General Information

Blagoveshensk is the business and administrative center of the Amur territory. It is located on the South-East of Russia, close to the Russian-China border. The population of Blagoveshensk is about 280 thousand people. City telephone code is 4162.

History

The name Blagoveshensk comes from Blagoveshenie that means Annunciation. It is said that the name for a new church and later the city was chosen because of the amazing landscape creating the mood of calmness.

In the middle of the XIX century a group Cossaks that had to protect South-East borders of Siberia and trade routes on the Amur and the Ussuri Rivers, reached the territory of modern Amur region. In 1856 Cossaks founded Ust-Zeisky post on the Zeia River. In 1858 the post was renamed Blagoveshensk and on July 17,1858 obtained the status of the city. At the same time Amur region was established and Blagoveshensk became the official center of the new region.

Unique geographical location of Blagoveshensk (it stands on the two navigable rivers – Amur and Zeia, not far from the Chineese border) played a great role in it’s development. By the end of the XIX century it became the biggest city on the Amur River, the capital of the gold-mining and farming and the most important port on Amur. In 1920s, after the civil war, the city rapidly developed — new schools, universities and scientific centers had been opened and industrial potential of the city grew as well. During the WWII Blagoveshensk was a front-line city that stood against the militarist Japan.

The City Today

Presently Blagoveshensk is the frontier city on the Far East border with developed transport system, including railway, airways, river path and motor roads connecting it with other regions of Russia. Blagoveshensk city has a railway line built in 1913 that connects in with Trans-Siberian railway, while the Vladivostok-Moscow motorway connects it with the capital. Blagoveshensk airport has international status.

Iron and steel industry, coal and wood industry are a basis of the economy of the city. Blagoveshensk has stocks of minerals – coal, gold, building materials etc.
Local flora and fauna is very rich. The tourists often recall beautiful woods and landscapes of the region.
The city develops its International contacts. Presently the main international partners of Blagoveshensk are enterprises and companies from China, Korea, Japan, Singapore, USA, Panama, Italy, Portugal, Ukraine, Belarussia, Uzbekistan and some other countries. Many international companies in Blagoveshensk are working mainly in the sphere of trade, food production, timber processing, building and transportation.

Despite of the government support, local manufacturers are not competitive in the Russian market. About 90% of goods consumed in Blagoveshensk come from other regions of Russia and abroad.

Culture

Blagoveshensk is a cultural center of the Amur region as well. There are two theatres — The Amur Regional Drama Theatre and The Puppet Theatre, two cinemas called Russia and Harbin, regional museum and Philarmonic Society established in 1961. Blagoveshensk has 10 libraries, including the biggest ones — The Amur regional library and regional children library.

Regional museum of Blagoveshensk has interesting exhibitions and collections. There are 26 exhibition halls and 15 branches in the smaller towns and villages of Amur Region. Regional museum is located Lenin str. 165, Blagoveshensk. Phone: +7 4162 424348. E-mail: http://amurmuseum.boom.ru. It is open for visitors. Entrance fee for foreigners is about 1 dollar.
The building of the railway station along with the other two buildings in the city is a historical building protected by the local government.

People in Blagoveshensk had always been trying to preserve and transmit many historical and cultural traditions. In general, they are very hard-working and hospitable people. Perhaps people is the biggest capital of the city that contributes to it’s development.

Hotels

Holiday Palace is an entertainment complex in the city. It includes hotel, casino, sauna, bar, café and offers the guests different dancing programmes and shows. Holiday Palace is located Gorkogo str, 26, Blagoveshensk. Phone: +7 4162 535787. E-mail: holidaypalace@rambler.ru.

Evgeniya Stroganova