TransIrUBBeBAMBa (15) - Khabarovsk

When we left the airport, my 5 year old boy said: it looks like Irkutsk!  Clearly there must be something distinctive in Russian 'style' making it so easily recognisable.
 

Similarly to Irkutsk the old town centre dates back late 19 century and is very nice. In Khabarovsk it is actually more spectacular, as all the buildings are renovated and are not much mixed with soviet additions. These are of course present everywhere around, like that wonderful building/monument with display of medals awarded to institutions in the area.

For whatever reason the walk along the river was closed, but park above is very nice.

The place is a trap for families, having permanent fun fairs at the river and at the main park.

It also seems to be a living museum of trams, with some very old, and some in condition I would not expect to be fit run anymore, yet served us nice wobbly rides.

Useful tips:

From the airport to the train station take bus 35 (there must be an error on airports website, copied elsewhere, but no bus line 53 exists). The bus stop is at the disused terminal, when leaving the newest one go straight for about 300m, look out for trolleybuses having their stop just next to. The ride is 18 RUB and you will be inevitably charged the same for each piece of baggage.

If you are OK to go straight down town, take trolleybus 1, going through the main and the most representative street right down to the park near the river.

Baggage locker (camera khranienia) is located in the basement of the station, you queue for a ticket (120 RUB a piece) then to leave your baggage.

There is a supermarket next to the Khabarowsk train station (100m on the left when leaving the building), so shopping can be done also when only having long stop here on the Trans Siberian train. We also had nice lunch and delicious cakes at cafe (next to tram stops on the left looking from station)

Next: Khabarovsk - Severobaykalsk: Transsib and BAM