
drama theater, song and dance ensemble "Transbaikal Cossacks".
Chita is a
city of active youth. The city
has a large number of sports grounds and places for outdoor activities. In
particular, there are sports centers where you can play hockey or skate. Also
one can find many ice rinks, swimming pools, city parks with attractions. For
lovers of dynamic activities, there are a rope park, a motor sport track
(motocross), a racetrack.