Kyakhta
Encyclopedia
Kyakhta is a town in the Republic of Buryatia, Russia
, located on the Kyakhta River near the Russia
n-Mongolia
n border. Population:
The town stands directly opposite the Mongolian border town of Altanbulag.
Savva Raguzinsky as a trading point between Russia and the Qing Empire
in 1728. The eastern terminal of the Great Siberian Route
from Moscow
, Kyakhta prospered from cross-border trade with Altanbulag which was then a Chinese trading center called Maimachin
(Mǎimàichéng, "Trading City.") Trade was essentially based on barter, with merchants crossing the border to make their business.
The foundation of the city was paralleled by a treaty, one of the first between China and a Western nation, named the Treaty of Kyakhta, which established trade agreements and defined the border between Siberia
and the Qing Empire territories of Mongolia
and Manchuria
. As a result of this agreement, Kyakhta was an exclusive trading point on the frontier.
Kyakhta and its Chinese counterpart, Maimaicheng
, were visited by the famous English adventurer and engineer Samuel Bentham
in 1782. He related that he was entertained by the commander of the Chinese city "with the greatest politeness which a stranger can meet with in any country whatever". At that time, the Russians sold furs, textiles, clothing, hides, leather, hardware and cattle, while the Chinese sold silk
, cotton stuffs, tea
s, fruits, porcelain
, rice, candles, rhubarb
, ginger
and musk
.
Much of the tea is said to have come from Yangloudong, a major center of tea production and trade near today's Chibi City, Hubei
.
The town was crowded, unclean, ill-planned and never came to reflect the wealth that flowed through it, although an outcrop of Neoclassical
buildings were erected in the 19th century, including a tea bourse
(1842) and the Orthodox cathedral (1807–17) which still stand. It was from Kyakhta that Nikolai Przhevalsky
, Grigory Potanin
, Pyotr Kozlov
, and Vladimir Obruchev
set off on their expeditions into the interior of Mongolia and Xinjiang
.
Town status was granted to it in 1861.
After the entire Russian-Chinese frontier was opened to trade in 1860 and the Trans-Siberian
and the Chinese Eastern
Railways bypassed it, Kyakhta fell into decline. The whole city assumed the name Troitskosavsk during the first part of the 20th century, but reverted to Kyakhta in 1935.
In the mid-20th century, a branch railway
was built from Ulan-Ude
(on the Trans-Siberian) to Mongolia's Ulan Baator, and, eventually, to China
, paralleling the old Kyakhta trade route. However, this railway crosses the Russian-Mongolian border not in Kyakhta itself, but in nearby Naushki
.
As the first market town on the border between the Russian and Chinese Empires, Kyakhta gave its name to the so-called Kyakhta Russian-Chinese Pidgin
, a contact language that was used by Russian and Chinese traders to communicate.
to the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator
. It also has textile, lumber, and food-processing plants, as well as the Damdin Sükhbaatar memorial museum.
In Mongolian, Kyakhta was formerly known as Ар Хиагт (Ar Khiagt, lit. "North Kyakhta"); Altanbulag (then, Maimaicheng) across the border was Өвөр Хиагт (Övör Khiagt, lit. "South Kyakhta"). Troitskosavsk is known as Дээд Шивээ (Deed Šhivee) in Mongolian.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, located on the Kyakhta River near the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
n border. Population:
The town stands directly opposite the Mongolian border town of Altanbulag.
History
Kyakhta was founded by SerbSerbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
Savva Raguzinsky as a trading point between Russia and the Qing Empire
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
in 1728. The eastern terminal of the Great Siberian Route
Siberian Route
The Siberian Route , also known as the Moscow Route and Great Route , was a historic route that connected European Russia to Siberia and China. Previously Siberian transport had been mostly by river via Siberian River Routes...
from Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Kyakhta prospered from cross-border trade with Altanbulag which was then a Chinese trading center called Maimachin
Maimaicheng
Măimàichéng was the name of several Chinese trade settlements in Outer Mongolia in the 19th and early 20th centuries:*some kilometres east of Ikh Khüree, Amgalan in Ulaanbaatar*at the Russian border near Troitskosavsk, see Altanbulag, Selenge and Kyakhta...
(Mǎimàichéng, "Trading City.") Trade was essentially based on barter, with merchants crossing the border to make their business.
The foundation of the city was paralleled by a treaty, one of the first between China and a Western nation, named the Treaty of Kyakhta, which established trade agreements and defined the border between Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
and the Qing Empire territories of Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
and Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
. As a result of this agreement, Kyakhta was an exclusive trading point on the frontier.
Kyakhta and its Chinese counterpart, Maimaicheng
Maimaicheng
Măimàichéng was the name of several Chinese trade settlements in Outer Mongolia in the 19th and early 20th centuries:*some kilometres east of Ikh Khüree, Amgalan in Ulaanbaatar*at the Russian border near Troitskosavsk, see Altanbulag, Selenge and Kyakhta...
, were visited by the famous English adventurer and engineer Samuel Bentham
Samuel Bentham
Sir Samuel Bentham was a noted English mechanical engineer and naval architect credited with numerous innovations, particularly related to naval architecture, including weapons...
in 1782. He related that he was entertained by the commander of the Chinese city "with the greatest politeness which a stranger can meet with in any country whatever". At that time, the Russians sold furs, textiles, clothing, hides, leather, hardware and cattle, while the Chinese sold silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
, cotton stuffs, tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
s, fruits, porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
, rice, candles, rhubarb
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a group of plants that belong to the genus Rheum in the family Polygonaceae. They are herbaceous perennial plants growing from short, thick rhizomes. They have large leaves that are somewhat triangular-shaped with long fleshy petioles...
