Khabarovsk

For other uses, see Khabarovsk (disambiguation).

Khabarovsk (English) Хабаровск (Russian)
-  City  -
Monument to Yerofey Khabarov in Khabarovsk
Location of Khabarovsk Krai in Russia
Khabarovsk Location of Khabarovsk in Khabarovsk Krai
Coordinates:
Coat of arms	Flag
City Day	May 31
Administrative status (as of September 2011)
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Khabarovsk Krai
Administratively subordinated to	city of krai significance of Khabarovsk
Administrative center of	Khabarovsk Krai, city of krai significance of Khabarovsk, Khabarovsky District
Municipal status (as of April 2004)
Urban okrug	Khabarovsk Urban Okrug
Administrative center of	Khabarovsk Urban Okrug, Khabarovsky Municipal District
Mayor	Alexander Sokolov
Representative body	City Duma
Statistics
Area	386 km2 (149 sq mi)
Population (2010 Census)	577,441 inhabitants
- Rank in 2010	26th
Population (January 2014 est.)	601,043 inhabitants
Density
Time zone	VLAT (UTC+10:00)
Founded	May 31, 1858
City status since	1880
Postal code(s)	680000-680150
Dialing code(s)	+7 4212
Official website
Khabarovsk on Wikimedia Commons

Native villages near the site of the future Khabarovsk according to an English map of 1773. The village closest to today's Khabarovsk is labeled Hitcha. Maack's "Cape Kyrma" site (thought by B.P. Polyakov to be the site of Stepanov's Kosogorsky Ostrog) is Heremo

The Transfiguration Cathedral overlooking Amur river

Khabarovsk Dormition Cathedral on Komsomolskaya Square

Khabarovsk (Russian: Хабаровск; IPA: [xɐˈbarəfsk]; Chinese: 伯力) is the largest city and the administrative center of Khabarovsk Krai, Russia, located 30 kilometers (19 mi) from the Chinese border, at the confluence of the Amur and Ussuri Rivers, about 800 kilometers (500 mi) north of Vladivostok. The city also became the administrative center of the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia in 2002. It is the second largest city in the Russian Far East, after Vladivostok. Population: 577,441 (2010 Census); 583,072 (2002 Census); 600,623 (1989 Census).

History

Earliest history of the region

The lands near the confluence of the Ussuri and the Amur Rivers, where today's Khabarovsk stands, have been populated for many centuries by Tungusic people, probably related to the Jurchens of the past and/or the Nanais of the present day. Chinese expeditions reached this area as early as the first half of the 15th century, when the fleets of the Ming eunuch Yishiha sailed several times from Jilin City all the way to Tyr on the lower Amur.

17th-century Russian explorers

In the mid-17th century, the Amur Valley became the scene of hostilities between the Russian Cossacks, trying to expand into the region and to collect tribute from the natives, and the rising Manchu Qing Dynasty, intent on securing the region for itself.

Khabarov's Achansk

The Russian explorers and raiders of the 1650s set up a number of more or less fortified camps (ostrogs) on the Amur; most of them were in use for only a few months, and later destroyed. It is usually thought that the first such camp in the general area of today's Khabarovsk was the fortified winter camp named Achansk (Ачанск) or Achansky gorodok (Ачанский городок), built by the Cossacks of Yerofey Khabarov in September 1651 after they had sailed to the area from the upper Amur. The fort was named after the local tribe whom Khabarov's people called "Achans". Already on October 8 the fort was unsuccessfully attacked by joint forces of Achans and Duchers (who had good reasons to hate the Cossacks, due to their rather heavy-handed tribute-extraction tactics), while many Russians were away fishing. In late November, Khabarov's people undertook a three-day campaign against the local chief Zhakshur (Жакшур) (whose name is also known in a more Russian version, Zaksor (Заксор)), collecting a large amount of tribute and announcing that the locals were now subjects of the Russian Czar. Similar campaign was waged later in winter against the Ducher chief Nechiga (Нечига), farther away from Achansk.

On March 24 (or 26), 1652, Fort Achansk was attacked by Manchu cavalry, led by Ninguta's commander Haise, reinforced by Ducher auxiliaries, but the Cossacks stood their ground in a day-long battle and even managed to seize the attackers' supply train. Once the ice on the Amur broke in the spring of 1652, Khabarov's people destroyed their fort and sailed away.

