Ulan-Ude (Ула́н-Удэ́), Russia

Ulan-Ude (Russian: Ула́н-Удэ́; Buryat: Улаан-Үдэ) is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Buryatia, a federal subject of the Russian Federation located to the north of Mongolia. It covers 377 sq km (146 sq mi) and has a population of 404,000 people (2012 estimate).

Mother Buriatia statue in Ulan-Ude, Russia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MotherBuriatia-2.JPG
Author: Кузнецов


The city of Ulan-Ude is to the southeast of Lake Baikal. It is at the confluence of the Uda River with thye Selenga. The city traces its history to a settlement that was established in 1735, and was originally called Udinsk. Since then, it has changed names a number of times, to Verkhneudinsk in 1783 and to Ulan-Ude in 1934. The name means "Red Uda", in reference to its embrance of communist ideology.

Ulan-Ude was just a small town until 1900, when the Trans-Siberian Railway reached it, helping spur development. Until 1991, Ulan-Ude remained closed to foreigners. Since then, it has embraced tourism. Visitors to the city will find excellent examples of well-preserved wooden buildings that are exquisitely ornamented.

Visiting Ulan-Ude

You can fly to Ulan-Ude from Moscow. There are also trains from Moscow and Ulaan-Baatar

Places of Interest in Ulan-Ude