, ginger
Ginger
Ginger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, consumed as a delicacy, medicine, or spice. It lends its name to its genus and family . Other notable members of this plant family are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal....
and musk
Musk
Musk is a class of aromatic substances commonly used as base notes in perfumery. They include glandular secretions from animals such as the musk deer, numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and artificial substances with similar odors. Musk was a name originally given to a substance with a...
.
Much of the tea is said to have come from Yangloudong, a major center of tea production and trade near today's Chibi City, Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
.
The town was crowded, unclean, ill-planned and never came to reflect the wealth that flowed through it, although an outcrop of Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
buildings were erected in the 19th century, including a tea bourse
Bourse
Bourse may refer to:*exchange *stock exchange*Bourse : metro station, Paris, France*Bourse de Travail: French labor council-Exchanges:*Paris Bourse: Euronext Paris, historical Paris stock exchange...
(1842) and the Orthodox cathedral (1807–17) which still stand. It was from Kyakhta that Nikolai Przhevalsky
Nikolai Przhevalsky
Nikolai Mikhaylovich Przhevalsky and Prjevalsky, ; —), was a Russian geographer of Polish background and explorer of Central and Eastern Asia. Although he never reached his final goal, Lhasa in Tibet, he travelled through regions unknown to the west, such as northern Tibet, modern Qinghai and...
, Grigory Potanin
Grigory Potanin
Grigory Nikolayaevich Potanin was a Russian explorer of Inner Asia who aligned himself with the Siberian separatist movement...
, Pyotr Kozlov
Pyotr Kozlov
Pyotr Kuzmich Kozlov was a Russian and Soviet traveler and explorer who continued the studies of Nikolai Przhevalsky in Mongolia and Tibet.Although prepared by his parents for military career, Kozlov chose to join Przhevalsky's expedition. After his mentor's death, Kozlov continued travelling in...
, and Vladimir Obruchev
Vladimir Obruchev
Vladimir Afanasyevich Obruchev was a Russian and Soviet geologist who specialized in the study of Siberia and Central Asia. He was also one of the first Russian science fiction authors.- Scientific research :...
set off on their expeditions into the interior of Mongolia and Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
.
Town status was granted to it in 1861.
After the entire Russian-Chinese frontier was opened to trade in 1860 and the Trans-Siberian
Trans-Siberian Railway
The Trans-Siberian Railway is a network of railways connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan. It is the longest railway in the world...
and the Chinese Eastern
Chinese Eastern Railway
The Chinese Eastern Railway or was a railway in northeastern China . It connected Chita and the Russian Far East. English-speakers have sometimes referred to this line as the Manchurian Railway...
Railways bypassed it, Kyakhta fell into decline. The whole city assumed the name Troitskosavsk during the first part of the 20th century, but reverted to Kyakhta in 1935.
In the mid-20th century, a branch railway
Trans-Mongolian Railway
The Trans-Mongolian Railway connects Ulan-Ude, on the Trans-Baikal railway in Russia, with the Chinese city of Jining, by way of Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia....
was built from Ulan-Ude
Ulan-Ude
Ulan-Ude is the capital city of the Republic of Buryatia, Russia, located about southeast of Lake Baikal on the Uda River at its confluence with the Selenga...
(on the Trans-Siberian) to Mongolia's Ulan Baator, and, eventually, to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, paralleling the old Kyakhta trade route. However, this railway crosses the Russian-Mongolian border not in Kyakhta itself, but in nearby Naushki
Naushki
Naushki is an urban locality in Kyakhtinsky District of the Republic of Buryatia, Russia, located near the border with Mongolia, from the town of Kyakhta. Population:...
.
Kyakhta Pidgin
Kyakhta Russian-Chinese Pidgin
Kyakhta Russian–Chinese Pidgin was a contact language used by Russian and Chinese traders to communicate during the 18th-early 20th century...
, a contact language that was used by Russian and Chinese traders to communicate.
Economy and infrastructure
Kyakhta's economy today relies mainly on its status as an important center for trade between Russia, China and Mongolia, located on the highway from the Buryatian capital of Ulan-UdeUlan-Ude
Ulan-Ude is the capital city of the Republic of Buryatia, Russia, located about southeast of Lake Baikal on the Uda River at its confluence with the Selenga...
to the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator
Ulaanbaatar
Ulan Bator or Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia. An independent municipality, the city is not part of any province, and its population as of 2008 is over one million....
. It also has textile, lumber, and food-processing plants, as well as the Damdin Sükhbaatar memorial museum.
Town name in other languages
(Khiagt)- ManchuManchu languageManchu is a Tungusic endangered language spoken in Northeast China; it used to be the language of the Manchu, though now most Manchus speak Mandarin Chinese and there are fewer than 70 native speakers of Manchu out of a total of nearly 10 million ethnic Manchus...
: Kiyaktu. - ChineseChinese languageThe Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 恰克图 / 恰克圖 (Qiàkètú) or 恰克土 (Qiàkètǔ) - BuryatBuryat languageBuryat is a Mongolic variety spoken by the Buryats that is either classified as a language or as a major dialect group of Mongolian. The majority of Buryat speakers live in Russia along the northern border of Mongolia where it is an official language in the Buryat Republic, Ust-Orda Buryatia and...
: Хяагта (Khyaagta).
In Mongolian, Kyakhta was formerly known as Ар Хиагт (Ar Khiagt, lit. "North Kyakhta"); Altanbulag (then, Maimaicheng) across the border was Өвөр Хиагт (Övör Khiagt, lit. "South Kyakhta"). Troitskosavsk is known as Дээд Шивээ (Deed Šhivee) in Mongolian.