The exact location of Khabarov's Achansk has long been a subject for the debate among Russian historians and geographers. A number of locations, both upstream and downstream of today's Khabarovsk, have been proposed since Richard Maack, one of the first Russian scholars to visit the region, identified Achansk in 1859 with the ruins on Cape Kyrma, which is located on the southern (Chinese) shore of the Amur, upstream of Khabarovsk. The most widely accepted point of view is probably that of B.P. Polevoy, who believed that Khabarov's Achansk was located in the Nanai village later known as Odzhal-Bolon (Russian: Оджал-Болонь), located on the left bank of the Amur, closer to Amursk than to Khabarovsk. One of his arguments was that both Khabarov's Achan (sometimes also spelled by the explorer as Otshchan, Отщан), and Wuzhala (乌扎拉) of the Chinese records of the 1652 engagement are based on the name of the Nanai clan "Odzhal" (Оджал), corresponding to the 20th-century name of the village as well. (The name of the clan was also written as "Uzala", as in the name of its best known member, Dersu Uzala).

B.P. Polevoy's view appeared to gain wide support among the Russian geographer community; petitioned by the Amur Branch of the Russian Geographical Society, the Russian Government renamed the village of Odzhal to Achan in 1977, to celebrate its connection with Khabarov's raid.

As to the Cape Kyrma ruins, thought by Maack to be the remains of Achansk, B.P. Polevoy identified them as the remains of another ostrog - namely, Kosogorsky Ostrog, where Onufriy Stepanov stayed a few years later.

Qing Empire

After the Treaty of Nerchinsk (1689), the area became an uncontested part of the Qing Empire for the next century and a half. Modern historical maps of the Qing period published in China mark the site of future Khabarovsk as Boli (Chinese: 伯力). All of the middle and lower Amur region was nominally part of the Jilin Province, run first out of Ninguta and later out of Jilin City.

French Jesuits who sailed along the Ussury and the Amur in 1709 prepared the first more or less precise map of the region. According to them, the indigenous Nanai people were living on the Ussury and on the Amur down to the mouth of the Dondon River (i.e., in the region including the site of the future Khabarovsk). These people were known to the Chinese as Yupi Dazi ("Fish skin Tartars").

From Khabarovka to Khabarovsk

Khabarovsk - residence of the governor-general of Eastern Siberia 1895

In 1858, the area was ceded to Russia under the Treaty of Aigun. The Russians founded the military outpost of Khabarovka (Хаба́ровка), named after a Russian explorer Yerofey Khabarov. The post later became an important industrial center for the region. Town status was granted in 1880.

In 1894, a department of Russian Geographical Society was formed in Khabarovsk and began initiating the foundation of libraries, theaters, and museums in the city. Since then, Khabarovsk's cultural life has flourished. Much of the local indigenous history has been well preserved in the Regional Lore Museum and Natural History Museum and in places like near the Nanai settlement of Sikhachi-Alyan, where cliff drawings from more than 13,000 years ago can be found. The Khabarovsk Art Museum exhibits a rare collection of old Russian icons.

In 1916, Khabarovsk Bridge across the Amur was completed, allowing Trans-Siberian trains to cross the river without using ferries (or temporary rail tracks over the frozen river in winter).

The Soviet years

After the defeat of Japan in World War II, Khabarovsk was the site of the Khabarovsk War Crime Trials, in which twelve former members of the Japanese Kwantung Army and Unit 731 were put on trial for the manufacture and use of biological weapons during World War II.

Chinese Emperor Puyi, captured by Soviet troops in Manchuria, was relocated to Khabarovsk and lived there from 1945 up to 1950, when he was returned to China.

On November 5, 1956, the first phase of the city tram was commissioned. The Khabarovsk television studio began broadcasting in 1960. On 1 September 1967, the Khabarovsk Institute of Physical Education, now the Far Eastern State Academy of Physical Culture, opened. On January 14, 1971 Khabarovsk was awarded the Order of October Revolution. 1975 saw the opening of the first stage of the urban trolley. In 1976 the city hosted an international ice hockey tournament with the ball for the prize of the newspaper "Sovietskaya Rossia". In 1981 the Bandy World Championship was played in the city.

Russian Federation

In 1996, Khabarovsk held its first mayoral elections. Paul D. Filippov, whose candidacy was supported by Governor Viktor Ishayev, was defeated. In 1998, reconstruction of the central square of Khabarovsk was completed. In May 2000, President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, decreed that new federal districts be formed, and Khabarovsk became the center of the Far Eastern Federal District.

