Chita | Russia! The Other Way

Chita isn’t exactly a magnet for casual tourists. Those who do make the effort will be greeted warmly by the locals, who are unused to seeing outsiders that aren’t involved in the mining industry). There’s plenty of history - for starters Genghis was born not far away (allegedly, at least) and there’s plenty of evidence of the Decembrists’ long exile here. Add to this numerous spots of Buryat culture and a charming city centre - Puyi, the last Emperor of China was even held prisoner in the city in 1945. Chita is unlikely to star as a “get here before it becomes popular”, largely due to its remote location but if you’re in the vicinity, do make the effort to stop by.