Archeologists all over the world know a small village in the valley of the Amur River called Sikachi-Alyan. Located 70 km to the north-east of Khabarovsk, the village is a home to the Nanai people - one of the native ethnic groups living within the Russian Far East. The population of the village today is about 800 people.

Sikachi-Alyan is famous for its riverside rocks, which make a beautiful display of man-made carvings - petroglyphs, which are the images of ancient cultural heritage of the local people. The displayed rocks present the carved stylized images of human faces, as well as, the various images of wild life, all of them called "masks". The "masks" are especially striking and attract both specialists and tourists who come to Khabarovsk from different countries.

Ryuzo Torii - the Japanese ethnographer, gave one of the most detailed descriptions of the Sikachi-Alyan petroglyphs.

Not far from the village there is an open-air museum, where the tourists can see the primitive ancient dwellings, the Nanai people used to live in. Exhibits depict the Nanai history and local archeology.

• The Nanai

Since ancient times the banks of the Amur River were settled by the Nanai people. Traditionally they were engaged in fishing and were always brilliant at making clothes. Not knowing how to weave, they primarily used fish skin, which was a basic technological material used by them for making clothing. The Nanai people were often called "fish skin people" for the fish skin technological sophistication and ornamentation they perfectly mastered.

Their main religion was shamanism. Shamans were believed to be their "living Gods". Bear was a sacred animal, as it was associated with the males, thus bear's ceremony (Bear's Feast) was an important feature in the spiritual life of these people.

• Troitskoe
Troitskoe - the administrative centre of the Nanai Region, is located to the North-East of Sikachi-Alyan. The local museum presents the region's historical heritage through a variety of the Nanai artifacts, household items and other exhibits. You can go to Troitskoye either by a bus or by a hydrofoil.
Time en route - 3 hours.

• Birobidzan

There is also the Jewish Autonomous Region within the Khabarovsk Territory. The administrative centre of the region, Birobidzhan, where now about 80 thousand people of different nationalities (the Jews, the Russians, the Ukranians, etc.) live, is located 170 km to the West of Khabarovsk.

A full-day trip to Birobidzhan by the Trans-Siberian railway is an interesting and unforgettable event. Birobidzhan today is famous for its secondary school where students are taught Yiddish, St. Jacob operational synagogue and the Jewish national musical theatre. Local Lore Museum and Modern Art Gallery are of interest too.

• Nature Reserve Khekhtsir

Flora and fauna of the Russian Far East are known for the peculiar combination of the northern and southern nature. Two botanical zones are represented in the territory: taiga (conifers) and mixed broad-leaved forest.

30 miles to the south-west of Khabarovsk, there is a Nature Reserve Khekhtsir, an attraction for nature-lovers. This is a unique place where the North and the South coexist. Southern lianas, Manchurian walnuts, wild grape, ashes grow side by side with birches, maples and evergreen conifers. The vegetation is rich in herbs and medicinal shrubs. The most valuable among them are ginseng - "the root of life", magnolia vine - the plant of five tastes and eleutherococus.

Wildlife ranging from foxes, sables, wild bores to deer, bear and tiger inhabit the reserve.

Not far from the reserve there is a superb picnic area.

The Russian-Chinese border is near by too. Today foreign tourists may visit the Russian frontier post Kazakevichevo, the place from which the Chinese village Usuzhen can be vividly seen. Appointments have to be made one month in advance.

• Wildlife Refuge

"Utyos" wildlife refuge is located 90 km of Khabarovsk. Sick or injured wild animals, including brown bears, lynx, dear and the Ussuri tiger found their shelter there. Unique yew-trees grove graces the landscape.

The area provides visitors with recreational opportunities - sauna and barbecue.

• Plusnin tourist complex

Located on the bank of the Ussuri river and only 20 km of Khabarovsk this complex has become popular with the guests and residents. It offers a variety of all-year recreations, including sauna, picnic and hotel facilities.

• Fuyuan, China

Fuyuan is a small Chinese settlement with a population of 60 thousand people. It is located 65 km of Khabarovsk, on the right bank of the Amur River. Closed to the Russians till 1992 and other foreigners till 2000, today Fuyuan attracts numerous tourists. The best way to go there from Khabarovsk is by motor ship.

Time en route - 1,30 hours.

The major places of interest include:
1. The highest viewpoint, overlooking the Amur River
2. "Zheyang" market place
3. "Baisi-ye-myao" chapel
4. Ruins of the ancient fortress
5. Lake Dalijia
6. Usuzhen village
7. Sanjjiang Nature Reserve
8. Sturgeon hatchery.