In 2006, the Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, a high-tech medical center, was constructed according to a Russian national health project. In 2008, the train station was completely renovated, and the adjacent square was reconstructed to include fountains and an underground passage. In 2009, Khabarovsk hosted the EU-Russia summit. In 2010, the city hosted a meeting of the Great Circle of Ussuri Cossacks. On November 3, 2012, Khabarovsk was awarded the honorary title of "City of Military Glory".

Administrative and municipal status

Khabarovsk is the administrative center of the krai and, within the framework of administrative divisions, it also serves as the administrative center of Khabarovsky District, even though it is not a part of it. As an administrative division, it is incorporated separately as the city of krai significance of Khabarovsk—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, the city of krai significance of Khabarovsk is incorporated as Khabarovsk Urban Okrug.

Climate

Khabarovsk
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     14     −16 −24     11     −11 −20     22     −2 −11     44     10 0     61     19 7     72     24 13     133     27 17     153     25 16     79     19 9     50     10 1     26     −3 −11     17     −14 −21 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: Погода и Климат (Weather and Climate)
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.6     4 −10     0.4     13 −3     0.9     29 12     1.7     51 32     2.4     65 45     2.8     75 55     5.2     80 62     6     77 61     3.1     66 49     2     50 34     1     26 13     0.7     8 −5 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches

Khabarovsk experiences a monsoonal dry-winter humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dwb).

The average annual precipitation is 682 mm (26.9 in), mainly concentrated in the summer. In a few years, November to March hardly receive any precipitation. The driest year was 2001 with only 381 millimeters (15.0 in) of precipitation and the wettest was 1981 when 1,105 millimeters (43.5 in) of precipitation fell. The wettest month was August 1981 with a total precipitation of 434 mm (17.1 in). Snowfall is common, though light, with an average maximum snow height of 16 centimeters (6.3 in).

The city's extreme climate sees average highs and lows vary by around 50 °C (90 °F) per year. The average temperature in January is −19.8 °C (−3.6 °F) and the average for July is +21.3 °C (70.3 °F). Extremes have ranged from −40 °C (−40 °F) in January 2011 to +36.4 °C (97.5 °F) in June 2010.

Climate data for Khabarovsk
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	0.6 (33.1)	6.3 (43.3)	17.0 (62.6)	28.6 (83.5)	31.5 (88.7)	36.4 (97.5)	35.7 (96.3)	35.6 (96.1)	29.8 (85.6)	25.8 (78.4)	15.5 (59.9)	6.6 (43.9)	36.4 (97.5)
Average high °C (°F)	−15.7 (3.7)	−10.7 (12.7)	−1.5 (29.3)	10.4 (50.7)	18.6 (65.5)	23.9 (75)	26.6 (79.9)	24.8 (76.6)	19.1 (66.4)	10.0 (50)	−3.1 (26.4)	−13.5 (7.7)	7.4 (45.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−19.8 (−3.6)	−15.4 (4.3)	−6.4 (20.5)	4.8 (40.6)	12.4 (54.3)	18.1 (64.6)	21.3 (70.3)	19.9 (67.8)	13.7 (56.7)	5.1 (41.2)	−7.2 (19)	−17.3 (0.9)	2.4 (36.3)
Average low °C (°F)	−23.5 (−10.3)	−19.7 (−3.5)	−11.0 (12.2)	0.1 (32.2)	7.1 (44.8)	13.0 (55.4)	16.8 (62.2)	15.9 (60.6)	9.2 (48.6)	1.0 (33.8)	−10.6 (12.9)	−20.6 (−5.1)	−1.9 (28.6)
Record low °C (°F)	−40.0 (−40)	−35.1 (−31.2)	−28.9 (−20)	−15.1 (4.8)	−3.1 (26.4)	2.2 (36)	6.8 (44.2)	4.9 (40.8)	−3.3 (26.1)	−15.6 (3.9)	−27.4 (−17.3)	−36.7 (−34.1)	−40.0 (−40)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	14 (0.55)	11 (0.43)	22 (0.87)	44 (1.73)	61 (2.4)	72 (2.83)	133 (5.24)	153 (6.02)	79 (3.11)	50 (1.97)	26 (1.02)	17 (0.67)	682 (26.85)
Average rainy days	0	0	1	10	16	15	15	17	15	11	2	0	102
Average snowy days	14	11	11	6	1	0	0	0	0.1	4	12	14	73
Average relative humidity (%)	75	72	68	63	65	74	79	83	78	67	69	73	72
Mean monthly sunshine hours	147	181	231	213	242	262	248	217	212	189	159	145	2,446
Source #1: Pogoda.ru.net
Source #2: NOAA (sun, 1961–1990)

Economy

Khabarovsk sites are prominently featured on the 5000 ruble banknote

Primary industries include iron processing, steel milling, petroleum refining, flour milling, pharmaceutical industry, meat packing and manufacturing of various types of heavy and light machinery.

