From Verhkneudinsk to Ulan-Ude

Dear Friend!

 We would like to introduce you to a city that have grown from a small border settlement into a capital. We hope that this information, though fragmentary, will surely instigate you to a more thorough study.

The city of Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Republic of Buryatia (formerly called Verkhneudinsk) is situated on the banks of two rivers: the Selenga and the Uda. Archaeological finds indicate that first human beings settled here about seven thousand years ago.
As a town it developed from a small Cossacks winter quarters (zimovye) in 1666. The place was called “Zaudinsky kamushek” and was respected by the Buryats, indigenous people as a holy place. The “Khan’s Great Road” used to go through this place to Mongolia and China.
In 1666, the first caravan of merchants set out from Moscow to China, that way was later called “Tea Road”.
In 1678, the fortress walls of Udinsky ostrog (fortress) were built.
In 1682-1685, the fortress was attacked by the Mongols and local Buryat tribe of “Khori” came to rescue and turned the enemy back.
In 1687, the Udinsky Ostrog was fortified by the order of Tsar’s envoy, general field marshal Fyodor Golovin, a friend of Peter the Great, who arrived in Transbaikalia to conclude Nerchinsky Border Treaty with China.

The fortress existed till the first half of the 19th century and then was dismantled. Now there is a memorial stone and a stone cross at its place.
In 1741, the first stone church, Odigitrievsky Cathedral was laid down, and in 1768 the annual trade fair was instituted. The town grew into one of the largest centers of wholesale trade on the “Tea Road”, and a big community of rich merchants living here contributed greatly to the development of the city.
In the late 18th century and early 19th century, the Spasskaya and the Troitskaya churches were built.
In 1770, the first master plan of Udinsk was made.
In 1783, the town was called Verkhneudinsk and became the district city with its coat of arms. The merchant M.K. Kurbatov built a bridge across the Uda, other merchants built Gostiny Dvor (Trading Yard).
In 1793, the first school was established. It was an elementary school where D. P. Davydov, a famous teacher and a poet, an author of the song “Glorious Sea, Sacred Baikal” used to work.
In the years of 1830 and 1862, the city survived strong earthquake, and in 1867 there was a big flood.
The first steam vessel was launched in the Selenga in 1863.
In 1873 the successor of the Russian Crown Prince Aleksey passed through the city.
In 1875 the first Municipal Duma (parliament) was elected.
The city, built mostly from wood frequently suffered from fires. One of the greatest disasters of the kind happened in 1878 and destroyed the three fourths of buildings in the city. New stone public buildings like public library and a municipal bank were built.
In 1891, czesarevitch (crown-prince) Nicolas, who later became Tsar Nicolas II, came to Verkhneudinsk. To honor this event merchants built the triumph arch – “Tsar Gates”. It was rebuilt in 2006.
The first census of 1897 showed that the population of the city was about eight thousand people.
In 1900, a regular traffic by the Transbaikalia railroad started, connecting Transbaikalia with the central Russia. Nine years later the first power station was put into operation and in a year - a glass plant of merchant A.K. Kobylkin. Soon telephone communication was established, and in 1912 a first car appeared on the city roads.
Representatives of different socaial and ethic groups lived in Verkhneudinsk. They belonged to different confessions: orthodox, old believers, Catholic, Lutheran, Armenian and Gregorian, Judaic, Buddhist, Confucian, Islamic and other beliefs.
The city had active public life: charity parties, concerts, theatrical performances, parades, fair shows, masquerades and sports events. In 1915, on the Bazaar square (now known as Revolution Square) the first football game between the “Spartak” and the “Gladiator” local teams took place.
The October Revolution has changed the city’s mode of life. In 1917, the Verkhneudinsky Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies under chairmanship of a communist V.M. Serov was established.

In 1918, the White Russians and the white Czechs occupied the city.
In 1920, the Soviet Power was established in Verkhneudinsk and the city became the capital of the Far Eastern Republic and in 1921 the center of the Transbaikalian guberniya, (as one of the territorial subdivisions of Russia, 1708-1929).
In 1923, the Buryat-Mongol Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, including the territories of Buryatia and Mongolia was created, Verkhneudinsk being declared its capital.
In 1926, filghts between Verkhneudinsk-Ulan-Baatar were launched, the first airdrome was at the place of the current hippodrome.
In 1929, a ship-building yard was built and Buryat-Mongol Institute of Culture was established. The first building of printing house was built, the first professional theatre and a small broadcasting station was opened.
In the 1930’s of the 21st century, the population of the city was growing fast due to workers and specialists coming from the western parts of the country. The Government building, locomotive car repair plant, thermal power station No 1, flour mill, meat processing factory and glass works were built as well. The construction of the aircraft plant was started and A. S. Pushkin Pedagogical institute were opened. Public transportation system was started.
In 1934, Verkhneudinsk was renamed into Ulan-Ude. During Great Patriotic War, army hospitals were opened that treated soldiers wounded in the battlefields.
In the post-war years the city development continued. The construction of the wool processing factory was completed. In 1952, the Buryat House of Opera and Ballet, one of the most beautiful buildings of the city, was built.
In 1979, it was awarded the title of “Academic theatre”. The first tram line was laid and the first television station started its broadcasting. Residential areas were actively developed.
In 1971, the reconstruction of the Square of Soviets was completed and the Lenin monument, that became a famous attraction, was erected.
In 1990, the city was assigned the status of a «Historical City of Russia».
The city has changed in the last ten years. In 2006, it celebrated its 340-anniversary. Many new buildings and architectural sites have been built. Among them there is a residential complex “Solar Tower”, monuments “Mother Buryatia” and “Geser-Khan”.
The first pedestrian street was created, locals call it Ulan-Ude Arbat.
The city is developing first of all as a trade center to remind of the former Verkhneudinsk. This trend is linked to its geographical location and economic relations. Besides, it is a large scientific, industrial, financial, religious and cultural center. More than three hundred and fifty thousand people live here. There are several graduate schools, national and cultural societies, museums and theatres. There are Orthodox churches and Buddhist temples restored and built anew. Polish Catholic church was built recently. One can find here intensive and rich cultural life. Citizens can enjoy concerts of touring musical groups and theatre groups. Various festivals, celebrations, sports events are held. New hotels, both big and small have been built, the airport has been reconstructed.