Trolleybus near Lenin Square

Amur waterfront

Transportation

The city is located along the Trans-Siberian Railway. Rail distance from Moscow is 8,523 kilometers (5,296 mi); it is a principal railway center.

Khabarovsk is served by the Khabarovsk Novy Airport with international flights to East Asia, Southeast Asia, European Russia, and Central Asia. It is also served by the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Trans-Siberian Highway (M58 and M60 Highways) and the Amur River and Ussuri River waterways.

Public transport includes: tram - 8 routes; trolleybus - 4 routes; bus and fixed-route taxi (marshrutka - approximately 100 routes).

Education

There are the following institutions of higher education in Khabarovsk:

• Pacific National University (former Khabarovsk State University of Technology)
• Far Eastern State University of Humanities (former Khabarovsk State Teachers Training University)
• Far Eastern State Medical University
• Khabarovsk State Academy of Economics and Law
• Far Eastern State Transport University
• Far Eastern Academy of Public Service
• Far Eastern State Physical Education University
• Khabarovsk State Institute of Arts and Culture

A fountain on Lenin Square

Tourism

Visitors to the picturesque city of Khabarovsk are likely to enjoy walking the broad Amursky Boulevard with its many vibrant shops and perhaps visit the local market. The city's five districts stretch for 45 kilometers (28 mi) along the Amur River.

Recently, there have been many renovations in the city's central part, rebuilding with historical perspective. A popular attraction for visitors is a walking tour from the Lenin Square to Utyos on Amur via Muravyov-Amursky Street, where visitors can find traditional Russian cuisine restaurants and shops with souvenirs. There are many night clubs and pubs in this area. In Wintertime ice sculptures are on display on the cities squares and parks. Artists come from as far as Harbin in China.

Unlike Vladivostok, the city has never been closed to foreigners, despite it being the headquarters of the Far East Military District, and retains its historically international flavour. Once the capital of the Soviet Far East (from 1926 to 1938), since the demise of the Soviet Union, it has experienced an increased Asian presence. It is estimated that over one million Chinese travel to and through Khabarovsk yearly, and foreign investment by Japanese and Korean corporations has grown in recent years. The city has a multi-story shopping mall and about a dozen hotels.

• 

  A view along Turgeneva Street toward the Transfiguration Cathedral

• 

  The city pond

• 

  Pedal boats on the city pond

• 

  The historical building of the City Duma

• 

  The fountains on Lenin Square

• 

  Street vendors

• 

  The city beach

• 

  The Khabarovsk Bridge across Amur

• 

  Khabarovsk airport

• 

  Amur Boulevard at night

• 

  Central park of Culture near the Amur river

• 

  A park in the Krasnoflotskiy district

Military

The headquarters of the Russian Eastern Military District is located at 15 Serysheva Street. There is also an air base located 3 km (1.9 mi) to the east of the city.

Sports

SKA Khabarovsk (which would later merge with Neftyanik to SKA-Neftyanik) in 1982, playing at home against Yenisey, national vice-champions that year

• Amur Khabarovsk, a professional hockey club of the international Kontinental Hockey League and plays its home games at the Platinum Arena. It is the easternmost-based team in the league.
• FC SKA-Energiya Khabarovsk, a professional association football team playing in the Russian Football National League, the second tier of Russian association football.
• SKA-Neftyanik, a professional bandy club which plays in the top-tier Russian Bandy Super League at its own indoor venue Arena Yerofey.

International events

Stamp depicting 1981 Bandy World Championship in Khabarovsk

The city was a host to the 1981 Bandy World Championship. It also hosted the 2015 Bandy World Championship, which was visited by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev[1]. 21 teams were expected,[2] which would have been 4 more than the record-making 17 from the 2014 tournament. In the end, China was the only newcomer, while Canada and Ukraine withdrew, the latter for political reasons.

Notable people

• Oleksandr Aliyev, association football player
• Sergei Bodrov, filmmaker
• Evgeny Grachev, ice hockey player
• Mikhail Grigorenko, ice hockey player
• Alexandra Ivanovskaya, 2005 Miss Russia winner
• Alexander Mogilny, ice hockey player
• Evgeni Plushenko, Olympic figure skater
• Ivan Skobrev, speed skater
• Andrei Tchmil, professional cyclist
• Efim Zelmanov, mathematician
• Ivan Koumaev, dancer
• Andrey Zamkovoy, boxer

Twin towns and sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Russia

Khabarovsk is twinned with:

Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan Harbin, Heilongjiang, China Sanya, Hainan, China

Portland, Oregon, United States Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Chongjin, North Hamgyong, North Korea

Trivia

• Khabarovsk placed first in different categories of "Most Developed and Comfortable City of Russia" in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
• In 2010, Khabarovsk won the second place in the Forbes list of most suitable cities for private business in Russia. First place went to Krasnodar.

See also

• Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island

References

Sources

• Правительство Хабаровского края. Постановление №143-пр от 18 июля 2007 г. «Об утверждении реестра административно-территориальных и территориальных единиц Хабаровского края», в ред. Постановления №273-пр от 28 августа 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в Постановление Правительства Хабаровского края от 18 июля 2007 г. №143-пр "Об утверждении реестра административно-территориальных и территориальных единиц Хабаровского края"». Вступил в силу 13 августа 2007 г. Опубликован: "Собрание законодательства Хабаровского края", №7(60), 12 августа 2007 г. (Government of Khabarovsk Krai. Resolution #143-pr of July 18, 2007 On the Adoption of the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial and Territorial Units of Khabarovsk Krai, as amended by the Resolution #273-pr of August 28, 2015 On Amending the Resolution #143-pr of the Government of Khabarovsk Krai of July 18, 2007 "On the Adoption of the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial and Territorial Units of Khabarovsk Krai". Effective as of August 13, 2007.).
• Законодательная Дума Хабаровского края. Закон №109 от 28 марта 2007 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Хабаровского края», в ред. Закона №155 от 23 декабря 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в отдельные законодательные акты Хабаровского края». Вступил в силу через 10 дней после официального опубликования (28 апреля 2007 г.). Опубликован: "Приамурские ведомости", №52, 17 апреля 2007 г. (Legislative Duma of Khabarovsk Krai. Law #109 of March 28, 2007 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Khabarovsk Krai, as amended by the Law #155 of December 23, 2015 On Amending Various Legislative Acts of Khabarovsk Krai. Effective as of after 10 days from the official publication day (April 28, 2007).).
• Законодательная Дума Хабаровского края. Закон №177 от 28 апреля 2004 г. «О наделении муниципального образования города Хабаровска статусом городского округа и об установлении его границы». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования (28 мая 2004 г.). Опубликован: "Приамурские ведомости", №95, 28 мая 2004 г. (Legislative Duma of Khabarovsk Krai. Law #177 of April 28, 2004 On Granting Urban Okrug Status to the Municipal Formation of the City of Khabarovsk and on Establishing Its Border. Effective as of the day of the official publication (May 28, 2004).).
• Законодательная Дума Хабаровского края. Закон №264 от 14 марта 2005 г «Об административных центрах сельских поселений и муниципальных районов Хабаровского края», в ред. Закона №239 от 28 ноября 2012 г. «О преобразовании городского населённого пункта рабочий посёлок Тырма, находящегося на территории Верхнебуреинского района Хабаровского края, путём изменения его статуса в сельский населённый пункт — посёлок Тырма и о внесении изменений в отдельные Законы Хабаровского края». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Приамурские ведомости", №57, 1 апреля 2005 г. (Legislative Duma of Khabarovsk Krai. Law #264 of March 14, 2005 On the Administrative Centers of the Rural Settlements and the Municipal Districts of Khabarovsk Krai, as amended by the Law #239 of November 28, 2012 On the Transformation of the Urban Locality the Work Settlement of Tyrma, Located on the Territory of Verkhnebureinsky District of Khabarovsk Krai, by Changing Its Status to That of a Rural Locality—the Settlement of Tyrma, and on Amending Various Laws of Khabarovsk Krai. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
• A.M. Bodisko. From life of Khabarovsk. Khabarovsk, 1913.
• Nikolay P. Kradin. It is protected by the state: The Monuments of Architecture in Khabarovsk. Khabarovsk: Chastnaya kollektsiya, 1999. 192 p. ISBN 5-7875-0011-3

External links

• Official website of Khabarovsk
• Khabarovsk travel guide from Wikivoyage
• (Korean) Manchu-Korean expedition against Russian expansion (나선정벌 (羅禪征伐)
• (Korean) map of the Manchu-Korean expedition against Russian expansion (나선정벌 (羅禪征伐)
• (Russian) Major problems of Russian-Korean relationship
• (Russian) China and Russia relationship and history